Accompanists
Judith studied piano with Edith Kaye-Perry in Blackpool, Lancashire. As a competitor she benefited greatly from the platform provided by local affiliated festivals before becoming a Federation accompanist, a role that has brought her great pleasure. Until moving to live in Surrey, Judith divided her time between teaching privately,and at Edgehill College, Ormskirk, and accompanying singers and instrumentalists. In recent years she has been involved with East Surrey Operatic Society, and in particular with Young ESOS in their summer production which she considers a real privilege and joy.
Alan Dean
See adjudicating lists for biography.
Stewart Death
As an accompanist Stewart works annually at the Alderley Edge, Crosby, Hazel Grove, Heaton Mersey and Southport Festivals and has also worked for Blackburn, Buxton, Burnley, Fleetwood and Lytham Festivals. He has toured throughout Europe with the Concordia Opera Trio, been heard as an accompanist on Classic F.M, B.B.C Radio and Television, worked as an accompanist for Welsh National Opera, recorded several compact discs and appeared at many top venues including the Purcell Room, St. David’s Hall, and Barbican Centre. He is a founder member of Travelling by Tuba who currently perform in excess of 200 concerts a year.
Timothy Kennedy
Tim began his musical career as a treble at St George’s Chapel Windsor and a music scholar at Winchester College. After graduating with a degree in music from Cambridge University in 2003, he moved to the North-West and now pursues a varied freelance career. He is based in Manchester, working as a freelance tenor soloist and as an accompanist. He has been an accompanist member of the Federation since 2007 and has largely worked at festivals in the North West. He also teaches at Chetham’s School of Music and at Terra Nova School in Cheshire.
Frances Kelleher (MacBeth)
Frances won a postgraduate scholarship in Accompaniment to Guildhall’s School of Music and Drama where she won the Anthony Lewis Memorial Prize in Accompaniment and the Guildhall Lieder Prize. She then worked as staff accompanist at GSMD for 4 years, before continuing her studies at Dublin’s RIAM with Dr John O’ Connor, graduating with a First Class Masters in Accompaniment. Frances has worked as repetiteur for many opera companies and is a regular song recitalist. A lecturer at Cork’s School of Music, she is on the music staff at Ampleforth College. She also freelances for Opera North.
Suzy Ruffles
Suzy Ruffles took a postgraduate diploma in piano accompaniment at Trinity College of Music, studying under Eugene Asti and completed the course in July 2007. Suzy performs with the Britannic and ADASKA chamber ensembles and plays at AIMS International Music School. She has worked as repetiteur for several London and European based operatic productions for companies including Trinity College of Music, Vignette Productions and Hampstead Garden Opera. Suzy works as a staff accompanist for Trinity College of Music and is the accompanist for the Godalming Choral Society and the Greenwich University Choir.
Stuart Smith
See adjudicating lists for biography.