The YMM Grand Finale Adjudicators for 2007

Geraldine Wills  was born and educated in Winchester. Whilst reading law at Southampton University and practising as a solicitor she maintained her links with music and subsequently developed a second career as a teacher and performer.

Currently she teaches piano and theory at The Pilgrims School in Winchester and performs extensively both as a soloist and accompanist. She was President of the Music Masters' and Mistresses' Association in 2005.

Geraldine adjudicated at the YMM Grand Finale in 2005 and 2006.

Chris McNeilly  began his musical life as a French Horn player and was the solo horn in the Hillingdon Brass Band. He was the British Forces Broadcasting Service Young Musician of the Year, which led him to continue his studies during his long service with the Black Watch Band and Household Division.

He was based in Oman for 19 years, working with the Sultan's Armed Forces, in charge of the Tri-Service instrument workshop. He currently freelances in Kent as a teacher of all woodwind and brass instruments and is renowned as a maker and repairer of Northumbrian small pipes, the Hurdy-Gurdy, brass and woodwind instruments and piano renovations. He was recently appointed the ABRSM HLR for Folkestone.

Chris adjudicated at the 2006 YMM Grand Finale.

Sir Peter Newson-Smith Bt.  comes from a distinguished family. On the paternal side he comes from a family of stockbrokers (his grandfather was elected Lord Mayor of London) and his maternal grandfather was the eminent musician Doctor Greenhouse-Allt, who was the Principal of Trinity College of Music in London and President of The Royal College of Organists.

As a student, Sir Peter attended Trinity College of Music and studied the organ and piano. After a brief spell as Director of Music at Hazelwood House Preparatory School in Surrey, Sir Peter became Director of Music at Clayesmore Preparatory School in 1979, a post that he held until his retirement in 2004.

Sir Peter has chaired the panel of the YMM Grand Finale since the beginning of the competition in 2003.