Adjudicators

Kay Tucker AGSM, ARCM, LTCL, PGCE, PGCA.

Kay Tucker was born in Sheffield, Yorkshire and began studies on the cello at the age of 12. She studied at the Huddersfield School of Music with Anna Shuttleworth and Susan Lowe and under Stefan Popov at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama in London.

Kay combines teaching with performing and is in much demand as an Adjudicator throughout the UK, having worked at over 80 festivals including the National Festival of Music for Youth. She has taught students from a wide background of standards, abilities and age range and has earned much respect from within the profession for her work.

Kay has written published articles on aspects of teaching and adjudicating for the European String Teachers Association as well as regularly reviewing new music publications.
Over recent years, she has been invited to address members of the Incorporated Society of Musicians on various aspects of her career and has also given presentations on aspects of teaching to the final year students at the Guildhall School of Music & Drama.

In 2002, she was invited by Trinity College Examination Board to select cello repertoire for the 2004 strings syllabus and has also set the new 2007 – 09 Trinity Guildhall cello syllabus. She continues to work in a consultant capacity for Trinity Guildhall.

Kay has also developed a pre-school cello teaching system, named ‘Cellobabies’, and has recently completed a violin version. Both ‘Cellobabies’ and ‘Violinbabies’ are enjoying promising success with several teachers in the UK and abroad adopting the method. Most notably, Exeter Young Strings have established 2 music centres for very young children from low income families, using Kay’s method as the core teaching material and have been awarded substantial grants from Youth Music and Exeter City Council.

As a performer, Kay gives recitals both as soloist and ensemble player. She is a member of the Sussex Piano Trio, which has acquired a popular following and has enjoyed working alongside living composers such as Howard Blake and Gillian Carcas.

Kay became an Adjudicator Member of the British and International Federation of Festivals in 1997 and undertook the Post-graduate Certificate in Adjudication in 1999/2000.

She lives in Sussex with her husband and 2 children.

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