Ontario Music Festivals Association - Schedule (2024)

Classical Piano - Level 9 - Group A

Adjudicator: Petya Stavreva

Praised for expressing "ultra-sensitive and highly refined pianism" (Quinte Society for Chamber Music), pianist Petya Stavreva holds a Doctorate degree in Musical Arts from Western University. Prior to arriving at Western, she finished her Master's degree at the University of Texas at Austin, receiving full scholarship and grant support from Canada Arts Council.

Dr. Stavreva recently relocated to Alberta and is now based in St. Albert. She is the incoming President of the St. Albert Piano Teachers' Association, and is also certified by ARMTA. Petya maintains an independent teaching studio in-person and online, and her students continuously succeed in festivals and competitions. Most recently, two of her students were awarded 1st place for levels 5 and 10 of the RCM's "Music Lights the Way" festival. Petya is in demand as an educator and has been an adjudicator for the Kiwanis Festival in Toronto, the Pickering GTA Music Festival, the Brant Music Festival, the Kiwanis Festival in Ottawa as well as the Ontario Music Festival Association in Hamilton, among many others. In 2024, she is adjudicating the British Columbia's Provincial Festival. She also collaborated with violinist Marie Berard (from the Canadian Opera Company) in recordings for the RCM's 2022 Celebration Series.

Petya has been a prize winner of numerous competitions in Canada and Europe, and has played concerts throughout Canada but also internationally, including in the US, France, Italy and Bulgaria.

She obtained an Artist Diploma at the Glenn Gould School on full scholarship, and a Bachelor's degree at the University of Toronto. Shortly after moving to Canada in 2002, Petya also attended the Taylor Performance Academy in Toronto with full scholarship. She has been very fortunate to study with a variety of teachers including Leslie Kinton, Anton Nel, James Anagnoson, Jamie Parker, Marietta Orlov and Arshalouis Nersessian.

Location

Knox Presbyterian Church
461 Elizabeth St.
Burlington, ON L7R 4B1

Classical Piano - Level 9 - Group B

Adjudicator: Asher Ian Armstrong

Asher maintains an active concert career: notable recent engagements include solo recital performances at the Walton Arts Center, the Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art, and the Royal College of Music in London (UK), as well as appearances as concerto soloist with Pax Christi Chorale and the Mozart Players of Toronto, and with the North York Concert Orchestra.

A passionate, committed teacher, Asher is on the Piano Faculty of the University of Toronto where he is a Lecturer of Piano and Chamber Music. Prior to this appointment Asher served as an Assistant professor of Piano at the University of Arkansas, and Asher has also taught at the Interlochen School for the Arts.

Asher serves as an adjudicator and masterclass clinician at many festivals and competitions throughout North America, and internationally, and is also a proud member of the Royal Conservatory's College of Examiners. As a scholar, Asher's work has been published by Cambridge University Press's Tempo, as well as Clavier/Piano Magazine, American Music Teacher, the European Piano Teachers Association Piano Journal, Canadian Music Teacher, MTNA's E-Journal, the Kaprálová Society Journal, and others.

Location

Port Nelson United Church
3132 South Drive
Burlington, On L7N 1H7

Classical Piano - Level 9 - Group D

Adjudicator: Paul Williamson

Included in CBC Music's 2017 edition of "30 Hot Canadian Classical Musicians under 30," Paul Williamson has established himself as one of Canada's promising young pianists. He received first prize at both the 2014 Canadian National Music Festival and the 2017 Canadian Federation of Music Teachers' Association National Piano Competition in addition to three semifinal awards. He is also a prizewinner of the 2020 WMC McLellan Competition and received 3rd prize at the 2022 Shean Piano Competition and the 2023 Bader and Overton Canadian Piano Competition.

Currently a Doctor of Musical Arts degree candidate at Northwestern University, Williamson also holds degrees from the Colburn School (AD, Mmus) and the University of Manitoba (Bmus). He has studied under James Giles, Fabio Bidini, David Moroz, and Jean-Yves Thibaudet. Williamson has participated in the following festivals: Morningside Music Bridge, Aspen, Orford, Music Academy of the West, Scotia, Creative Dialogue XIII; and held residency at the Avaloch Farm Music Institute. In the spring of 2023, Williamson recorded his debut solo album featuring the music of Franz Liszt for Naxos Records. He has also recorded an album of the music of Canadian composer Tristan Zaba alongside Canadian soprano Mckenzie Warriner for the Centrediscs label. Williamson is grateful to have his career supported by the Amron-Sutherland Grant for Young Pianists from the Colburn School and for the support of the BC Arts Council.

