Ann Bauer – Speech & Drama week 1
Ann has spent her working life in education, teaching in secondary and primary schools, theatres, university and therapy teams, as well as examining drama and theatre studies. Ann ran her own drama school for many years. Ann is also an adjudicator for The British and International Federation of Festivals.
Ann trained to teach under John Hodgson at Bretton Hall, his major influence was the importance of improvisation. Ann continues to be an enthusiastic teacher of improvisation for developing all performance skills.
She believes strongly in the inclusive power of drama, that it offers confidence building, team work, creativity and the discipline of controlling body, voice – and nerves. Combining that with her love of the written word, her first degree was English; she counts herself lucky to spend her life talking about what she loves.
In addition, Ann continues to work in Special Educational Needs, she has, for many years, been a specialist teacher in this field.
In her spare time Ann still attends ballet and tap classes, a lifelong passion, enjoys theatre going, precious time with her family, and walking: shorter distances as well as long distance back-packing treks.
Rebecca Thompson – Speech & Drama Week 2
On graduating from Bristol University with a degree in Drama and English, Rebecca worked for BBC Radio Four’s Drama Department. After further journalism and corporate work, Rebecca studied for her Licentiate Teacher’s Diploma and has been teaching Speech and Drama privately and in schools for over 25 years. She has taught in private and state schools, colleges and businesses and has been involved in communication training in schools across the country. Rebecca has been actively involved in theatre in the South West and is an Adjudicator for the Rose Bowl Awards for Amateur Drama and Music. Rebecca has also adjudicated at the Hong Kong International festival and has recently become an examiner for Lamda Examinations.
Rebecca loves being involved with young people in a performance context and feels strongly that the Festival movement is a way for children and young people to develop both performance and communication skills in an encouraging and constructive context. Rebecca is delighted to be returning to adjudicate at Springboard Festival.
Helen Leek – Junior Piano
Timothy Barrett – Senior Piano
Timothy Barrett studied on a Scholarship at the Royal Academy of Music, winning many major awards, and completed his studies with Vlado Perlemuter in Paris and Geoffrey Parsons. He has enjoyed a career as soloist, accompanist and chamber music player throughout the UK and abroad for over thirty years and, in recognition of his work, was elected ARAM, an award to former students for distinguished service to the profession.
Teaching forms a major part of his musical life and he enjoys working with pupils of all ages and levels from beginner to post-graduate. He was Head of Keyboard at Dulwich College for many years whilst also teaching at the RAM and TCM and now pursues a busy freelance practice.
Formerly a member of the examining, training and review panel for the ABRSM, he now acts as a Piano Syllabus Consultant. He regularly directs Masterclasses and Residential Courses for performers and teachers and is in demand as a Competition and Festival adjudicator.
Chika Robertson – Strings
Chika Robertson is a professor of violin at the Royal Academy of Music and for many years international Diploma Examiner for the Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music. She is much in demand globally as a music adjudicator, masterclass and workshop presenter, project director and conference speaker.
Chika has premiered numerous seminal works for eminent musicians as both violin soloist and chamber musician with world-class ensembles such as the London Sinfonietta & Academy of St Martin-in-the-Fields under Sir Simon Rattle and Sir Neville Marriner; performed in a piano trio with Tchaikovsky Competition winner Peter Donohoe; and recorded on many film tracks (including ‘Amadeus’) both in concert and in the Hollywood and London film studios in many diverse styles ranging from Arvo Part to Ella Fitzgerald and Shirley Bassey.
A former student of Eudice Shapiro and Dorothy Delay, Dr Robertson is passionate about the involvement of music in education. As Chief Executive of the UK charity ‘Music Mind Spirit Trust’ (MMST), she directs award-winning programmes to promote intergenerational musical opportunities to enrich lives within communities. Her work forges new career paths for young musicians, particularly MMST’s Young Artist Musical Ambassadors (YAMA) from the Royal Academy of Music, with a special focus on leadership, health & wellbeing for 21st century musicians. She and her husband, stage director Prof Mark Ross Clark, have recently founded and direct the British Opera Academy (BOA, UK).
Christine Hankin – Woodwind & Brass
Chris Hankin has a varied career as a flute player. She gives recitals with the versatile pianist and composer Timothy Murray with a focus on lesser-known flute repertoire. Their CD “The Feminine Flute” featuring the works of twentieth century women composers has been extremely well received.
As an orchestral player Chris is much in demand. She is sub-principal flute the London Chamber Orchestra and the Orchestra of St Johns, and spent four years working with the BBC National Orchestra of Wales. She is also very happy working in West End theatre playing in shows such as Phantom of the Opera and Les Miserables.
Chris is also a very experienced teacher. She currently holds positions at the London College of Music and Brunel University and she is the specialist flute advisor to the Central Band of the RAF. She is an experienced teacher of adults and runs Ealing Flutes, an adult flute choir.
Chris is a diploma examiner for ABRSM and an adjudicator at Music Festivals around the country. She is also the Catalogue Editor for Just Flutes, where her assessments of flute publications are read worldwide.
– Singing
Elissa Hicken– Musical Theatre
Before relocating to the north Elissa was the Acting Head of Singing at the Guildford School of Acting (GSA) and Audition leader for 6 years. Elissa is also an External Examiner for Drama Schools across the UK and has taught globally within the musical theatre and commercial sectors.
Elissa continues to work as a Vocal Coach to stars throughout the West End, TV and Film including work for Disney and Fox Entertainment and as a musical theatre specialist in Conservatoires across the UK.
Elissa works with all ages and established her own theatre school Encore Musical Theatre in 2021 which specialises in training the integration of disciplines for young people. This year Elissa also founded the Grafters Audition Preparation programme in Yorkshire to help young actors train intensively for the Drama School audition process.