The adjudicator for 2026 will be Ben Costello

Syllabus and Fees can be found here

All entries must be by Play and Perform

The closing date for entries is Sunday 25^th January 2026

Entries MUST be made by this date but pieces can be confirmed or changed later if needed

• A vocal ensemble can be a quartet, acapella group, barbershop group, choir etc. There is no upper limit on the number of singers but there must be at least four.
• The accompaniment should be piano only – there is a Bechstein grand piano at the venue. Choirs must provide their own pianist.
• Other solo instruments (e.g. flute, violin) may be included if the piece requires this.
• Music stands are provided at the venue.
• Unaccompanied singing is also permitted.
• Choirs should come to the venue ready to perform – there are no changing facilities apart from toilets
• Audience members/supporters are very welcome – there is a small charge of £3 for anyone watching the session; children are free

Duke Street Church, Quadrant Road, Richmond TW91DH.

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, and was elected Music Chairman of the Adjudicators' Council in 2024. He is also a music examiner for LCME and a consultant on their musical theatre syllabi.

A specialist in musical theatre and vocalperformance, 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 anaccompanist, 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.

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

• 2025
• 2024
• 2023