Barbershop Festival: Saturday 12th April 2025 / Choral & Solo: Saturday 7th June 2025
Adjudicator
Paul Phoenix - Saturday 10th June 2023
Paul Phoenix- Adjudicator for NNMF on Saturday 10th June 2023
- 2-time Grammy Award winner as member of King’s Singers
- Over 2,000 concerts in 17 years, Gramophone Hall of Fame
- Sang for the Queen as early as 1977 Silver Jubilee Service in St. Paul’s Cathedral Choir, London
- His coaching specializes in encouraging audience engagement and confidence-building with soloists, conductors, choirs and ensembles
Paul Phoenix's long career in the music business spans five decades, from Ivor Novello Award-winning Chorister soloist at St. Paul's Cathedral in London, through seventeen years and two Grammy Awards as tenor in the world-renowned a cappella group, The King's Singers, with whom he performed more than 2000 concerts, to founder of PurpleVocals, a coaching consultancy which draws upon his vast experience as a singer and performer.
His work not only as a speaker, coach and mentor, but also as a soloist continues to take him around the world as he shares his passion for singing and choral music. His coaching specialises in encouraging audience engagement and confidence-building with soloists, conductors, choirs and ensembles. 2019 was a milestone year for Paul, as PurpleVocals evolved and he became Executive Director of ‘Paul Phoenix Academy’, (PPA) in Hong Kong. PPA is a centre of Learning and Excellence, providing young musicians with engaging and inspiring music tuition in the heart of one of the world’s most vibrant cities.
In 2022 he joined with ‘Vocasia’, an award winning ensemble in Tianjin, China, working closely alongside their artistic team to develop a long term, world-class learning programme in ensemble development.
As well as his work in Asia, Paul is Artistic Director of Nomad Vocals, a collective of semi-professional ensembles across Finland, pioneering a new model of both online and autonomous learning for young singers. He lives in Cambridge, England with his wife, Helena and has two grown-up sons, Will and Ed. When not working he enjoys cycling vast distances on his bikes and supporting Manchester City!
Here is what Paul says about the festival:
It was a great pleasure to Adjudicate the NNMF last Saturday.
Where do I even start?
The organisation was slick and efficient, the venue was perfect with plenty of volunteers on hand to make sure it ran smoothly and ‘on time’.
Most of all however, this was an event which encapsulated the true meaning of ‘Music Festival’: that is a celebration of talent, of excellent singing in a truly supportive atmosphere, where everybody appreciated one another in a competition which never felt ‘competitive’.
Adjudication can be at times, a challenge, where I’m constantly trying to keep everyone happy, whilst always offering encouragement and affirmation of hard work. At NNMF in Kettering my adjudication was thoroughly enjoyable and I felt a sense of privilege to be a part of such a special day.
I’m enormously grateful to Joshua Daniel for creating this wonderful celebration of singing. Long may it continue!
Adjudicator 2022
Irene Grant-Jones - Saturday 10th June 2022
Irene Grant-Jones - Adjudicator - 2023
Irene Grant-Jones won the soprano prize at the Llangollen International Eisteddfod whilst a school pupil in North Wales. Studies continued at the Royal Academy of Music under Flora Nielsen where she won the Parepa Rose Prize.
Irene's work covers opera, oratorio, solo recitals and musical theatre. She has been a soloist at the Bedford Proms in the Park. Her performances of Strauss 'Four Last Songs' in her own translation have been received to much acclaim.
Irene is currently writing a book on voice production and teaching, and enjoys leading vocal and choral workshops where her master classes have been hugely successful.
Irene has QTS status, a degree in Drama, Dance and English Cultural Studies and is an adjudicator for the British and International Federation of Festivals. Irene wrote the text for 'The Human Race', an oratorio by Time Grant-Jones, her husband.
What does Irene have to say about our festival:
I have adjudicated at many music festivals and NNMF is one of the most organised and inspirational events I have ever been involved with. Joshua S Daniel, the organiser, poured his expertise and innate musical understanding into creating this event through sponsorship, intuitive direction and managerial skills.
The musical buzz was in the air right from the start as the resident compère took to the stage to set the scene for the day. Although this event was in fact a competition, all competitors wished the very best for each group performance and exuded immense community spirit.
We heard the most sensitive piano accompaniment contribution enabling groups to achieve their very best as their voices soared to unimaginable heights where the room was filled with X factor moments.
My steward was incredibly efficient and thoughtful as were the other festival stewards whose contribution was so much appreciated.
The cross generational aspect was vast where singers of all different levels contributed their wealth of experience to interpreting each composer’s musical intention. I observed the natural enthusiasm of singers sharing their connection with the lyrics and creating a joint, yet personal story through facial expression and sincerity from the heart.
Every competition is different. I hope that on this occasion, each person present will have taken unique and special moments away with them to store in a treasure chest of beautiful memories.
Entries now OPEN
Barbershop: Saturday 12th April 2025
Solo & Choral: Saturday 7th June 2025
Entry Closing Date: 10th January 2025