Meet the judges
Perri Alleyne-Hughes
Perri has had a long and varied career both inside and outside of music. She was one of 4 female founder-members of Sense of Sound, (1989-2018), a Liverpool-based company specialising in a cappella singing. They performed original material and delivered vocal workshops, both locally and across the UK. They made appearances in a number of shows including the TV drama, Cold Feet and devised vocal soundtracks to accompany 5 BBC Radio 4 plays. Their reputation for excellence was recognised by the Queen in a Pioneer for the Nation award in 2002.
Perri was the Musical Director for Sense of Sound Singers, (2004 – 2017) during which time she created over 200 distinctive contemporary pop arrangements. They attracted high profile figures such as Damon Albarn, Greenpeace and Brian Eno, Russell Watson, Gareth Malone, Seal, Bon Jovi and Paco Peña. Perri’s voice can also be heard performing two songs in the film ’28 Days Later’ by Danny Boyle (2002).
Alongside these things, Perri was a high school teacher of Maths, Biology and Performing Arts, for over 3 decades and was a huge advocate for encouraging her students to become involved in music, drama and dance.
In 2021, she re-worked the Blue album by Joni Mitchell to much acclaim which included an autobiographical thread that ran through this multi-media show.
She currently leads the Perri Alleyne-Hughes Ensemble who perform a poignant mix of jazz fusion pieces.
Loz Kaye, Director of Lancashire County of Song
Loz Kaye has worked extensively as a Choir Leader, Musical Director, Composer and Vocal Teacher, and is Director of Lancashire County of Song. His music has been heard in performances all the way from Nashville, Tennessee to Okinawa, Japan. He has worked with many Lancashire arts organisations notably Horse and Bamboo and More Music. Theatre music credits include Trestle Theatre, The Royal and Derngate Northampton, Dark Horse and Stephen Joseph Theatre, Scarborough. Recent projects include large scale participatory works “The Last Rose” for Encounter Festival, and “River Runs” commissioned by Lancaster Arts, funded by Historic England.
He has taught widely, and is former leader of music programmes at GITIS Scandinavia Drama School in Aarhus, Denmark. He is a passionate advocate of the public power of song, winning multiple awards. Currently he is Musical Director of Hope Mill Community Choir and Director of Sound for Separate Doors Theatre Company.
Janey Moran
Janey Moran is a cultural strategist and producer with over 20 years’ experience designing and delivering creative programmes that foster community engagement, wellbeing, and place-making. Her career spans both public and private sectors, with roles including producer, project manager, arts consultant, and cultural manager within local authorities in Cheshire and Lancashire.
Janey has led large-scale participatory initiatives, integrating socially engaged practice to create lasting impact, and bringing a multidisciplinary approach to cultural development. She has delivered projects across dance, music, performing arts, visual arts, new media, and heritage, alongside public art and regeneration programmes.
Driven by a commitment to inclusive and sustainable cultural growth, Janey continues to champion creative projects that connect people, places, and purpose.
Emma McManus
Emma McManus is a highly accomplished barbershop singer and Musical Director. She has been a member of the Ladies Association of British Barbershop Singers (LABBS) for around 37 years. From an early age, Emma has been a keen musician; playing cornet in Eccleston and Leyland band, as well as thrilling audiences and judges alike on the national and international stage with her chorus the Red Rosettes Show Chorus; a multi-award-winning chorus. Within the chorus, she has sung almost every voice part; evidencing her exceptional musical agility and talents.
Having been a member of the chorus leadership team at 16, she later became MD of the Red Rosettes Show Chorus in 2015. She has led them from strength to strength, with their most recent successes being third in an international competition in Ireland in 2024 and fifth in the prestigious European Barbershop Convention in May 2025. Other notable achievements of the chorus in 2024 included accompanying Russell Watson for his Magnificent Buildings tour, appearing on BBC Songs of Praise and of course, winning Lancashire Choir of the Year.
Emma has also performed nationally and internationally in various barbershop quartets including Generation Gap, Northern Vibe, SoundHouse and Canberra Road. Her quartet SoundHouse has enjoyed significant success becoming national quartet champions in 2017 and subsequently the European champions. Emma has also taken part in the LABBS singing judge programme and delivered education sessions at LABBS Harmony College, supporting the capability-building of members and aspiring MDs.
When she isn’t busy in barbershop, Emma is also a dedicated mum, wife, and chemotherapy nurse.