Music Adjudicators – 2018

Senior Piano & Concertos – Dr. Ben Smith

February 20 – March 2, 2018

Described as a “thoughtful and immensely exciting performer” with “scintillating technique” (Barrie Examiner), pianist Benjamin Smith has performed as soloist and chamber musician across both Canada and the United States. He has been a laureate of numerous competitions, including the Dublin International Piano Competition, the Virginia Waring International Piano Competition, and the CMC Stepping Stone Competition. Guest appearances include the Stony Brook Symphony Orchestra, the New Juilliard Ensemble, the Ontario Philharmonic, Orchestra London, Symphony-on-the-Bay, the Windsor Symphony, and the University of Toronto’s Hart House Orchestra. As soloist, he has performed under esteemed conductors such as Rossen Milanov and Marco Parisotto, with concertos including rarities such as the Schoenberg Piano Concerto. Festival appearances include Toronto Summer Music, Banff Summer Arts, Stratford Summer Music, Colours of Music (Barrie, ON), and Music Niagara. American performances include recitals for the Texas Chopin Society and Chicago’s Landowska Harpsichord Society. Recent highlights have included Gershwin’s Rhapsody In Blue in Carnegie’s Zankel Hall, as well as multiple recitals with acclaimed violinist Martin Beaver. Current releases on disc include Saint-Saens, Schumann, and Beethoven with Canadian cellist Dongkyun An, as well as an album of newly-commissioned chamber works featuring Native flutes with Toronto’s Grammy-nominated virtuoso Ron Korb.

Devoting considerable time to chamber music, Ben has been heard nationally in Canada on CBC Radio 2 and Toronto’s Classical 96.3. He has partnered in recital with renowned artists including Colin Carr, Jacques Israelievitch, Joaquin Valdepeñas, Wolfgang Redik (formerly of the Vienna Piano Trio), Bartosz Bryla, Oystein Baadsvik, and William VerMeulen, as well as with ensembles such as the Annex and Cecilia string quartets. For two seasons he performed as one-third of the Israelievitch-Smith-Ahn piano trio. Involved with music of our time as well, he is a regular member of the Esprit Orchestra in Toronto, and has worked under prominent conductors Joel Sachs, Steven Schick, and Werner Herbers, as well as with composers John Corigliano, Reinaldo Moya, and Chandler Carter.

Dr. Smith currently resides in Toronto, working as a lecturer, coach, and collaborator for the Glenn Gould School (GGS) and the Taylor Young Artist Academy at the Royal Conservatory. Previously, he held a position on the piano faculty at the University of Western Ontario, and has also served as an undergraduate piano instructor for the Department of Music at Stony Brook University. His principal teachers included Andrea Battista, James Anagnoson, Julian Martin, and Christina Dahl. Along with a DMA from Stony Brook University, he holds a Bachelors degree from the University of Toronto, an Artist Diploma from the GGS, and a Masters from The Juilliard School.

Intermediate Piano – Dr. Younggun Kim

February 20 – March 2, 2018

Younggun Kim is a pianist known for his blazing technical capacity and a lush sound supported by a natural phrasing sense (Timothy Gilligan, New York Concert Review), who has performed across North America and Europe. His performances this season include appearances with Toronto Concert Orchestra and recital engagements in San Antonio, Vancouver and Toronto.

The winner of various prizes including San Antonio International Competition, Concours International de Piano Francis Poulenc and Doctor of Musical Arts Recital Competition at the University of Toronto, he also received various prizes and scholarships from the Canada Council for the Arts, University of Toronto, Peabody Institute of The Johns Hopkins University, the Glenn Gould School of the Royal Conservatory of Music, Canadian Music Competition, Shean Competition, the Alice and Armen Matheson Graduate Scholarship, Anne Burrows Foundation and Winspear Fund. Most recently, Younggun was given the Tecumseh Sherman Rogers Graduating Award worth $25000, which is the largest award that the University of Toronto, Faculty of Music offers.

He has also been closely involved since 2011 with the Health Arts Society of Ontario, providing classical music concerts to audiences who no longer can make it to concert halls.

A Toronto-based Canadian citizen from South Korea, he finished his undergraduate degree at the Glenn Gould School of the Royal Conservatory of Music with Professor Marietta Orlov, Master’s Degree at Peabody Institute of Johns Hopkins University under the guidance of Professor Boris Slutsky and the Doctor of Musical Arts Degree at the University of Toronto with Professor Marietta Orlov. He is active as soloist, chamber musician, and adjudicator; recently he joined his alma mater, University of Toronto, as faculty member.