Location

Wellington Square United Church
2121 Caroline Street
Burlington, On L7R 1L7

Classical Piano - Level 9 - Group C

Adjudicator: Todd Yaniw

Todd Yaniw is a Canadian pianist praised for his "atmospheric contrast of poetry and power…a hair-raising performance". Since his debut with the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra at age 13, Mr. Yaniw has performed across Canada; at festivals and venues including CBC Vancouver, the Banff Centre for Music, Edmonton's Winspear Centre for Music, the Ottawa International Chamber Music Festival, the Festival of the Sound in Parry Sound, the Richard Bradshaw Amphitheatre, and Koerner Hall. Mr. Yaniw has performed concerti with several Canadian orchestras, including the Toronto Symphony Orchestra and the Kitchener-Waterloo Symphony, and has performed with the Afiara Quartet, Rolston String Quartet, Trio Arkel and the ARC Ensemble (Artists of the Royal Conservatory). Todd has been interviewed and broadcast on many occasions on CBC Radio, and was featured in CBC's "30 under 30" list. Internationally, Todd has performed in Bulgaria, China, Italy, Jamaica, Monaco, the United Kingdom and the United States.

Mr. Yaniw has been supported by the Canada Council for the Arts, and twice was a recipient of the Sylva Gelber Music Foundation Awards. He was on the performance staff at The Glenn Gould School, and served on the faculty of The Phil and Eli Taylor Performance Academy for Young Artists.

Todd Yaniw recently returned to his home province of Alberta and is now based in St. Albert. Recent engagements include a collaborative album, guest faculty for the Rosebud Chamber Music Festival, and several performance projects. His previous teachers include Michael Massey, Dr. James Parker, Professor James Anagnoson (The Glenn Gould School), and Dr. Jon Kimura Parker (Rice University). Mr. Yaniw completed his doctorate at the University of Texas at Austin, where he worked with Dr. Anton Nel.

Location

St. Christopher's Anglican Church
662 Guelph Line
Burlington, On L7R 3M8

Classical Woodwinds - Level 10

Adjudicator: Patricia Dydnansky

Patricia Dydnansky currently holds the position of Second Flute & Piccolo with the Niagara Symphony and teaches in the Marilyn I. Walker School of Fine & Performing Arts at Brock University. She is also an active freelance musician, playing flute and piccolo with the Hamilton Philharmonic, Kingston Symphony, Kitchener-Waterloo Symphony, London Symphonia, Shaw Festival Orchestra, the Stratford Festival Orchestra, Talisker Players Orchestra, Thunder Bay Symphony Orchestra, Windsor Symphony, and various smaller ensembles in the Greater Toronto Area.

She has been a substitute musician at the Shaw Festival on flute & piccolo for Brigadoon (2019 & 2023), on various flutes & clarinet in "Sweeney Todd" (2016) at Shaw, and "Sousatzka" (2017) at the Lord Elgin Theatre in Toronto. As a faculty member at the MIWSFPA, Patricia has regularly performed solo & chamber music recitals on the Music@Noon and Encore!
Professional concert series since joining the Music Department in 2002.

Patricia has a Bachelor of Music (Music History & Theory) from McMaster University, a Master of Music (Performance) from the University of Western Ontario and a Postgraduate Diploma (Performance) from the Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester, England. She has participated in the Professional Residency Program at the Banff Centre for the Arts and continued her education as both a participant and instructor at the Scottish International Flute Summer School for 14 years. Her teachers include Peter Lloyd, Patricia Morris, Paula Elliott, Camille Churchfield, Wissam Boustany and Ian Clarke.

Location

Faith Christian Reformed Church
2265 Mountainside
Burlington, Ontario L7P 1B6

Classical Woodwinds - Diploma

Adjudicator: Patricia Dydnansky

Patricia Dydnansky currently holds the position of Second Flute & Piccolo with the Niagara Symphony and teaches in the Marilyn I. Walker School of Fine & Performing Arts at Brock University. She is also an active freelance musician, playing flute and piccolo with the Hamilton Philharmonic, Kingston Symphony, Kitchener-Waterloo Symphony, London Symphonia, Shaw Festival Orchestra, the Stratford Festival Orchestra, Talisker Players Orchestra, Thunder Bay Symphony Orchestra, Windsor Symphony, and various smaller ensembles in the Greater Toronto Area.

