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 2025
Julie McLoughlin BA (Hons), RBTC Dip, G.o.D.A
Julie trained at the Rose Bruford College of Speech and Drama, worked at Leeds Playhouse and acted with the Yorkshire Theatre Company and the Actors Repertory Theatre at Pendley, Tring in the 1970s and 80s. In 1984 she moved to Jersey, where (like many other people) she had a small part in an episode of Bergerac.
She has a BA Hons in English Literature and Education from the Open University, and taught English and Drama for twenty years, first in Buckinghamshire and then at Victoria College and Jersey College for Girls, where she set up A' Level Theatre Studies and GCSE Drama courses. She directed many school productions including The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie, A Man for all Seasons, and Antigone for the Jersey Youth Theatre. In 2009, she directed The Mikado for the Jersey Gilbert and Sullivan Society, but then stepped back from acting and directing to concentrate on private teaching and adjudicating.
For five years she worked part-time as a mentor for unemployed teenagers organising work experience, delivering training and advising on CV writing.
She has full Equity membership and is a Full Member of the Guild of Drama Adjudicators and a Speech adjudicator for the British and International Federation of Festivals. In the last 12 years she has adjudicated at many festivals around the UK, as well as helping to organise the Speech and Drama section of the Jersey Eisteddfod.
She regularly coaches local adults in Public Speaking and has run workshops in acting and public speaking for a number of local organisations, such as the Jersey Institute of Law and the Blue Badge Guides. She coaches Jersey students for LAMDA Examinations and local festivals, has a passion for Shakespeare and spoken verse and enjoys introducing young people to both.
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.