Junior Piano – Petya Stavreva

February 20 – March 2, 2018

First prize winner at the International Competition “Franz Schubert” in Rousse, pianist Petya Stavreva is working on her DMA at Western with Prof. Leslie Kinton. She finished her Master’s Degree with Prof. Anton Nel at the University of Texas at Austin, where she received full scholarship and grant support from Canada Arts Council and the Webb Trust Fund from the Glenn Gould School. Before that, she was an artist-in-residence at the Banff Centre for ten weeks. At Western, she is a two-time recipient of the Ontario Graduate Scholarship, as well as the Don Wright Graduate Entrance scholarship, and the Sherwood Fox Music scholarship.

Petya has been an active solo and collaborative pianist in Toronto over the last decade. She completed her Artist Diploma with James Anagnoson at the Glenn Gould School on full scholarship, and obtained a Bachelor’s degree at the University of Toronto with James Parker and Marietta Orlov. She also attended the Taylor Performance Academy in Toronto with full scholarship, studying with Arshalouis Nersessian. As an educator, Petya has been an adjudicator for the Kiwanis Festival in Toronto in 2014, as well as the Ontario Music Festival Association in Hamilton in 2017. She will be joining the Royal Conservatory College of Examiners in 2018, and currently maintains an active teaching studio in both London and Toronto.

Petya has been a prize winner of numerous competitions in Canada and Europe, and has performed concertos with the Toronto Sinfonietta Orchestra. Her upcoming projects include various performances in London including a concert at the Aeolian Hall, as well as a recording project to be completed by 2019. She also collaborates with pianist Todd Yaniw for duo concerts.

She has played in masterclasses for artists such as Vadym Kholodenko, John Perry, Mark Steinberg, Christian Tetzlaff, Andre Laplante and Jon Kimura Parker, among others. Past festivals include Bowdoin Music Festival as a collaborative Fellow, Young Artist Program in Ottawa, the Banff Chamber and Solo Residencies, Nice Academy in France, and Toronto Summer Music Festival.

Elementary Piano – Diane Manojlovich

February 20 – March 4, 2018

Diane Manojlovich has been involved with and enjoying music festivals for most of her life. An avid participant as a youngster, Diane registered her own students in various festivals as an adult. She was the festival coordinator for the Rotary Burlington Music Festival for many years, is on the board of the Ontario Music Festivals Association and has attended several National Music Festivals. In 2017, with co-founder and colleague, Tom Oliver, and a fabulous committee, she created the Hamilton Music Festival. It is now gearing up for its third year.

Her musical education began in Niagara Falls with the wonderful Beverly Jamieson and Diane has been fortunate to have continued her journey under the guidance of other excellent teachers: Heather Laliberte and Pamela van Weelden.

Having earned a Bachelor of Science degree after high school, Diane worked in both the pharmaceutical industry and with industrial chemicals before she left work to become a mother. While home with her children, Diane began teaching piano. Realizing that music was much more rewarding than chemicals, she returned to university and earned her Honours Bachelor of Music degree.

Diane maintains a very busy private music studio and also teaches several classes of Music for Young Children®. She sings in her Church choir, has accompanied choirs and solo instrumentalists, and has ensured that her three children have developed their talent and love for music.

As treasurer and recital convenor for the Hamilton-Halton branch of ORMTA (Ontario Registered Music Teachers Association), Diane regularly networks with other teachers in the area. Always conscious of improvement, Diane frequently attends continuing education seminars.

Strings (Violin and Viola) – Heilwig von Koenigsloew

February 20 – February 24, 2018

Born in Hamburg, Germany, Heilwig began her studies at the Musikhochschule in Hamburg. As a young musician she moved to Canada and was a student of Thomas Rolston at the University of Alberta where she received her Masters of Music degree in violin performance at the age of 22. She has also studied with Lorand Fenyves, Steven Staryk and the Hungarian String Quartet. Heilwig served as Department Head of the music program at Malaspina University College in Nanaimo, BC from 1976 to 1984 while maintaining an active career as a private teacher at the Nanaimo Conservatory and the Vancouver Academy. Currently she is a professor of violin at Trinity Western University and a violin teacher and chamber music instructor in the Langley Area. She was a member of the CBC Radio Orchestra until its demise, still plays with the Vancouver Opera Orchestra and works as a free-lance violinist/violist in the Lower Mainland area. Heilwig is a resident of Langley, BC and lives on a 15 acre hay farm with her children, grandchildren, horses, dogs, cats, and other diverse animals.