She has been a substitute musician at the Shaw Festival on flute & piccolo for Brigadoon (2019 & 2023), on various flutes & clarinet in "Sweeney Todd" (2016) at Shaw, and "Sousatzka" (2017) at the Lord Elgin Theatre in Toronto. As a faculty member at the MIWSFPA, Patricia has regularly performed solo & chamber music recitals on the Music@Noon and Encore!
Professional concert series since joining the Music Department in 2002.

Patricia has a Bachelor of Music (Music History & Theory) from McMaster University, a Master of Music (Performance) from the University of Western Ontario and a Postgraduate Diploma (Performance) from the Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester, England. She has participated in the Professional Residency Program at the Banff Centre for the Arts and continued her education as both a participant and instructor at the Scottish International Flute Summer School for 14 years. Her teachers include Peter Lloyd, Patricia Morris, Paula Elliott, Camille Churchfield, Wissam Boustany and Ian Clarke.

Location

Faith Christian Reformed Church
2265 Mountainside
Burlington, Ontario L7P 1B6

Classical Woodwinds - Open

Adjudicator: Patricia Dydnansky

Patricia Dydnansky currently holds the position of Second Flute & Piccolo with the Niagara Symphony and teaches in the Marilyn I. Walker School of Fine & Performing Arts at Brock University. She is also an active freelance musician, playing flute and piccolo with the Hamilton Philharmonic, Kingston Symphony, Kitchener-Waterloo Symphony, London Symphonia, Shaw Festival Orchestra, the Stratford Festival Orchestra, Talisker Players Orchestra, Thunder Bay Symphony Orchestra, Windsor Symphony, and various smaller ensembles in the Greater Toronto Area.

She has been a substitute musician at the Shaw Festival on flute & piccolo for Brigadoon (2019 & 2023), on various flutes & clarinet in "Sweeney Todd" (2016) at Shaw, and "Sousatzka" (2017) at the Lord Elgin Theatre in Toronto. As a faculty member at the MIWSFPA, Patricia has regularly performed solo & chamber music recitals on the Music@Noon and Encore!
Professional concert series since joining the Music Department in 2002.

Patricia has a Bachelor of Music (Music History & Theory) from McMaster University, a Master of Music (Performance) from the University of Western Ontario and a Postgraduate Diploma (Performance) from the Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester, England. She has participated in the Professional Residency Program at the Banff Centre for the Arts and continued her education as both a participant and instructor at the Scottish International Flute Summer School for 14 years. Her teachers include Peter Lloyd, Patricia Morris, Paula Elliott, Camille Churchfield, Wissam Boustany and Ian Clarke.

Location

Faith Christian Reformed Church
2265 Mountainside
Burlington, Ontario L7P 1B6

Location

Salvation Army Church
2090 Prospect St.
Burlington, Ontario L7R 1Y9

Classical Upper Strings - Level 7 - Group B

Adjudicator: Maxime Despax

Canadian violist Maxime Despax is an engaged chamber and orchestral musician. Currently, he is pursuing a Doctor of Musical Arts degree at the University of Toronto where he also completed a Master's degree in Viola Performance under the tutelage of Teng Li. Originally from Gatineau, Quebec, he has studied at the Conservatoire de Musique de Gatineau and the Conservatoire de Musique de Montréal with Emmanuel Beaudet and Jocelyne Bastien. Maxime has performed alongside many distinguished musicians such as the New Orford String Quartet, the Gryphon Trio, Rob Kapilow, Krisztina Szabó, Philip Chiu, Alex Kerr, and Yehonatan Berick. He has also performed as a soloist with the Orchestre du Conservatoire de Musique de Gatineau, as well as the Indiana University Summer String Academy Chamber
Orchestra.

An avid chamber musician, Maxime is an active member of the Quatuor Despax, a family string quartet that tours extensively throughout Canada, as well as internationally in France, Italy, and Colombia. Furthermore, Maxime is a founding member of the Interro String Quartet, which is based in Toronto and performs in the Greater Toronto Area.
Also an active orchestral musician, Maxime is a member of the Orchestre Symphonique de Gatineau and has played regularly with the Toronto Symphony Orchestra, Canadian Opera Company, and the National Ballet of Canada.

