OUR JUDGES
EDWARD LEAKER
Head of Woodwind at Wells Cathedral School of Music
Edward graduated from the Royal Academy of Music with a Masters Degree in Music Performance having studied with Richard Addison, Martin Speake and Duncan Lamont. Since then, Edward has built an enviable reputation as a freelance saxophonist and educator. As a freelance musician, Edward has performed in a wide variety of settings, both classical and jazz, from big bands and jazz ensembles to solo recitals, quartets, orchestral and television work. Edward is always in demand as a saxophonist for his versatility and is well respected among musicians for his sound and approach.
A passionate educator, Edward currently holds the positions of Head of Instrumental & Vocal Coaching, Coordinator of Woodwind Studies and Coordinator of Jazz & Popular Music Studies at Wells Cathedral School. Edward’s extensive experience as an educator includes teaching the saxophone, clarinet, improvisation and jazz studies at several leading independent schools and for Kings College, London. In addition to this, Edward leads workshops and ensembles nationally and is a mentor and tutor for South West Music School. Edward also leads his own projects including Swing Machine Jazz Orchestra (a South West based big band featuring some of the top jazz musicians in the country), Blaze (a groundbreaking classical crossover group which features the saxophone with strings) and pop jazz ensemble The Edward Leaker Band. These groups perform nationally and have all released music available of CD or download.
www.edwardleaker.com
GARETH McLEARNON
Internationally renowned and award-winning flautist, composer and educator
Gareth McLearnon is an internationally renowned and multi-award-winning flutist, composer, arranger and educator who travels the globe every year leading a diverse, innovative, creative and exciting musical career. Originally from Belfast, Northern Ireland, he attended the Guildhall School of Music & Drama from 1999-2003 and is currently based in London.
Gareth’s professional career started early – playing his first professional orchestral concerts aged 17. At 19 he began to play professionally in London’s West End theatres, and in the same year was also invited to record a track for the CD ‘Songs for Alexander’ with the World famous flutist Sir James Galway and harpist Marisa Robles. Following his graduation in 2003, he was awarded the prestigious Ian Fleming Award from the Musicians Benevolent Fund and a Countess of Munster Musical Trust Award. After a year of postgraduate study, he won a principal flute position in Southbank Sinfonia for their 2005 season.
As a performer, Gareth is in demand as a soloist, recording artist, orchestral and chamber musician. He has given many hundreds of performances across six continents, and has led masterclasses and education events for thousands of flute players of all ages and abilities. In recent years his engagements have included masterclasses in the USA at Yale University Manhattan School of Music and Boston Flute Academy ; in Europe at the Guildhall School of Music & Drama; University of Music and Performing Arts, Vienna; The Royal Conservatoire of Scotland; The Norwegian Academy of Music; Swedish Royal College of Music; Royal Danish Academy of Music; Zagreb Academy of Music; Ljublana Conservatory; Flutewise Academies; The Gnessin School & Gnessin Academy of Music, and Central School of Music in Moscow; Jerusalem Music Centre in Israel; in South America at the Campos do Jordao Festival in Sao Paulo, and in Asia at the Central Conservatory of Music in Beijing, Taishan International Music Camp in Dalian; St John’s University, Taipei; and the Taipei National University of the Arts, Taiwan. He has given masterclasses and performances at the British, Australian, Spanish, Portuguese, Polish, Finnish, Swiss, Adams, Hungarian and Sir James Galway Flute Festivals; and has performed and presented at a total of five NFA Conventions in the USA, as well as given concerts and masterclasses in France, Norway, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Ireland, Kenya, Monaco, China, UAE, Taiwan, Croatia, Slovenia, Serbia, Denmark and Iceland.
EAMONN DOUGAN
Conductor of the Jersey Chamber Orchestra
Eamonn Dougan is an inspirational communicator with a wide-ranging repertoire, and is a renowned vocal coach and baritone. “Dougan and his team [Britten Sinfonia] displayed masterly control… Singing without blemish; playing that leapt straight from the heart: here was a sterling performance” (The Times – MacMillan Seven Last Words); Eamonn is Associate Conductor of The Sixteen, founding Director of Britten Sinfonia Voices, Music Director of the Thomas Tallis Society and Chief Conductor for Jersey Chamber Orchestra.
Forthcoming conducting engagements include return visits to the Cumnock Tryst Festival, Danish National Symphony Orchestra, Danish National VokalEnsemblet, and KoncertKor, Orquesta y Coro de la Comunidad de Madrid (ORCAM), and Jersey Chamber Orchestra. This alongside his continued work educating choral groups across the world.
