Ayrshire Music Festival
Established in 1912
87th Ayrshire Music Festival – 10th to 23rd March 2012
Affiliated to the British & International Federation of Festivals for Music Dance and Speech
Patron: Her Majesty The Queen
Official Accompanists
Official Accompanists will play for all competitions and any recall performances, except in a select number of competitions where competitors may bring their own accompanist who must then also play at any recall performances – please see the syllabus for full details.
In competitions for Instrumental Recital Class, Percussion Bands, Singing Games, Recorder Bands, Group Music Making, String Orchestras and Ensembles, each competitor or group must provide their own accompanist.
Judith Keaney
Judith Keaney was born in Glasgow and studied at the RSAMD with Jean Hutchison. She graduated with BA (Hons), MMus Perf in Piano Accompaniment and has since worked throughout Great Britain as soloist, accompanist and duettist. She is an experienced orchestral keyboard player, working regularly with the RSNO, BBC SSO and Paragon Ensemble. She has performed in Estonia, Latvia, France and the Czech Republic as both principal Piano and Celeste with these ensembles.
She and her duo partner, Lynda Cochrane, have formed the accompaniment for the Orkney Conducting Course since 2003.Judith also teaches at The Glasgow Academy and has a large private teaching practice. When not working, she enjoys spending time with her husband and daughter.
Jean Hutchison
Jean Hutchison was born in Dundee and received her musical education at the RSAMD, Glasgow where she won all the major prizes. A Caird Scholarship enabled a further 2 years of study at the RAM, London. Her work has covered a wide range; solo, accompaniment, chamber music, orchestral piano, but most of all piano duos with her husband, Jack Keaney. They have broadcast and given many recitals throughout the UK, often playing works which they have commissioned from Scottish composers.
She has held teaching posts at the RSAMD junior and senior departments and the Music School for specially gifted children, Douglas Academy. Many of her students have gone on to forge successful careers within the profession.
Anna Rastopchina
Anna Rastopchina was born in St. Petersburg, Russia, where she studied at St. Petersburg State Conservatoire. In 1987 she became a prize-winner of the West of Russia Musicians' Competition and graduated from the Conservatoire with an Honours Diploma.
In 1994 Anna was awarded the Broadwood Fellowship in Piano Accompaniment at the RSAMD and the next year she won the RSAMD scholarship. Since then she has lived in Glasgow and performs as a soloist and ensemble player throughout the country.
Anna teaches piano at the RSAMD, Glasgow University, Douglas Academy and Glasgow Academy. She also plays for the conducting classes of Dr. Alastair Mitchell at the RSAMD. This is Anna's ninth year with the Ayrshire Music Festival.
Karyn McCulloch
Karyn McCulloch first set eyes on an accordion at the tender age of two. She had her first lesson at the age of seven and she continued lessons for the next nine years. Karyn plays regularly for the RSCDS at weekly classes and also with her band for some RSCDS Dances, Ceilidhs, etc. She can also be heard hosting “The West Sound Ceilidh” every Saturday night.