Location

Burlington East Presbyterian Church
505 Walkers Line
Burlington, On L7L 3E2

Location

Brant Hills Presbyterian Church
2138 Brant Street
Burlington, On L7P 3W5

Classical Lower Strings - Diploma & Open

Adjudicator: Amber Walton-Amar

Amber has taught cello to adults and children for 25 years. She holds teaching certifications through the Suzuki Association of the Americas, the Royal Conservatory of Music, and the Creative Ability Development method for improvisation. She has held teaching positions at Chicago's Columbia College, Valparaiso University, the Royal Conservatory of Music, the North York Suzuki Conservatory, and maintains her own private cello studio. Most recently, Amber has created the Muse & Mate practice journal for musicians, and co-founded Quintissimo: a Sistema based free after school music program devoted to serving marginalized families in the Hastings/Prince Edward County region.

Amber's career has included touring Canada, Europe, and China with various symphonies and ensembles. She is a versatile cellist who has appeared on stages worldwide alongside artists such as KYGO, SYML, Lief Vollebek, Tyler Shaw, and Shawn Mendes. Other performance highlights include work with TIFF and TedX. As a freelance musician, Amber has performed for Prime Ministers, Presidents, dignitaries and movie stars - at storied venues such as Roy Thomson Hall, Koerner Hall, Chicago Symphony Center, Amsterdam Paradiso, Shanghai Symphony Hall, and Berlin's Kesselhaus. Amber holds Bachelor of Music and Master of Music degrees in Cello Performance.

Location

Pineland Baptist Church
5100 New St.
Burlington, On L7L 1V1

Classical Lower Strings - Level 9

Adjudicator: Amber Walton-Amar

Amber has taught cello to adults and children for 25 years. She holds teaching certifications through the Suzuki Association of the Americas, the Royal Conservatory of Music, and the Creative Ability Development method for improvisation. She has held teaching positions at Chicago's Columbia College, Valparaiso University, the Royal Conservatory of Music, the North York Suzuki Conservatory, and maintains her own private cello studio. Most recently, Amber has created the Muse & Mate practice journal for musicians, and co-founded Quintissimo: a Sistema based free after school music program devoted to serving marginalized families in the Hastings/Prince Edward County region.

Amber's career has included touring Canada, Europe, and China with various symphonies and ensembles. She is a versatile cellist who has appeared on stages worldwide alongside artists such as KYGO, SYML, Lief Vollebek, Tyler Shaw, and Shawn Mendes. Other performance highlights include work with TIFF and TedX. As a freelance musician, Amber has performed for Prime Ministers, Presidents, dignitaries and movie stars - at storied venues such as Roy Thomson Hall, Koerner Hall, Chicago Symphony Center, Amsterdam Paradiso, Shanghai Symphony Hall, and Berlin's Kesselhaus. Amber holds Bachelor of Music and Master of Music degrees in Cello Performance.

Location

Pineland Baptist Church
5100 New St.
Burlington, On L7L 1V1

Classical Woodwinds - Adult

Adjudicator: Patricia Dydnansky

Patricia Dydnansky currently holds the position of Second Flute & Piccolo with the Niagara Symphony and teaches in the Marilyn I. Walker School of Fine & Performing Arts at Brock University. She is also an active freelance musician, playing flute and piccolo with the Hamilton Philharmonic, Kingston Symphony, Kitchener-Waterloo Symphony, London Symphonia, Shaw Festival Orchestra, the Stratford Festival Orchestra, Talisker Players Orchestra, Thunder Bay Symphony Orchestra, Windsor Symphony, and various smaller ensembles in the Greater Toronto Area.

She has been a substitute musician at the Shaw Festival on flute & piccolo for Brigadoon (2019 & 2023), on various flutes & clarinet in "Sweeney Todd" (2016) at Shaw, and "Sousatzka" (2017) at the Lord Elgin Theatre in Toronto. As a faculty member at the MIWSFPA, Patricia has regularly performed solo & chamber music recitals on the Music@Noon and Encore!
Professional concert series since joining the Music Department in 2002.

Patricia has a Bachelor of Music (Music History & Theory) from McMaster University, a Master of Music (Performance) from the University of Western Ontario and a Postgraduate Diploma (Performance) from the Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester, England. She has participated in the Professional Residency Program at the Banff Centre for the Arts and continued her education as both a participant and instructor at the Scottish International Flute Summer School for 14 years. Her teachers include Peter Lloyd, Patricia Morris, Paula Elliott, Camille Churchfield, Wissam Boustany and Ian Clarke.

