Adjudicators, 2023
We are delighted to welcome the following adjudicators to the Woking Music Festival in 2023.
Julia Dewhurst, FTCL, ARCM, PGCA, CertEd (Vocal and Choral)
A lyric-coloratura soprano, Julia has appeared nationally and internationally on the concert and opera stage in an ongoing performing career spanning over 30 years. Her repertoire is wide-ranging, from early music to first performances of contemporary works.
Julia has extensive and relevant teaching experience across the entire age-range. She was for many years a visiting singing specialist in a London primary school working at Foundation, Key Stage 1 and Key Stage 2 levels and leading voice care workshops for teachers. A popular and much sought-after vocal adjudicator for the British and International Federation of Festivals for over 20 years, she enjoys working with singers towards developing their own personality and individuality in performance.
Julia is a member of the Incorporated Society of Musicians, the Association of Teachers of Singing, the British Voice Association, the Association of English Singers and Speakers for whom she has judged both the Patricia Routledge Competition and the Courtney Kenny Prize and she is a Friend of the Society of the Teachers of the Alexander Technique. She is also currently a Music Deputy on the Adjudicators’ Council.
Cally Foster, LLAM, FSTSD (Speech and Drama)
Since her first appearance in a festival at the age of five Cally has been committed to the festival movement and has pursued a career as a speech and drama specialist.
Cally was the principal of her Buckinghamshire-based drama studio for more than 20 years, combining that role with travelling extensively in the UK, Europe and internationally as an examiner for LAMDA and as an adjudicator. Cally also delivers workshops on all aspects of communication and performance.
She is an adjudicator member of the British and International Federation of Festivals, a Speech and Drama Representative on the Adjudicators Council, and is a former Chairman of the Society of Teachers of Speech and Drama.
Cally believes performing in festivals not only encourages an appreciation of the arts but also develops the communication and presentations skills so important in today’s world. Everyone should have an enjoyable as well as a positive experience.
Gillian Johnston, AGSM (Instrumental)
Gillian studied the bassoon with Archie Camden at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama and, after a period of freelance playing, concentrated on a teaching career, before moving to Harpenden where she established her own Music School, ‘Harpenden Musicale’.
As well as running the Music School, Gill arranges Musicale Holidays, competitions and a summer music festival. She is the founder and Musical Director of the National Children’s Wind Orchestra and associated groups. Gill is an adjudicator for The British and International Federation of Festivals and very much enjoys contact with young musicians, inspiring and enthusing their interest in music.
Joseph Tong, MA(Cantab), DipRAM, LRAM, ARAM (Piano)
Joseph Tong enjoys a busy and varied career as soloist, duo pianist, chamber musician, writer, teacher and adjudicator. Joseph made his Wigmore Hall debut in 1997 as winner of the Maisie Lewis Young Artists Award and gives regular recitals throughout the UK and abroad. He has been a visiting teacher at Wells Cathedral School since 2008 and holds teaching posts at Hampton School and Trinity School, Croydon.
Joseph Tong studied at Wells Cathedral School and Christ’s College, Cambridge before completing postgraduate studies at the RAM with Christopher Elton.
He has given recitals in Japan, USA, Singapore, Italy, Germany and Spain both as a soloist and in a piano duo with Waka Hasegawa. Over recent years, concerts in Finland have included invitations to perform at Sibelius’s home Ainola, the Sibelius Museum in Turku and Helsinki Music Centre. Other solo recitals have included St John’s, Smith Square in London, St George’s Bristol, St David’s Hall, Cardiff and the Presteigne Festival.
In 2018, Joseph recorded a CD of Schumann at the Sendesaal in Bremen, for release this summer on the Quartz label.
His ongoing Sibelius recording project has received widespread critical acclaim and a further disc with violinist Fenella Humphreys was released in January 2022, being selected as ‘Chamber Choice’ in BBC Music Magazine. A keen chamber musician, Joseph is a regular visitor to the Wye Valley Chamber Music Festival, frequently performing with his brother Daniel and in various ensembles. He has also commissioned and premiered piano duets by composers including Dai Fujikura, Daniel Kidane, Nicola LeFanu, David Matthews and Edwin Roxburgh.
Joseph Tong was elected an Associate of the Royal Academy of Music (ARAM) in 2008. He is Co-ordinator of the Wells International Piano Summer School and has been a member of the teaching faculty of the Chetham’s International Summer School and Festival for Pianists.