We are thrilled to be welcoming the following BIFF adjudicators to the Lichfield Festival of Music in 2026:
Saturday 19th September
Under-18s Vocal Solo & Duet Classes
Sarah Jefferies LRAM ARCM
Sarah is a vocal graduate of the Royal Academy of Music, where she studied with Josephine Veasey and Patricia Clarke. Whilst at the Academy, Sarah was the recipient of many prizes including Early Music, Lieder and English Song. She was an active member of the opera course, singing roles by Britten, Strauss and Mozart.
Upon leaving the Academy, Sarah studied with Margreet Honig and Elly Ameling at the Sweelinck Conservatorium in Amsterdam. She has sung recitals and oratorios all over Europe and was a member of the Opera De Lyon, with whom she recorded many works including Schoenberg’s ‘Moses und Aron ’ and Orf’s ‘Carmina Burana’.
Sarah is a visiting teacher of voice at Marlborough College in Wiltshire and and has adjudicated all over the UK and the Middle East, as well as at some of the major conservatoires in the UK.
Sarah has a real fascination for the workings of the human voice, and enjoys helping her students of all ages and standards to improve their vocal abilities. She has a beautiful cocker spaniel, Maisie, who she enjoys walking for miles on the Wiltshire Downs near her home.
Saturday 26th September
Solo Instrumental Classes
Instrumental Ensemble & Duet Classes
Nancy Litten LRAM LRAM ATCL FLCM CertEd ProfCertRAM FRSA FISM
Nancy entered the Royal Academy of Music at age 16 on an open piano scholarship, winning prizes while there. She also studied violin to a high level, freelanced as an orchestral player, and led a string quartet. Two of the school string quartets she coached reached the national finals of Music for Youth and one represented Kent abroad.
Nancy has performed as a soloist, chamber music and orchestral player on both instruments and as a piano accompanist. She has taught in primary, secondary and specialist music schools, privately and on courses. Her arrangements of favourite pieces for piano trio (piano, violin and cello), ‘Classical Vienna’, ‘Romantic Vienna’ and ‘Baroque London’ are published by Alfred UK. She has co-authored three violin tutors in the ‘Playing with Colour’ series.
Piano albums ‘Piano Postcards’ and ‘These Sweet Days’ have been published by EVC and Clifton Edition (Stainer & Bell) and she has contributed to many other books, including exam syllabuses. She has advised ABRSM and Trinity exam boards on electronic keyboard, and had a series of keyboard tutors, ‘Keyed Up’, published by Alfred UK. She was founder and director of National Electronic Keyboard Courses from 2005-2012.
Singing is another string to her bow, and she has many years’ experience of conducting choirs, teaching and coaching singers. ‘Choral and Vocal Warm-ups for Pianists’, ‘Choral and Vocal Sight Singing with Keyboard Harmony’, and ‘Rounds with Accompaniment’ have been published by Alfred UK.
Nancy has been an ABRSM examiner since 1998, involving much travel in the UK and abroad. She has been an adjudicator with The British and International Federation of Festivals since 2014 and served on the Adjudicators’ Council for seven years, including as vice chair.
Saturdays 12th & 19th September
Piano Solo & Duet Classes
Saturday 26th September
Solo Instrumental Classes
Instrumental Ensemble & Duet Clases
Kathryn Page LRAM ARCM DipRCM
Kathryn studied at the Royal College of Music and went to Canada on a Menuhin Scholarship. She has given over 20 recitals at the South Bank and Wigmore Hall, both as soloist and chamber music pianist. She has toured Norway, Italy, Ireland and Australia where she gave seven recitals at the Sydney Festival and broadcast for ABC.
At home, she has performed at many of the leading music festivals and has given numerous live broadcasts for BBC Radio 3. TV work has ranged from a live recital from Paris on CNN to the Korean broadcasting network, several performances on Irish TV and a much treasured Blue Peter badge.
Kathryn is also an Adjudicator for The British and International Federation of Festivals. Kathryn is very happy to adjudicate any festival that takes place online and has a lot of experience with Zoom platforms and webinars.
Saturday 12th September
Over-18s Vocal Solo & Duet Classes
Choral Classes
Steven Roberts MEd BA(Hons) CertEd BBCM CMS FRSA
Steven has been a music adjudicator since 2001; has sat on the Adjudicators Council and was Chair of the Board of Trustees between 2014 and 2023. He is a busy professional; conducting, teaching and lecturing. He brings with him experience as a manager, knowledge of quality systems, business acumen and many years of leading change. He has successfully combined a career in education with his work as a conductor, musical director and adjudicator, working both in this country and in Europe and as far afield as Peru and Bahrain.
Steven has conducted numerous concerts both in this country and throughout Europe with a variety of choirs, ensembles, orchestras, wind bands and brass bands. He has toured extensively with the Gary Clarke (Contemporary Dance) Company for his productions of COAL and WASTELAND. He studied piano, brass and voice and has worked in a variety of musical settings.
He has worked alongside actors and dancers on many projects and is keen to support the work of the Federation to maximise opportunities for performance within all disciplines. He enjoyed working with his colleagues on the Board and Councils and continues to serve the wider community of volunteers that help to keep our Festivals vibrant. Having previously held the post of Director of External Relations at Barnsley College he has excellent communication skills and enjoys collaborative working. He runs singing workshops for both adults and young people, particularly focussing on Key Stage 1 and 2.
He teaches Piano, Brass and Voice in a Secondary setting and is a visiting lecturer at the University of Salford in the Department of Occupational Therapy, lecturing on presence and engagement. He is Conductor of Altrincham Choral Society, Chesterfield Philharmonic Choir and Honley Male Voice Choir. He is a Life member of ACS, CPC and a Fellow for the Royal Society for Arts and is Honorary Vice President of Carlton Main Frickley Colliery Band. He became Chair of the Huddersfield Mrs Sunderland Festival in 2025.
Lichfield Festival of Music 