Location

Faith Christian Reformed Church
2265 Mountainside
Burlington, Ontario L7P 1B6

Classical Guitar - Levels 6, 7 and 8

Adjudicator: Navid Niknejad

Having studied classical guitar in four countries, Navid Niknejad has extensive international experience as a guitarist and instructor. He began his musical training in his native country, Iran. After finishing his bachelor's in music at the University of Tehran in 2011, he moved to the Netherlands to study at the Conservatory of Amsterdam with Lex Eisenhardt. In 2015, he received a full-tuition scholarship to pursue a Master of Music in guitar performance at California State University, Fullerton, under the guidance of Dr. Marth Masters.

Navid is currently pursuing a Doctor of Musical Arts at the University of Toronto with Dr. Jeffrey McFadden. Navid has also studied in masterclasses of some of today's most prominent guitarists, including Alvaro Pierri, Judicael Perroy, Marcin Dylla, Zoran Dukic, and Pavel Steidl, among others.

In addition to pursuing a career as a soloist, Navid has been active as a pedagogue in all the countries he lived in. Since 2017, he has worked as a Teaching Assistant at U of T, coaching the guitar chamber music ensembles. He has also appeared in different chamber music settings, including duos with flute, voice, and guitar in the Netherlands, USA, and Canada.

Location

North Burlington Baptish Church
1377 Walkers Line
Burlington, On L7M 0Z1

Songs from the Screen - Elementary - Group A

Adjudicator: Kyle Blair

Kyle Blair (he/him) is a full-time professor at St. Lawrence College (SLC) in the Music Theatre - Performance program. Kyle's courses at SLC include Music Theatre Scene Study, Vocal Auditions, Acting, and Text Analysis. Previous to his role as an instructor, Kyle worked as a professional theatre artist for 25 years. His credits include 21 seasons between the Stratford and Shaw Festivals. Roles at Stratford include Frederic (Pirates of Penzance), Lucentio (Taming of the Shrew), Will Parker (Oklahoma!), Billy Lawlor (42nd Street) and Jack (Into the Woods). Roles at Shaw include Octavius (Man and Superman), Ragueneau (Cyrano de Bergerac), The Captain (Androcles and the Lion), Oscar (Sweet Charity), Pirelli (Sweeney Todd) and Jim (Holiday Inn). Toronto credits include Musical Stage Company (John in John & Jen and Robbie in A Man of No Importance), Crow's Theatre (Pierre Laporte in Red Velvet), Young People's Theatre (Bert in Mary Poppins), and Ross Petty Productions (The Scarecrow in The Wizard of Oz). Other appearances include The National Arts Centre, Manitoba Theatre Centre, Neptune Theatre, Grand Theatre, Theatre Aquarius, Talk is Free Theatre, and Drayton Entertainment. Kyle holds an MA (University of Guelph), a BFA (University of Windsor), and is a graduate of the Stratford Festival's Birmingham Conservatory. He is the recipient of a Merritt Award (Best Actor) for his portrayal of Billy in Billy Bishop Goes to War, the Odyssey Award (Notable Career Achievement) from the University of Windsor, and the Maureen Forrester and Dora Mavor Moore awards from the Stratford Festival.

Location

St. Paul's United Church
454 Rebecca St.
Oakville, Ontario L6K 1K7

Songs from the Screen - Elementary - Group B

Adjudicator: Elizabeth DeGrazia

Elizabeth originated the role of Blanche Ingram in JANE EYRE on Broadway and for the Toronto premiere at the Royal Alexander Theater. She can be heard on the Broadway and Toronto cast recordings.

Prior to Broadway she spent 5 years Singing the Leading Lady (Christine Daae) in the Toronto Production of the Phantom of the Opera. Elizabeth sang Hope Harcourt in the Stratford production of ANYTHING GOES and extensively with the Toronto Operetta Theatre.

Elizabeth has sung with the Boston and Florida Pops Orchestra and she was the soprano soloist in Haydn's creation at Lincoln Center. Elizabeth has a solo recording of 12 songs; One Love One Lifetime
Elizabeth lives in Toronto with her Husband and her 3 sons.

