A perfect platform to learn and grow

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Professional opera singer and one of the country’s leading vocal adjudicators Barbara Lowe, from Derby, recalls her experiences of the Derby Arts Festival, both as a highly successful competitor and in her present role as an adjudicator and council member of the Derby Arts Festival Centenary Committee.

Singer Barbara Lowe wins two Derby Arts Festival cups in 1953

In the late 1940s and 50s, when I took part in the festival, it was then called the Derby and Derbyshire Musical Festival and was held in the lovely old vaulted Derby Art Gallery, a perfect recital hall, holding the best acoustics in Derby – now, sadly, used only for storing pictures.

Mona and John Locke were two of the stalwarts of that era. Some of the vocal classes attracted as many as 30 to 35 entrants and competition was very strong, especially amongst some of the so called “pot hunters”. Stella Lovegrove, Shirley Middleton and Brenda Tomlinson were the main rivals and woe betide any newcomers challenging them!

One person whom I remember was ever-present, come what may, was Eileen Murphey. She was born in Derby and became a professional concert pianist and accompanist. For more than 40 years, she was the only official accompanist to the festival, playing for all the vocal and instrumental classes – nine hours of concentrated playing, every day for two weeks.

She gave her all, supporting and encouraging musicians of all talents and abilities, and was a real treasure. Five accompanists now fill that roll.

Among the adjudicators visiting Derby at that time, all renowned in their field, were Sydney Northcote, Maurice Jacobson, John Clements, Helen Henschel (a composer and daughter of George Henschel a well-known singer), Marjorie Thomas (one of the countries leading contralto soloists, who sang in Derby several times) and the famous singer/composer Michael Head, who also gave a memorable recital in the Art Gallery.

The overall format of the festival has changed little over the years and it is still the ideal place to gain experience and learn the art of performing in front of a live audience. I started performing at 12 and it helped me enormously in terms of confidence and feedback from the judges.

The type of classes offered in the vocal section have, however, changed drastically, with Songs From The Shows sadly taking over from the more classical repertoire.

In 1953, Charles Southern presented a trophy to be awarded to the winner of the six open vocal classes. It was held in the old Central Hall, part of the Co-op, and it was always the trophy to win.

Of the thousands of competitors over the 100 years, many have become leading lights on the local music scene – people like Colin Ashton, Judith Oldbury, Mark Pollard, Nigel Taylor and Simon Theobald.

Many have gone on to become professionals artists, including Sir Alan Bates, Paula Bishop, Karen England (one of the Opera Babes), Ian Jervis and myself, as I was fortunate enough to spend 20 years working at the Royal Opera House.

The festival has always provided a very good learning ground for young prodigies and is a fantastic platform from which to gain experience and ability, whatever your age.

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