Strings (Violin and Viola) – Elizabeth Loewen Andrews

February 26 – February 28, 2018

As first violinist in the Windermere String Quartet and a core member of the Hamilton Philharmonic Orchestra, Elizabeth Loewen Andrews demonstrates her musical versatility, at home in both period and modern performance. Her interests, as well as her experience in solo, chamber and orchestral performance, have brought Elizabeth opportunities to perform in England, France, the Netherlands, Japan, Hong Kong, and Israel, and with world renowned conductors and soloists, such as Paul McCreesh, Kent Nagano, and violinist James Ehnes. Elizabeth performs regularly with Tafelmusik and the Talisker Players, which have granted her the opportunity to perform and record with elite singers, such as Karina Gauvin, Adrianne Pieczonka, and Toronto’s own Krisztina Szabo. She has also performed with Esprit Orchestra and Aradia Ensemble, and for Toronto Mendelssohn Choir, Orpheus Choir, and the Elora Festival Singers. Elizabeth’s love of chamber music has found a happy home both with her quartet (which is releasing their second recording next week) and also with the Academy Concert Series, where Elizabeth is privileged to be able perform alongside former teacher and mentor, Scott St. John. Elizabeth holds a Master of Music Performance from the University of Toronto where she studied with Annalee Patipatanakoon, violinist of the Gryphon Trio.

Cello & Double Bass – Joel Quarrington

February 23-24, 2018

Reviewing Joel Quarrington’s debut recital for the International Society of Bassists Oklahoma City Convention in June of 2007, England’s Double Bassist magazine said, “his performance was mesmerizing – his trademark bel canto playing style brought an otherworldly quality to Bottesini’s Elegy in D…impeccable articulation, a rich tonal palette, absolute control and crystalline clarity.” Reviews such as this have confirmed his reputation as one of today’s leading double bassists.

For over thirty years, Joel has served as the Principal Double Bassist of many ensembles including the Canadian Opera Company, The Toronto Symphony and Canada’s National Arts Centre Orchestras and, most recently, the famous London Symphony Orchestra.

Born in Toronto he began his formal studies of the double bass when he was thirteen. Upon graduation from the University of Toronto he was awarded the “Eaton Scholarship” as the school’s most outstanding graduate. Joel is a winner of the Geneva International Competition and the CBC Talent Competition and has made solo appearances across Canada, the United States, Europe and China.

Joel has made several solo recordings: in April 2010, his recording, “Garden Scene”, won the 2010 Juno Award for Best Classical Recording and in 2015 his “Brothers in Brahms” recording won the prestigious “Prix Opus” as the Outstanding Romantic Classical Recording of the year in Quebec.

In 2011 he received a Special Recognition Award for Outstanding Solo Performance from the International Society of Bassists and in 2015 it awarded Joel the same award for Outstanding Orchestral Performance.

He is on faculty at the University of Ottawa and is a Visiting Artist of the Royal Academy of Music in the U.K.

He performs on an Italian bass made in 1630 by the Italian master, Giovanni Paolo Maggini.

Cello – Coenraad Bloemendal

February 26, 2018

Coenraad Bloemendal (born April 30, 1946 in Amsterdam) is a Dutch-born Canadian cellist, who has performed, taught and recorded primarily in the field of classical music during a career that has spanned more than four decades. In the mid-1960s Bloemendal studied at the Amsterdam Conservatory with the Netherlands’ leading cello pedagogue Carel van Leeuwen Boomkamp (also the teacher of Anner Bijlsma). After graduation he moved to Bloomington Indiana in the United States to study cello with Janos Starker and chamber music with William Primrose.

Still in his teens, Bloemendal started touring with a professional chamber ensemble in the Netherlands and Germany. At 19, he joined a group of cellists from the Concertgebouw Orchestra of Amsterdam for a tour of the Netherlands and Belgium. In 1971 Bloemendal moved to Canada and joined Camerata (chamber emsemble), which was one of the leading Canadian chamber ensembles of the seventies and consisted of the classically trained musicians: Elyakim Taussig and Kathryn Root (pianists), Suzanne Shulman (flute), James Campbell (clarinet), and Adele Armin (violin). On occasion, they were joined by Mary Lou Fallis (soprano). Their unique programming concepts saw them joined by illustrious artists from various disciplines such as Maureen Forrester, Moe Koffman, Don Thompson and Doug Riley, Glenn Gould, The National Ballet of Canada, actor Tony Van Bridge and many others. Camerata Canada accompanied Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau to inaugurate cultural relations with Mexico, Venezuela and Cuba. In the late seventies Camerata embarked on several European tours. The group disbanded in 1982.[1]