Location

Forestview Church Without Walls - Sanctuary
3175 Dundas St W
Oakville, ON L6M 4J4

Junior Musical Theatre - Group A

Adjudicator: Mary Saunders Barton

Mary Saunders Barton

Mary Saunders Barton is a Penn State Professor Emeritus, currently residing in New York city where she maintains a private studio for professional musical theatre performers. She is also an adjunct professor in the musical theatre program at Montclair State University. Her own performing career spanned twenty years and included Broadway, Off-Broadway, regional, television, and film credits.

While at Penn State, Mary served as head of voice instruction for the BFA in musical theatre. She also created an MFA in Voice Pedagogy for Musical Theatre with colleague Norman Spivey to meet the growing demand for voice teachers who specialize in vernacular techniques. In this and recent seasons students have been seen on Broadway in Wicked, The Music Man, Shucked, Merrily We Roll Along, The Book of Mormon, Funny Girl, Beetlejuice, Beautiful, Bandstand, Moulin Rouge, and Ain't Too Proud, among others, in addition to many national tours and regional productions. Graduates of the Pedagogy MFA have gone on to teaching positions at universities in New York, Massachusetts, Nevada, Virginia, the Netherlands, and Greece, and contribute to the profession in performance, writing, and research.

Mary is frequently invited to present master classes and workshops at universities and voice conferences in the US and abroad. She gave the keynote musical theatre presentation at the 2013 International Congress of Voice Teachers (ICVT) in Brisbane, Australia. She has served twice as a master teacher for the NATS Intern Program.

Mary has produced two video tutorials, Bel Canto Can Belto: Teaching Women to Sing Musical Theatre, and What About the Boys? The book "Cross Training in the Voice Studio: A Balancing Act" (2018 Plural Publishing) was the result of her collaboration with Penn State colleague Norman Spivey. She contributed Chapter 6 to the NATS publication "So You Want to Sing CCM," (ed Matthew Hoch) and is a contributing author in "The Vocal Athlete" by Wendy LeBorgne and Marci Rosenberg, the 2 nd edition of "A Spectrum of Voices" by Elizabeth Blades, and "Training Contemporary Commercial Singers," by Elizabeth Benson, to name a few.

Mary is the 2018 recipient of a Lifetime Achievement Award from the CCM Vocal Pedagogy Institute at Shenandoah University.

She is chair of the American Academy of Teachers of Singing.

Location

Chartwell Baptist Church - Sanctuary
228 Chartwell Rd
Oakville, ON L6J 3Z8

Junior Musical Theatre - Group B

Adjudicator: Donna Garner

Toronto based Actor-Musician Donna Garner was raised on a dairy farm near Stratford, Ontario in a home filled with music. Her classical voice studies took her to Western University, The University of Toronto and to the AIMS Institute of Musical Studies in Graz, Austria.

Donna works onstage as an actor, singer, pianist and multi-instrumentalist. She recently founded GTP - Garner Theatre Productions - Canada's first theatre company with a mandate to cast and celebrate Actor-Musicians in thought-provoking works.

Her performing has taken her across Canada, the U.S., Austria and Japan. Select theatre credits include Natasha, Pierre and the Great Comet of 1812 (Canadian Premiere-Crow's Theatre & Musical Stage Company); Dr. Silver (World Premiere- Musical Stage Company & Outside The March); The Sound of Music (U.S. First National Tour); Once (U.S. First National Tour, Mirvish, Neptune); Two Pianos, Four Hands (across Canada and the U.S.); four seasons at The Charlottetown festival, and roles in many other regional and summer theatres throughout Canada.

Select TV/Film credits include Mr. Monk's Last Case (Peaco*ck/ UCP); Y;The Last Man (FX/ COLOR FORCE TV); Dare Me (USA Network); Spinning out (SVOD Series); Private Eyes (Global); Handmaid's Tale (MGM/Hulu); Anne with an E (Netflix/CBC); Designated Surviver (ABC).

When not performing, Donna works as a voice specialist for masterclasses and lectures, an adjudicator, a private voice teacher, repertoire coach, accompanist, and Music Director. She is on the faculty of the prestigious Sheridan College Music Theatre program, and is a member of the College of Examiners for the Royal Conservatory of Music.

She shares her life with her talented Actor-Muso husband Rick Hughes and their stoic mini-schnauzer Gustav Mahler (Gus).

