Message From the Chairman

Thank you for taking the time to look at the Burton Music Festival 2023 syllabus for our festival on 5^th March 2023.

Much of the syllabus for 2023 remains the same as last year. However, some notable changes from last year are listed below, along with this year’s updates.

• Piano Classes – we are continuing to offer Solo Piano classes, which were quite successful in 2022.
• Ensemble classes – numbers of participants in each Ensemble class will remain as between 3 and 12, to avoid large gatherings and excess numbers of audience members.
• Jazz Class – Entrants in this class have the option use a backing track or piano accompanist again.
• *NEW* Junior Duet Class – This is now split between under 11s and 12-17 years to recognise the differing capabilities of the age groups. The lower age group are not expected to sing in harmony, whereas the upper age group would be expected to demonstrate a basic level of harmonisation.
• *NEW* Special Awards – The Marilyn Baker award will now recognise the most promising female performer and we have added a most promising male award, sponsored by Robert Adcock.

We hope to attract a similar number of entrants to our pre-pandemic levels, if not more, and we encourage you to spread the word on our behalf.

This year, we welcome 2 new adjudicators and hope they will enjoy the day and offer much encouragement and advice to the participants.

Once again, we have been fortunate to retain our wonderful sponsors, without whom, the Festival wouldn’t be what it is, and we hope they will also continue to support us in years to come.

As always, we welcome your suggestions for improving any part of the Festival, before during and after the day. We strive to make it as welcoming and as inclusive as possible, whilst retaining our high standards and ethics.

If you have any questions about anything, please send us a message here or email burtonvocalfestival@gmail.com and one of the team will get back to you.

Thank you again and we look forward to receiving your application.

Sharon Plummer

Chairman

Management Team

2023 Timescales

Lesley Shrigley Jones

As an Associated Board Scholar, Lesley studied Cello, Piano, Singing and Viola da gamba at the Royal Manchester and Royal Northern Colleges of Music.

Later she joined the Master Classes of Antonio Janigro and Paul Tortelier where she achieved the highest honours for performance.

Early recitals and choral work led to concerts throughout the UK, Europe, Latin America and Canada. She has broadcast on BBC, ITV and French radio.

She has collaborated with dancers, organists, visual artists, pianists and has appeared as guest artist on the QE2 and with the Choir of The Chapel Royal, Hampton Court Palace. 

Alongside her performances, Lesley has accompanied and taught cello and piano and coached both instrumentalists and singers. In addition, she has mentored and examined for the Associated Board and adjudicated for The National Chamber Music Competition. She has been an adjudicating member of BIFF since 2012.

Gabrielle Burgin Lister

Gabrielle brings a wealth of experience to her work as an adjudicator. She has been a member of BIFF for over 30 years. She has served as a deputy on the Adjudicators’ Council and was proud to take a major role in the 75th Anniversary celebrations and has recently been asked to assist with the new adjudicators programme.

Gabrielle studied at the Royal Manchester College of Music winning the Jeanne Bretey Scholarship for Singing. She worked in full time education at all levels as Director of Music before taking up a freelance career as soprano soloist, visiting vocal specialist in various educational establishments, and as an adjudicator. Festival work takes her all over the UK, to the Irish Republic, and overseas.