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 2025
Steven Roberts MEd,BA(Hons),CertEd,BBCM,CMS
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 a field as Peru and Bahrain.
Steven has conducted numerous concerts throughout this country and throughout Europe with a variety of Choirs, ensembles and 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 is a visiting lecturer at the University of Salford in the Department of Occupational Therapy, lecturing on presence and engagement.
Dance Adjudicator 2025
Joanne Fletcher
Joanne Fletcher is an ISTD Fellow in Imperial Ballet, Modern and Tap and also an ISTD examiner in these genres. She is also dance adjudicator member of The British and International Federation of Festivals.
Joanne trained at her mother's school, De Haviland Dance Studios, Hastings, and then opened her own school Rye Dance Centre in 1982. She continued training at the The Centre under Karen King and Deborah Capon College with Elizabeth Harrison and Kathryn Wiggins.
She achieved fellowship status in ISTD modern, tap and ballet. In 2005 she became an ISTD examiner in modern and tap and then in 2016 a triple examiner, to include ballet.
As an approved tutor for all units of the DDE and Status exams she continues to run her school, now in its 37th year. Her love of choreography is her passion and entering pupils for festivals and the All England, writing and producing theatre groups and pantomimes within the school and local area. Many past pupils have gone on to perform professionally both in the UK and abroad or moved into teaching.
In 2016 she was giving the opportunity to adjudicate The Guernsey Dance Festival. A memorable week which deepened her love of performance and dance.
She is very pleased to be appointed a member of the British Federation of Dance adjudicators and thanks all who have assisted her to achieve this.