Location

Trinity United Church
1250 McCraney St.E.
Oakville, Ontario L6H 3K3

Junior Musical Theatre - Group C

Adjudicator: Marie Baron

Ms. Baron began her stage career performing with the Canadian Opera Company following her training at the Royal Conservatory of Music in Toronto and the University of Toronto's Opera Department. After transitioning to Music Theatre, she went on to star in both musicals and plays in theatres across Canada, the United States, London's West End and on Broadway.

Ms. Baron has played leading roles in both musicals and plays. Her dramatic roles include Honey in Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf (Grand Theatre, London), Celia in As You Like It (Stratford Festival), and Janet in the original production of Waiting For the Parade (Alberta Theatre Projects).

Some of her favourite musical roles include Sarah in Guys and Dolls (Stratford Festival), Amalia in She Loves Me (Grand Theatre, London), Lady Audley in Lady Audley's Secret (Shaw Festival) and Jenny in Company (CanStage, Toronto).

The successful meeting of Ms. Baron and Gilbert and Sullivan began at the Stratford Festival with leading roles in The Mikado, The Gondoliers and Iolanthe. These productions were filmed and televised on C.B.C. and HBO.
She reprised her role as Yum-Yum in The Mikado on tour in Canada, the United States, the Old Vic in London, England and on Broadway.

As an educator, Ms. Baron was the Head of the Vocal Discipline for the Music Theatre Performance Program at Sheridan College for 15 years.

Currently, she adjudicates Music Theatre in Festivals across Canada, conducts Music Theatre Performance Workshops and Master Classes and works with theatre artists in her Toronto studio.

Location

Glen Abbey United Church
1469 Nottinghill Gate
Oakville, ON L6M 1X7

Popular Voice - Intermediate - Group A

Adjudicator: Heather Bambrick

Heather Bambrick is a JUNO/ECMA-nominated vocalist, voice actor, and broadcaster who's collaborated with Fred Hirsch, Gene DiNovi, Guido Basso, Rob McConnell, Peter Appleyard, Phil Nimmons, Ian Shaw, Ofra Harnoy, the Toronto Symphony Orchestra, the Newfoundland Symphony Orchestra, and many others. Her shows have been described as "Carol Burnett meets Ella Fitzgerald at a Newfoundland kitchen party", featuring music ranging from jazz standards and pop hits, to Newfoundland folk music and sitcom theme songs. Add to that engaging, hilarious storytelling and some of the best musicians in the country – all delivered with warmth, wit, and pure Newfoundland charm – and you'll know why her audiences everywhere are left wanting more!

Heather has released four solo recordings, all of which were nominated for Jazz Recording of the Year at the East Coast Music Awards, including You'll Never Know, which was also nominated for JUNO Award for Vocal Jazz Recording of the Year. Her 2019 recording, Fine State was praised by critics and fans alike as her best work to date. Heather has released albums with ensembles the Beehive Singers as well as Broadsway (both of which she co-founded), and has been a featured artist on recordings with Carol Welsman, the Breithaupt
Brothers, Peter Appleyard, Ofra Harnoy, the Nimmons Tribute, and others.

Heather is also one of Canada's top voice actors (featured on such shows as Daniel Tiger's Neighborhood, Superbuns, Wild Kratts, Justin Time, Hotel Transylvania, and others) and an award-winning broadcaster, hosting and producing shows on Toronto's JAZZ.FM91 for more than 20 years.

Location

Forestview Church Without Walls - Large Room A
3175 Dundas St W
Oakville, On L6M 4J4

Popular Voice - Intermediate - Group B

Adjudicator: Darnell Thomas

A Canadian-born with Trinidadian roots, is a passionate and versatile vocalist, multi-instrumentalist, music director, writer, educator, entrepreneur, philanthropist. He holds a master's degree in Vocal Performance & Ethnomusicology from York University. He was the Co-Director of The Institute For The Performing Arts and Cue The Lights Productions. He is currently the Interim Program Coordinator and a full-time Vocal Professor in the Music Theatre Program at Sheridan College. Darnell is a holistic educator who strives to inspire, motivate and teach young aspiring performers of all disciplines to be their best. With his extensive knowledge of performing arts pedagogy and experience, he also engages in mentorship, curriculum and program development at many schools. His voice studio comprises students of all levels ranging from hobbyists to award-winning professionals that can be seen in film/TV shows like American Idol, on the radio or on international theatre stages. Professionally, Darnell has done musical work for hit TV shows like Glee and Disney's "Overruled!". Select music directorial credits include Little Shop of Horrors, Hairspray, Footloose, The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, Beauty & The Beast, Urinetown, Mamma Mia and Enchanting (an original work). His philanthropical initiatives include several years of work with UNESCO (an arm of The United Nations), The Arts Access Fund and his own foundation, Keys To Dreams Foundation, which provides financial assistance through scholarships to performers. He is also a member of National Association of Teachers of Singing, Musical Theatre Educators' Alliance and ACTRA RACS.

