Adjudicators are all registered with the Federation and are recruited from outside of our catchment.
The Festival is competitive, and the adjudicator’s decision is final, with regard to marks, grading, and trophies and awards. Adjudicators will comment on the general standard of performance and marks will be given within one of the following grades:
Outstanding or 90+ An exceptional performance, technically and artistically.
Distinction or 87 – 89 An excellent performance, technically and artistically.
Commended or 84 – 86 A convincing performance, technically and artistically.
Merit or 81 – 83 A capable performance showing some artistic appreciation and/or technical ability.
Moderate or 78 – 80 A performance showing development of technique and/or communication.
Fair or 75 – 77 A performance limited in its communication.
Every entrant will be given written individual comments and a certificate showing the marks and grade achieved. These will be presented at the end of each Class.
Provided by the British and International Federation of Festivals for Music, Dance and Speech – August 2014
Meet our Guest Adjudicators

Speech & Drama Adjudicator 2026
Samantha Tucker BA (Hons)
Samantha’s love of performing started at the age of four, taking part in both amateur and professional productions and she went on to study Acting, Directing and Textual Analysis as part of her Drama degree, graduating from the University of Wales, Aberystwyth.
Samantha is a passionate supporter of the festival movement and set up and ran The Haverhill Performing Arts Festival for over 10 years. Samantha is proud to be part of a movement that gives entrants the chance to showcase their work in a supportive and nurturing environment enabling them to take their work to the next level!
Samantha has taught Speech & Drama for more than 20 years and was principal of her own Drama Studio in Haverhill, Suffolk for over 12 years and directed numerous productions.
Samantha has been teaching Speech and Drama at St Faiths School, Cambridge for over 15 years, taking pupils through exams in a diverse range of subjects that include Acting, Public Speaking and Shakespeare.
Samantha is an adjudicator member of the British and International Federation of Festivals and is a member for the Society of Teachers of Speech and Drama.
When not working, Samantha loves to curl up with a good physiological thriller, walk her Shih Tzu, travel and go to the gym!

Music Adjudicator 2026
Roy Robinson
MA,Dip Perf RCM,ARCM (P),ARCM (T),LRAM (T),LTCL (P)
Prize-winning viola player and pianist, Roy trained as a performer at the Royal College of Music where he won the Leslie Alexander prize, the highest award available on the viola. A dual first study viola pupil of Frederick Riddle and piano pupil of Angus Morrison, he holds a complete suite of performing and teaching diplomas on piano and viola, plus performing diploma on violin and an MA in music. He also has a background as an organist, conductor, and published composer, as well as vast experience as a choral trainer.
Roy has spent most of his career combining performing, teaching, examining and adjudicating. He has taught academic music to A Level, the piano, violin and viola to diploma level, and the violin to RAM Exhibitioners; he currently delivers termly piano diploma masterclasses in Brighton. He has organised and coached over 50 orchestral and singing courses and festivals for children, some under the umbrella of SATIPS, and has coached and conducted many adult choral societies concerts. He has arranged and composed countless pieces for choirs and instrumental combinations with several of his works published by Subject Publications. Following appointments in various independent schools, mostly as Director of Music, he has now returned to freelance life.
He has extensive experience as a performer, including playing viola and piano in orchestras and ensembles and as a solo recitalist, most recently playing 2 piano recitals. He has particularly enjoyed several long lasting piano duet partnerships, largely playing to music club audiences across the south. A former official accompanist to Cheltenham Bach Choir under Brian Kay, he performed on TV and broadcast on the radio; he was also frequent concert accompanist (and occasional conductor) to Bournemouth Sinfonietta Choir, as well as other choirs across the south.
As a busy ABRSM examiner, he has worked all over the world delivering grade, jazz and diploma exams, including some in German. He has also engaged in other work for ABRSM, including viola consultant, viola syllabus selector and presenter of teacher meetings.
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 is a visiting lecturer at the University of Salford in the Department of Occupational Therapy, lecturing on presence and engagement.

Dance Adjudicator 2026
Nathan James
PhD,MA(Dist),Fellow and Examiner ISTD,FIDTA,ANATD,CertFe (QTLS)
Nathan trained in the Midlands in all musical theatre and dance disciplines along with his initial teaching qualifications. As a performer he appeared in several pantomimes at the Birmingham Hippodrome alongside several contracts for Celebrity and Princess Cruise Lines. Upon returning to England and settling in London, Nathan has performed in a range of regional productions including ‘Copacabana’ and ‘Hello Dolly’ and various trade shows and TV commercials. He has toured the UK in the national tour of ‘Copacabana’ and Europe in the Irish dance show ‘Spirit of the Dance’. He also completed a season at the renowned Chichester Festival Theatre. Nathan last appeared in the revival of the Broadway Musical ‘42nd Street’, albeit in German, in the city of Stuttgart.
Following his first passion, teaching, Nathan established himself as a successful jazz and tap tutor and choreographer working a several vocational schools including Arts Ed, Mountview Academy of Theatre Arts, Bodywork Dance Studios and Sylvia Young Theatre School. In 2008 Nathan joined the faculty of Urdang Academy, ultimately taking over the running of the degree programmes as Director of HE Programmes. Nathan has also taught at many private dance schools and taught workshops across the country. He has also delivered the ISTD teaching qualifications at various centres.
He completed an MA in Professional Practice (awarded with Distinction) at Middlesex University and was awarded a PhD in Dance in 2018 from the University of Roehampton. He is an examiner for the ISTD Modern and Tap faculties and has been part of the teaching and creative team for tap. Nathan is the External Examiner for Shockout in Manchester overseeing their MA and BA programmes and has recently been appointed as External Examiner to Laine Theatre Arts.
An experienced adjudicator, Nathan represents the British Federation of Festivals and was a trustee and Artistic Director for All England Dance where he chaired the Artistic Committee. Nathan was responsible for the accreditation and launch of the Dang Theatre and Dance Syllabus and its rollout into performing arts schools. He is currently engaged as an Associate Lecturer in Tap and Contextual Studies at Performers College and has recently joined the Royal Academy of Dancing as a Syllabus Development Consultant and has created the OFQUAL regulated graded syllabus in Musical Theatre.

