Douglas Coombes (01/01/1935), an English composer and conductor (born in Bristol). He is a popular lecturer and course director and directs around 30 courses annually for teachers as well as directing choral workshops, home and abroad. He is a widely respected Member Adjudicator of the British and International Federation of Festivals working frequently in this country and overseas; he has just been appointed Chairman of the Adjudicators' Council of the Federation. In 2000 he was one of the adjudicators in the Sainsbury's Choir of the Year competition. He is President of the South Hampstead Girls Schools Choirs and is a member of various organisations - Association of British Choral Directors, British Academy of Composers and Songwriters, Mechanical Copyright and Phonographic Society, Musicians' Union, Society of Authors and Performing Rights Society. He is also one of the Patrons of the British Kodaly Academy.