| Adjudicator: | Adrian Brown |
Adrian Brown comes from a distinguished line of pupils of Sir Adrian Boult. After graduating from the Royal Academy of Music in London, he studied with Sir Adrian with whom he worked for some years. He remains the only British conductor to have reached the finals of the Karajan Conductors’ Competition and the Berlin Philharmonic was the first professional orchestra he conducted. Sir Adrian said of his work: “He has always impressed me as a musician of exceptional attainments who has all the right gifts and ideas to make him a first class conductor”.
In 1992 Adrian Brown was engaged to conduct one of the great orchestras of the world, the St. Petersburg Philharmonic Orchestra. He was immediately invited to return. In 1998 he was invited to work with the Camerata Salzburg, one of Europe’s foremost chamber orchestras at the invitation of Sir Roger Norrington.
Adrian has worked regularly with many leading British orchestras including the City of Birmingham Symphony, the BBC Symphony, the BBC Scottish Symphony and the London Sinfonietta. He is also a great proponent of contemporary music and has several first performances to his credit.
Working with young musicians has been an area where Adrian Brown has made a singular contribution to the musical life of not only this country, but also in Europe, in Japan and the Philippines. He has been a frequent visitor to conduct both the National Youth Orchestra of Great Britain, working closely with Sir Colin Davis and Sir Roger Norrington, and the National Youth Wind Orchestra. He regularly runs courses for young musicians and his success in this general area was recognised when he was given the Novello Award for Youth Orchestras at the 1989 Edinburgh Festival conducting Stoneleigh Youth Orchestra with whom he has been Musical Director for thirty-six years.
He has conducted at the Royal Academy of Music and has been a regular chairman of the jury for the National Association of Youth Orchestras’ Conducting Competition. He took the Chair again in January 2006.
In 1996 he went to Japan to work with the Toyama Toho Academy Orchestra, a visit that was received with much acclaim from all those with whom he worked.
Many engagements have included a performance of Tippett’s ‘Child of Our Time’, Verdi's Requiem and the works of Berlioz, Elgar and Vaughan Williams, all much admired. He received rave reviews in 'The Guardian' for a performance of Strauss’s ‘Feuersnot’ with the Chelsea Opera Group and for his 'Ein Heldenleben'. He has performed successful concerts with the Salomon Orchestra and Goldsmith’s Sinfonia, returning to The Salomon in February 2005 for a Concert at St. John's, Smith Square, performing British music including Tippett's Concerto for Orchestra and receiving great acclamation for his interpretation.
2005 saw many concerts of music celebrating the Centenary of Sir Michael Tippett; In that year he conducted his 25th season as Music Director of Bromley Symphony Orchestra and Waveney Sinfonia. He also joined the panel of jury members of Music for Youth as well as accepting invitations to perform with the Isle of Wight Symphony, Bromley Ecumenical Singers, Herts Philharmonia and toured Dresden and Prague.
2006 included performances of Shostakovitch with Suffolk Sinfonia in St. Edmundsbury Cathedral and LSO St. Lukes; a return to Elgar/Payne Symphony No.3 in a concert of Anthony Payne’s work; the climax of the Bromley Season was a stunning Mahler 3rd Symphony. He again joined the Panel for the Making Music Awards. In the summer of 2006 he conducted a Tour to Salzburg for a Mozart Festival with Stoneleigh Youth and in 2007 a Tour to Provence.
2007-8 Season saw concerts in Snape Maltings celebrating the Elgar Anniversary and a performance of ‘Hansel und Gretel’ and engagements with Hunts Phiharmonic and Southgate Symphony and a full season with Bromley Symphony of Elgar’s 2nd, Bruckner 7th, Tchaikovsky 4th and ‘The Planets’. Plans for 2008/9 include a series of as yet un-conducted and special works celebrating his 60th birthday and a concert in Vilnius with the Lithuanian State Symphony Orchestra.
Adrian Brown was one of a hundred musicians presented with a prestigious Classic FM Award at their Tenth Birthday Honours Celebration in June 2002.
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Entries and enquiries: Sallie Bowen 01923 826480
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A stamped addressed envelope is essential for you to receive a timetable.
