SATURDAY, 28 MARCH 2026
CLOSING DATE: 31 JANUARY 2026
Redland Hall, Redmaids’ High School, Westbury Road, Westbury-on-Trym, Bristol BS9 3AW
CHOIR & VOCAL ENSEMBLES SECTION INFORMATION
TIM PARKER
BMus(Hons), MMus
Tim studied at the University of Sheffield where he was awarded BMus(Hons) and MMus degrees (being twice awarded the prestigious Julian Payne Academic Prize). He is also a fully qualified teacher. Tim was also the Interim Music Education Development Manager (Deputy Head of Service) for North Somerset Music Service. Before this, he spent over 25 years working for Bath & North East Somerset Music Service and Music Education Hub (including 10 years as the Vocal Coordinator and 2 years as Co-Manager).
Tim works as a Specialist Singing teacher and has also had responsibilities for promotion and development of singing within three Local Authorities. He has directed a large number of choirs (across all age groups), including the award-winning Cantilena, B&NES Music Service’s Senior County Choir. He regularly works at Regional Education Conferences as a workshop leader (specialising in Choir Training and ‘Singing for Children with Special Needs’) and frequently runs Vocal Masterclass days. Tim is also often invited to adjudicate at Music Festivals and Competitions, including the Midsomerset Festival (one of the oldest Festivals in the country), Queen’s College Taunton, Devizes Music Festival and Badminton School’s Senior and Junior Music Festivals.
As a professional singer, Tim was a Lay Clerk at Sheffield Cathedral and Bristol Cathedral, latterly holding the position of Senior Lay Clerk at Bristol Cathedral for 7 years. As a singer, he has toured in South Africa, USA, France, Italy (including a performance at a Papal Audience), Germany, Holland, Switzerland, Belgium and Italy (with his own County Choir and various other professional choirs). He has appeared as a soloist on several CD recordings, and has broadcast on Radio 3, Radio 4 and BBC 1. He also appears on the soundtrack to the BAFTA nominated Film The Killing of John Lennon and, most recently, appearing in the second series of the BBC’s Royal Drama, Wolf Hall. Professional concert appearances include JS Bach’s Magnificat where he sang the Countertenor roles along side Emma Kirkby, JS Bach’s St John’s & St Matthew’s Passion settings, GF Handel’s Dixit Dominus, regular performances of the GF Handel’s Messiah both as a soloist and with the Fitzhardinge Consort (a Bristol based professional choir), Purcell’s ‘Feast Songs’ and the countertenor works of Couperin. Tim was also the Chorus Master and soloist for Voiceworks (a Sheffield based Opera company) for their 1996 residence at the Edinburgh Festival.
BMus(Hons), MMus
Tim studied at the University of Sheffield where he was awarded BMus(Hons) and MMus degrees (being twice awarded the prestigious Julian Payne Academic Prize). He is also a fully qualified teacher. Tim was also the Interim Music Education Development Manager (Deputy Head of Service) for North Somerset Music Service. Before this, he spent over 25 years working for Bath & North East Somerset Music Service and Music Education Hub (including 10 years as the Vocal Coordinator and 2 years as Co-Manager).
Tim works as a Specialist Singing teacher and has also had responsibilities for promotion and development of singing within three Local Authorities. He has directed a large number of choirs (across all age groups), including the award-winning Cantilena, B&NES Music Service’s Senior County Choir. He regularly works at Regional Education Conferences as a workshop leader (specialising in Choir Training and ‘Singing for Children with Special Needs’) and frequently runs Vocal Masterclass days. Tim is also often invited to adjudicate at Music Festivals and Competitions, including the Midsomerset Festival (one of the oldest Festivals in the country), Queen’s College Taunton, Devizes Music Festival and Badminton School’s Senior and Junior Music Festivals.
As a professional singer, Tim was a Lay Clerk at Sheffield Cathedral and Bristol Cathedral, latterly holding the position of Senior Lay Clerk at Bristol Cathedral for 7 years. As a singer, he has toured in South Africa, USA, France, Italy (including a performance at a Papal Audience), Germany, Holland, Switzerland, Belgium and Italy (with his own County Choir and various other professional choirs). He has appeared as a soloist on several CD recordings, and has broadcast on Radio 3, Radio 4 and BBC 1. He also appears on the soundtrack to the BAFTA nominated Film The Killing of John Lennon and, most recently, appearing in the second series of the BBC’s Royal Drama, Wolf Hall. Professional concert appearances include JS Bach’s Magnificat where he sang the Countertenor roles along side Emma Kirkby, JS Bach’s St John’s & St Matthew’s Passion settings, GF Handel’s Dixit Dominus, regular performances of the GF Handel’s Messiah both as a soloist and with the Fitzhardinge Consort (a Bristol based professional choir), Purcell’s ‘Feast Songs’ and the countertenor works of Couperin. Tim was also the Chorus Master and soloist for Voiceworks (a Sheffield based Opera company) for their 1996 residence at the Edinburgh Festival.
- Teachers, parents and performers are advised to read the Festival Rules and the following Choir & Vocal Ensembles Rules carefully.
- Junior classes are open to performers aged 19 years and under as at 1 March of the Festival Year.
- A performer may enter more than once in the vocal duet or ensemble classes with a different partner.
- Song(s) are the vocal ensemble or choir's own choice.
- Vocal duets, ensembles and choirs must provide their own accompanist, if applicable.
- A vocal duet, ensemble or choir can choose to enter any class on a non-competitive basis. The fee remains the same. Please state at the beginning of the performance if you wish to perform non-competitively. You will only receive adjudication for a non-competitive entry.
JANE ENGLISH
36 Copley Gardens
Lockleaze
Bristol
BS7 9YE
[t] 07752 332278
[e] choir@bristolfestival.co.uk
Bristol Festival Syllabus 2026