Sir Neville Marriner has been a principal character in British music for over sixty years. He played in both the London Philharmonic and the London Symphony Orchestras which gave him the experience of various legendary conductors - among them Toscanini and Wilhelm Furtwängler, Guido Cantelli and Herbert von Karajan.

He founded the Academy of St Martin-in-the-Fields in 1959, making numerous concert tours with this ensemble and many recordings. He has twice been honoured for his services to music. In 1979 he was made a Commander of the Order of the British Empire and in 1985 he received a Knighthood.

Daventry welcomes the Federation's new President.

Lyndon is a writer, lecturer and broadcaster in music and specialises in British music, British artists, and British musical history. He has made documentary programmes and lectures widely on these and a range of other subjects. He has written extensively on musical subjects for specialist magazines as well as hundreds of CD booklets. He is Music Adviser at Symphony Hall Birmingham, where he advises on programming, interviews many of the world-famous artists appearing there, introduces concerts and arranges special events.

Paul is Press Officer for Chandos Records and appeared briefly 'on stage' at our 2005 Weekend event when he contributed to the conversation between Dame Joan Sutherland and our President, Edward Greenfield about the work of Richard Bonynge. In 2007 he appeared in his own right, as a writer and critic, talking about "All things French". We welcome him back in 2010 for another presentation in his unique and refreshing style.

An acknowledged champion of British music, Mark Bebbington has been singled out as a young British pianist of the rarest refinement and maturity. His performances and recordings have been greeted with unanimous critical acclaim.

Over recent seasons Mark has toured extensively within the UK and throughout Central and Northern Europe, both as recitalist and as concerto soloist, with many of the world's leading orchestras. He has also featured both as concerto soloist and recitalist on BBC Television and Radio and on major European television and radio networks.

Mark has recorded extensively for the SOMM "New Horizons" label with performances of the music of John Ireland, Frank Bridge, Ivor Gurney and Edward Elgar. Many of these CDs have been recorded at Birmingham's Symphony Hall, where Mark has the distinction of becoming the first solo artist to record there.

Debbie is a professional singer and singing coach but is also a presenter for a Brighton based radio station. Her extensive concert work has taken her around the United Kingdom (including the Royal Festival Hall and the West End of London) across Europe and back to her home territory of Canada.

As well as contemporary music, she has a keen interest in music from North America and gives talks such as the 'American Round Up' series about American classical music but also 'Northern Lights' -an introduction to Canadian composers.

Born into a famous family (her father was Fyfe Robertson, of BBC renown) she studied singing at the RCM, and opera and German lieder in Vienna. As widow of the singer Richard Lewis CBE she speaks about his life and voice, drawing on archive recordings of legendary performances at Covent Garden and Glyndebourne, as well as relating amusing and interesting anecdotes.

Cosima Yu is an advanced award winning clarinettist at Birmingham Conservatoire. Amongst her successes to date include the Symphony Hall prize which gives her the opportunity to perform in the UK's leading concert hall.

The Conference Charge for residents is £35.

Day delegate rates are Friday £10#, Saturday £35#* and Sunday £20*.
*Lunch included. #Dinner can be ordered separately, price to be advised.