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Competitors requiring an accompanist should contact Shirley Woods Tel: 020 8440 7609
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Solo Classes - Own Choice (accompanist optional)
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| Violin | Time Limit | Fees | Award | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| D1 | Beginner (up to Grade 1) | 2 minutes | £4.00 | Medals |
| D2 | Novice (Grades 1 and 2) | 3 minutes | £5.00 | Medals |
| D3 | Elementary (Grades 3 and 4) | 4 minutes | £6.00 | Medals |
| D4 | Intermediate (Grades 5 and 6) | 5 minutes | £7.00 | Certificates |
| D5 | Advanced (Grades 7 and 8+) | 8 minutes | £8.00 | Certificates |
| Please enter only one of the above classes. | ||||
| Cello | ||||
| D6 | Novice (Grades 1 and 2) | 3 minutes | £5.00 | Medals |
| D7 | Elementary (Grades 3 and 4) | 4 minutes | £6.00 | Medals |
| D8 | Intermediate (Grades 5 and 6) | 5 minutes | £7.00 | Certificates |
| D9 | Advanced (Grades 7 and 8+) | 8 minutes | £8.00 | Certificates |
| D10 | Susanna Thomas Memorial Scholarship Two contrasting pieces of Grade 8 standard |
12 minutes | £10.00 | £50 prize |
| Double Bass | ||||
| D11 | Age 14 and under | 4 minutes | £6.00 | Medals |
| D12 | Open | 8 minutes | £8.00 | Certificates |
| Classical Guitar | ||||
| D13 | Beginner (up to Grade 1) | 2 minutes | £4.00 | Medals |
| D14 | Novice (Grades 1 and 2) | 3 minutes | £5.00 | Medals |
| D15 | Elementary (Grades 3 and 4) | 4 minutes | £6.00 | Medals |
| D16 | Intermediate (Grades 5 and 6) | 5 minutes | £7.00 | Certificates |
| D17 | Advanced (Grades 7 and 8+) | 8 minutes | £8.00 | Certificates |
| Acoustic Guitar - own choice of Jazz or Latin-American | ||||
| D18 | Age 14 & under | 4 minutes | £6.00 | Medals |
| D19 | Open | 8 minutes | £8.00 | Certificates |
| Harp | ||||
| D20 | Non-pedal or Pedal Harp (Grades 1 and 2) | 3 minutes | £5.00 | Medals |
| D21 | Non-pedal Harp (Grade 3 and above) | 4 minutes | £6.00 | Medals |
| D22 | Pedal Harp (Grades 3 and 4) | 5 minutes | £7.00 | Medals |
| D23 | Pedal Harp (Grades 5 and 6) | 8 minutes | £8.00 | Medals |
| D24 | Pedal Harp (Grades 7 and 8) | 10 minutes | £9.00 | Certificates |
| Any European Stringed Instrument | ||||
| D25 | Novice (Grades 1 and 2) | 3 minutes | £5.00 | Medals |
| D26 | Elementary (Grades 3 and 4) | 4 minutes | £6.00 | Medals |
| D27 | Intermediate (Grades 5 and 6) | 5 minutes | £7.00 | Certificates |
| D28 | Advanced (Grades 7 and 8) | 8 minutes | £8.00 | Certificates |
| Please enter only one of the above classes. | ||||
| Electric Guitar Solo Classes - choose from Trinity and Guildhall or Rock School Syllabus | ||||
| D29 | Age 14 & under | 4 minutes | £6.00 | Medals |
| D30 | Age 16 & under | 5 minutes | £7.00 | Certificates |
| Duet/Small Ensemble classes | ||||
| Accompaniment optional. Any number and combination of instruments but must include at least one string instrument. For small ensembles there must be only 1 player to each part. | ||||
| D31 | Age 12 & under | 4 minutes | £7.50 | Medals |
| D32 | Age 14 & under | 5 minutes | £8.50 | Medals |
| D33 | Age 16 & under | 8 minutes | £11.00 | Certificates |
| D34 | Open | 10 minutes | £12.50 | Certificates |
| Ensemble classes (larger groups) | ||||
| Must include violin, cello, guitar or harp. Any number to a part. | ||||
| D35 | Age 14 & under | 5 minutes | £8.50 | Medals |
| D36 | Age 16 & under | 8 minutes | £11.00 | Certificates |
| D37 | Open | 10 minutes | £12.50 | Certificates |
| Recital Classes - Any European Stringed Instrument | ||||
| 2 or 3 pieces to form a balanced programme. | ||||
| D38 | Age 12 & under | 5 minutes | £7.00 | Medals |
| D39 | Age 16 & under | 10 minutes | £9.00 | Certificates |
| D40 | Open | 10 minutes | £9.00 | Certificates |

