Meet our Choir of the Year Jurors!
We've gathered an incredible group of experts who are just as excited as we are to celebrate this year's performances. These jurors bring passion, expertise, and genuine enthusiasm to every choir taking the stage.
Junior, Senior and Adult categoryKathleen Bell is a soprano, vocal health specialist, and singing tutor at Sharjah Performing Arts Academy with three decades of teaching experience across the US, Europe, Australia, and the UAE. Her expertise in voice pedagogy, somatic voicework, and vocal health makes her the perfect judge to evaluate choirs across our junior, senior, and adult categories.
KATHLEEN BELL
ROB JOHNSTON
As Musical Director of Nabra Chamber Choir, Manager of the BBC Singers, and Director of RSVP VOICES, Rob brings decades of experience conducting, performing, and coaching at the highest level. He's served as Head Judge for the COBIS Virtual Music Competition and the Young Musician of The Gulf competition, and has conducted at venues from the Royal Albert Hall to Dubai Opera. His choirs have recorded soundtracks for Harry Potter, Downton Abbey, and Napoleon.
Junior, Senior and Adult category
YULIANA KIREYEVA
Junior and Senior categoryWith 16 years of international experience as a voice teacher, choral conductor, and the UAE's only Vocal Health First Aider, Yuliana trained over 900 students and is a passionate advocate for vocal health and sustainable voice use. Her dedication to developing young voices makes her perfect for evaluating our younger choirs.
ANDREW HOPKINS
ADULT categoryUK-based musical director, vocal coach, and former Lead Tutor at Sharjah Performing Arts Academy, bringing extensive experience from West End productions and international theatre. Hopkins has worked with legends like Dame Julie Andrews and Dame Angela Lansbury, and his passion for empowering confident, expressive performance makes him ideal for judging our adult category.