Adjudicator

Our Adjudicator Nov. 2008

MARGARET J. SMITH .LRAM. GRSM.

Born and brought up in Skipton, North Yorkshire, and an enthusiastic participant in local festivals from a very young age, MARGARET SMITH LRAM. GRSM. studied the piano, initially with Fanny Waterman, and then at the Royal Academy of Music, with the violin as an additional first study.
Now living in Leeds, she has spent many years in musical education with both singers and instrumentalists, having been the Director of Music for twenty years at one of the most highly regarded independent girls’ school in Yorkshire, where her Girls’ choirs enjoyed a prestigious reputation.
During this time, and for 14 years, she was a Moderator for the composition and performance elements of GCSE Music.

Since her retirement from full-time work, she has revived her private piano practice, teaching to an advanced level.

Keenly interested in vocal music, and choral work in particular, she is the founder- conductor of the Chippendale Singers, a chamber choir with a wide-ranging repertoire, currently enjoying success in the Yorkshire area.
She has had associations with many societies and churches as a conductor of oratorio, cantatas and concert versions of opera, working with both adults and children.

She very much enjoys adjudicating, having a firm belief in the spirit engendered by the Festival Movement, and in the pleasure and educational value to be derived by all who participate. Her enthusiasm has resulted in an ever- increasing number of invitations to adjudicate at festivals in England, Scotland and Northern Ireland, including two consecutive years, at the International Choral festival in Coleraine. In 2003 she was one of the two music adjudicators of the first Yorkshire and Humberside Championship for festival winners from the region.

In addition to this active musical life she enjoys walking, reading, theatre-going and equestrian activities.

Margaret Smith is an adjudicator member of the British & International Federation of Festivals.