Location

Forestview Church Without Walls - Large Room B
3175 Dundas St W
Oakville, On L6M 4J4

Classical Voice - Level 8 - Group A

Adjudicator: Jennifer Tung

A Dora nominated conductor, Chinese-Canadian Jennifer Tung is the artistic director of Toronto City Opera and assistant conductor of the Mississauga Symphony Orchestra. She leads a uniquely versatile career as music director, collaborative pianist and soprano. In 2020/21, she joined Tapestry Opera as a conducting fellow in the inaugural year of the Women in Musical Leadership program, in partnership with Toronto Symphony Orchestra and Pacific Opera Victoria.

Jennifer debuted with the Hawaii Performing Arts Festival conducting The Mikado in 2017 and has returned to conduct Sweeney Todd and Tragedy of Carmen. In 2019, she debuted with Opera York in La Traviata and assisted Tapestry Opera and Opera on the Avalon's joint production of the Dora Award winning opera Shanawdithit by Dean Burry and Yvette Nolan. Recently, she conducted the world premiere of "Gould's Wall" by Brian Current and Liza Balken, a joint production with the Royal Conservatory of Music and Tapestry Opera.

For the 2022/23 season, she has debuted as guest conductor with Opera McGill's production of "Plaything" (Anna Pigorna/Maria Reva - Canadian premiere), Okanagan Symphony Orchestra, Calgary Philharmonic and Kamloops Symphony. In March of 2023, Jennifer conducted the world premieres of Continuum's production of the opera "Show Room" (Rodney Sharman/Etom Egoyan) as well as Tapestry Opera/Obsidian Theatre's co-production of "Of the Sea" (Ian Cusson/Kanika Ambrose). Upcoming engagements include concerts with Kamloops symphony, Symphony Nova Scotia and Vancouver Opera.

Jennifer is on faculty at the Glenn Gould School, and is a sought-after faculty member for summer programs internationally. She holds degrees in vocal performance and collaborative piano from the Eastman School of Music and has studied conducting with Maestro Denis Mastromonaco.

Location

Walton Memorial United Church
2489 Lakeshore Rd W
Oakville, ON L6L 1H9

Classical Voice - Level 8 - Group B

Adjudicator: Jennie Such

Jennie's career has spanned the genres of oratorio, opera, recital and musical theatre. She is an alumna of Western University and the Royal College of Music (U.K). As an emerging artist she was a young company member with the Vancouver Opera Touring Ensemble, and the Canadian Opera Company Ensemble.

Jennie has sung principal roles with Broomhill Opera (U.K), Calgary Opera, Edmonton Opera, Opera Atelier, Pacific Opera Victoria, Opera Ontario, Vancouver Opera, Mirvish Productions, and the Canadian Opera Company.

As an oratorio soloist Jennie has performed throughout Canada, Germany and the U.K. She has been broadcast on CBC Radio, MDR (Germany) and the BBC (U.K), and has recorded works for CBC Records and the Naxos label.

Teaching and coaching is the cornerstone of Jennie's current musical work. She is a voice instructor at Wilfrid Laurier University, and the singing coach at the Stratford Festival and the
Birmingham Conservatory. 2024 will mark her 11th season with the company.

Additional vocal coaching credits include the Toronto production of Billy Elliot (Mirvish), The Hockey Sweater (NAC), and Opera NUOVA (Edmonton).

This season she will stage direct Opera Laurier's 2023/24 productions.

As an adjudicator Jennie has served for the Ontario Arts Council, and the Kiwanis and Rotary Festival organizations in regional and provincial competitions.

Awards include grants from the Ontario Arts Council, the Canada Council for the Arts, the USC Teaching Excellence "Honour Roll" Award (Western University) and a Tyrone Guthrie financial gift from the Stratford Festival.

Location

Central Baptist Church Oakville
340 Rebecca St
Oakville, ON L6K 1K3