UK Choir of the Year’s Adjudicating Panel
We have curated an expert adjudication panel with musicians at the top of their game, in varying fields to give the choirs in the final well rounded judging. We are extremely proud and thrilled to be working with them.
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.
Alice Fearn
West End Musical Theatre Performer
Alice is one of the West End’s leading musical theatre professionals, best known for her standout performances as Elphaba in the West End production of Wicked and Beverly Bass in the Olivier Award-winning Come From Away.
She most recently finished playing Heidi Hansen in the UK Tour of Dear Evan Hansen and can also be seen playing Glinda’s Mother in both of the Wicked movies.
She has performed in many musicals as both leading roles, and featured ensemble including Les Miserables, Shrek The Musical, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels and Into the Woods.
She also has worked as a singer in multiple films including Les Misérables, Sweeney Todd, Alice In Wonderland, Clash Of The Titans, Mamma Mia, and Pirates of the Caribbean.
Her experience across theatre and vocal performance brings a fantastic perspective to the panel. Not only is she an absolute vocal powerhouse, but her experience in harmony singing and ensemble work over her 22year career makes her an excellent choice to compete our judging lineup. We are very excited to work with her.
Further Theatre Credits: Alex in Then, Now & Next (The Southwark Playhouse), Nancy in Oliver! (The Watermill), Annie Get Your Gun (Young Vic) and Woman In White (Palace Theatre London).