If you enjoy listening to live music the Wantage Music Festival provides a plethora of it! Young and not-so-young musicians from all around bring their favourite pieces to play and be heard by the audience and an adjudicator who provides expert guidance both on the aspects of the performance that communicate well as well as what could be looked at to take the performance to a higher level.

We are delighted to introduce our adjudicators and accompanist for 2019! All are highly experienced musicians with extensive experience of performing and teaching.

They have won many prizes between them, so they know what it is like to compete in a music festival. They also know how to communicate their love of music through both their singing or playing and their teaching.

For the entrants it is a chance to have their performance evaluated by a top professional. Each performer receives a certificate and a marksheet with helpful comments on their performance.

For those who come to listen it is like attending a masterclass as they hear the performances followed by the adjudicators’ summing up, often with tips to help the performers develop their singing or playing,

Our performers also have the opportunity to  be accompanied by our highly qualified official accompanist, this year at no extra cost, although some choose to bring their own accompanist.

Paul Turner is a highly experienced recitalist both in the UK and internationally and excels in a wide range of genres. He will have at his disposal the Hall’s two world class concert sized grand pianos: a 7ft 5in Fazioli F228 and a 6ft 7in Shigeru Kawaia 7ft 5in Fazioli F228 and a 6ft 7in Shigeru Kawai.