Robert T. Elliott
Rob grew up in South Wales as part of a musical family. He conducted the Massed Male Choirs at the Welsh National Eisteddfod at the age of only 21, and the English National Symphony Orchestra at the Wiltshire Music Festival in 1999. Rob is a former Trombonist of the Band of the Royal Regiment of Wales, and former Musical Director of four male choirs in England and Wales. He has formerly directed choirs to win many prizes at international competitions. Rob has adjudicated at many festivals and competitions, including the National Choral Festival in Ireland, Isle of Man Festival of Choirs, Bangor International Choral Festival in Northern Ireland, the Cornwall International Male Choral Competition, the North Wales Choral Festival, Barnardo’s National School Choir Competition at The Barbican and Royal Festival Hall, and the National Prep School Choir Competition at Cadogan Hall. Rob was Festival Director of the world’s largest male choir festival, with over 60 male choirs taking part, and is in great demand for his choral workshops and choir coaching & development roles.
Jane Irwin
As a concert and recital singer Jane has appeared regularly in Britain, Europe and America. Highlights have included appearances at the Carnegie Hall, New York, the BBC Proms, the Wigmore Hall, the Edinburgh International Festival, the Berlin Festival, the Concertgebouw, Boston Symphony Hall, and the Musikverein, Vienna. She has collaborated with the Deutsche Symphony Orchester, Orchestre de Paris, San Paolo Symphony, Rotterdam Philharmonic, Pittsburgh Symphony, San Francisco Symphony, Zurich Tonhalle and many more, with such conductors as Sir Simon Rattle, Sir Andrew Davis, Donald Runnicles, Antonio Pappano and Sir Mark Elder. Jane has given recitals at the Chatelet, Paris, London, Edinburgh, Geneva , Aix-en-Provence and Japan.
Operatic appearances have included Ring Cycles at Bayreuth, ROH and Scottish Opera, and other leading roles with Deutsche Oper, Berlin, San Francisco Opera, Chicago Lyric Opera and the major British companies. Jane also teaches singing at the RNCM.
Antonia Sotgiu
Antonia Sotgiu, a mezzo-soprano, is of Italian and Irish descent and was born in Bolton, Lancashire. She has performed prominent roles with various opera companies in the UK, including Welsh National Opera, Opera North, English National Opera, Glyndebourne, English Touring Opera, Opera Holland Park, and Garsington Opera. Notably, she has portrayed Amneris in Verdi's Aida and Carmen in the title role at the Royal Albert Hall. Antonia has also sung as a soloist with renowned orchestras such as the Hallé, Liverpool Philharmonic, London Symphony, Royal Philharmonic, and BBC Scottish Symphony.
Antonia received her musical education at the Royal Northern College of Music and later attended the National Opera Studio. Her contributions to the field have been acknowledged with an Honorary Doctor of Arts degree from Bolton University.
In addition to her performing career, Antonia now leads a busy schedule as a singing teacher, providing instruction at the Royal Northern College of Music, JRNCM, and the University of Manchester. She also conducts Italian Repertoire Classes at the RNCM.
▽ The 2025 Judges ▽
