UK Choir of the Year’s Judges
We are delighted to announce our first three Judges! We will be adding a Musical Theatre profession soon so keep an eye out.
Will Todd
Composer & Conductor
Will Todd is an internationally acclaimed composer, pianist, and conductor.
Celebrated for his jazz-inspired Mass in Blue and the carol My Lord Has Come, performed worldwide he is a central figure in contemporary choral repertoire. He has created operas and concert works for leading UK ensembles including Welsh National Opera, Opera North, The Sixteen, BBC Singers, and BBC Concert Orchestra, and his compositions have been performed internationally.
A passionate advocate for choral and community music, Will has led large-scale projects such as Bradford 2025’s Sing, Dance, Leap. He serves as President and Patron of several UK choirs and the Durham Music Trust, and champions accessible music-making and environmental sustainability.
Karen Gibson MBE
Conductor & Gospel Specialist
Karen Gibson is a leading figure in British gospel music, Karen is a multi award-winning choir conductor, workshop leader and the founder and director of the internationally recognised Kingdom Choir.
Over a career spanning more than 25 years, she has worked with choirs and singers across the UK and internationally, leading workshops and large-scale ensembles across Europe, Africa, Asia and the United States.
Many will recognise Karen from the Kingdom Choir’s performance at the wedding of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex in 2018, which brought gospel music to a global audience.
She is also a respected adjudicator, having served as a judge on multiple competitions including BBC Songs of Praise: Gospel Choir of the Year and has led choirs in landmark performances including the Gospel Prom at the Royal Albert Hall.
In recognition of her contribution to music, Karen was awarded an MBE and was also inducted into the Gospel Music Hall of Fame UK in 2025.
Dan Ludford-Thomas
Conductor & Vocal Specialist
Dan Ludford-Thomas is a renowned conductor, chorus master, and educator.
He directs professional, chamber, and symphonic choirs across the UK. His career highlights include BBC Proms performances of Brahms’ Ein Deutsches Requiem and Bach’s B Minor Mass, and Britten’s War Requiem in Cologne.
He is Musical Director of Lewisham Choral Society, Hackney Singers, Citi London Choir and the National Children’s Choir of Great Britain.
Principal Conductor of Professional ensemble Vox Urbane and Head of Vocal Studies at Dulwich College. He also regularly gives masterclasses at University of Durham and the Rodolfus Foundation Choral Courses.
He is on the judging panel for Bernardo’s Children’s National Choir Competition again this year.