ADJUDICATORS

 

 

 

Ben Costello
MA, BMus, PgDip, FISM, FRSA

 

Ben is a freelance musical director, adjudicator, singing coach and accompanist, working internationally, and is also Artistic Director of Thames Concerts. He is a generalist music adjudicator for the British and International Federation of Festivals, having joined in 2009. He is also a music examiner for LCME and a consultant on their musical theatre syllabi.

A specialist in musical theatre and vocal performance, Ben has been musical director for numerous productions across the UK, and a reflective product of this has been his continuing work as a musical director and singing teacher at the cutting edge of performing arts training in London, with his portfolio over the years including Arts Ed, Mountview Academy, Trinity Laban, Laine Theatre Arts, Italia Conti, Guildford School of Acting, the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art, the Royal Academy of Music, Drama Studio London, and the London School of Musical Theatre. At these colleges his work has included teaching singing technique, portfolio, acting through song, audition technique, and auditioning thousands of prospective students. Countless of his former singing students enjoy successful careers in the West End and beyond. He also teaches singing at Kingston Grammar School and Tiffin Girls’ School.

Born and based in London, Ben trained initially as a flautist before majoring in piano, singing and conducting. He read Music at Kingston University and the London College of Music, subsequently joining the teaching staff as the College’s first resident MD.

Ben remains much sought-after as an accompanist and collaborates in a variety of genres with countless singers and instrumentalists in many performing environments, working with several distinguished singers including Michael Chance CBE, James Bowman CBE, Robin Blaze, Hugh Cutting, Alison Pearce, Joanne Lunn, Peter Savidge, Richard Suart, Lotte Betts-Dean and Mark Dobell. He is one of the regular pianists for Cantabile (The London Quartet), and has given concerts with them in Germany, Belgium and the UK. Ben is a Liveryman and on the Court of the Worshipful Company of Musicians. He chaired the Company’s prestigious annual musical direction scholarship for eight years and is presently Chairman of the Company’s Jazz Committee.

For the Federation, he is also an adjudicator mentor and is a member of the interviewing panel for potential new music adjudicators. He was a member of the Adjudicators’ Council for 11 years, culminating in being elected Music Chairman, before stepping down in 2025.

Outside music, Ben is a keen motorcyclist and wine bore.

 

 

Nancy Litten
RAM(pft), LRAM(vln), ATCL(Voice), FLCM(kbd), CertEd, ProfCertRAM, FRSA, FISM, EPTA

 

Nancy entered the Royal Academy of Music at age 16 on an open piano scholarship, winning prizes while there. She also studied violin to a high level, freelanced as an orchestral player, and led a string quartet. Two of the school string quartets she coached reached the national finals of Music for Youth and one represented Kent abroad. Nancy has performed as a soloist, chamber music and orchestral player on both instruments and as a piano accompanist. She has taught in primary, secondary and specialist music schools, privately and on courses. Her arrangements of favourite pieces for piano trio (piano, violin and cello), ‘Classical Vienna’, ‘Romantic Vienna’ and ‘Baroque London’ are published by Alfred UK. She has co-authored three violin tutors in the ‘Playing with Colour’ series. Piano albums ‘Piano Postcards’ and ‘These Sweet Days’ have been published by EVC and Clifton Edition (Stainer & Bell) and she has contributed to many other books, including exam syllabuses. She has advised ABRSM and Trinity exam boards on electronic keyboard, and had a series of keyboard tutors, ‘Keyed Up’, published by Alfred UK. She was founder and director of National Electronic Keyboard Courses from 2005-2012. Singing is another string to her bow, and she has many years’ experience of conducting choirs, teaching and coaching singers. ‘Choral and Vocal Warm-ups for Pianists’, ‘Choral and Vocal Sight Singing with Keyboard Harmony’, and ‘Rounds with Accompaniment’ have been published by Alfred UK.

 

Nancy has been an ABRSM examiner since 1998, involving much travel in the UK and abroad. She has been an adjudicator with The British and International Federation of Festivals since 2014 and served on the Adjudicators’ Council for seven years, including as vice chair. www.nancylitten.com