Bloemendal first worked with the legendary pianist in two CBC Television programs called “Music in Our Time” which Glenn Gould directed in the mid seventies. He then worked with the late pianist on two other occasions: a cello solo which Gould wrote for him to play in his radio program “The Quiet in the Land” and a cello and bass piece which he played with Joel Quarrington as part of a film score Gould wrote for the Canadian movie “The Wars” directed by Robin Phillips shortly before he died.[2]

Bloemendal’s career continued unabated and he performed with other chamber groups such as: The Toronto Chamber Players, The Toronto Septet, The Canadian Chamber Ensemble, The Amati Quartet. In 1986, he founded another significant group; The Rembrandt Trio, with Valerie Tryon (piano) and Gerard Kantarjian (violin). They toured Canada, the U.S. and the Caribbean and made five recordings for the American label Dorian Recordings. The group disbanded in 1997. As a recitalist, Bloemendal played for 25 years with pianist Valerie Tryon. He also has a long association with legendary jazz musician Don Thompson, who has written many compositions for him for recordings and concerts.

Bloemendal taught at the Royal Conservatory of Music from 1982-2000. He was the head of the string department at York University from 1980-1984, and he taught cellist Ofra Harnoy when she was 10 years old.

In May 2010, Bloemendal founded a new ensemble called Trio Desiree with Desiree Till (soprano), and Erica Goodman, (harp). The group has played in Summer Festivals in Ontario and Quebec and already three Canadian Composers have written new works for the combo, with more new works being commissioned. The trio started a new label in 2013 called ERDECO Recordings.

Non-Western Strings – Amely Zhou

March 2, 2018 2017

An expressive and dynamic figure on stage, Canadian Chinese musician Amely Zhou pursues a diverse career both as a conductor and an erhu soloist. Zhou is currently the Resident Conductor of the Toronto Youth Chinese Orchestra, and the Artistic Director & Conductor of the Canadian Chinese Orchestra. Zhou frequently appears on stage at Markham Theatre leading the Yip’s Montessori Chinese instrumental ensemble. Recent highlights include leading the Canadian Chinese Orchestra on stage at the Chinese Cultural Centre, P.C. Ho Theatre and being invited by the Toronto Chinese Orchestra as Guest Conductor in their 2017 winter concert program.

As an erhuist, Zhou toured with the Canadian Sinfonietta Youth Orchestra as a guest performer in 2016. Other than erhu, Zhou also plays guzheng, dizi, and piano. Zhou received Artists in Education grant from the Ontario Arts Council for teaching Chinese musical instruments in the public school sectors in 2015. As an ingenious and collaborative musician, she has premiered more than thirty new works by composers around the world. Zhou was featured on the cover of The WholeNote magazine in May-June issue 2017, and Andres Timar wrote in the cover story that “The high value she places on connecting with fellow musicians and audiences is among the most distinguishing features of her playing.”

While enrolled at York University, she won the university’s 2013 Concerto Competition as the erhu soloist in the Red Plum Capriccio. Zhou graduated in 2015 from York with an Honours B.A. in Music, and that year was accepted into the prestigious Shanghai Conservatory of Music summer program with a full scholarship to continue her erhu studies. Currently, Zhou is perusing her Chinese music studies and continuing her graduate studies in Ethnomusicology at York University.

Voice – Christina Stelmacovich

February 26 – March 2, 2018

A native of Toronto, Canada, mezzo soprano Christina Stelmacovich is a winner of several international vocal competitions, and has been described as “an elegant and noble singer whose beautiful voice and attention to diction captivated the listener.” Her career has included performances in Canada, the United States, Austria, England and Mexico.

Christina has appeared as a soloist with some of the most prestigious choirs and orchestras in the world including the City of Birmingham Choir and the Renaissance Singers of England, the Elora Festival Singers, the Toronto Mendelssohn Choir, Early Music Vancouver, Early Music Seattle, the Tafelmusik Baroque Choir and Orchestra, the Amadeus Choir of Toronto the Elmer Iseler Singers and the New World Orchestra of Mexico City.
For several summers now, Christina has been a featured soloist at the Elora Music Festival performing the role of Dido in Purcell’s Dido and Aeneas under the direction of Daniel Taylor, the title role in Handel’s Solomon, Mozart’s Requiem, Bach’s B Minor Mass, G Minor Mass and Magnificat, Pergolesi’s Stabat Mater and Haydn’s Nelson Mass all under the direction of Noel Edison. She recently performed Vivaldi’s Gloria with the Tafelmusik Baroque Choir and Orchestra under the direction of Ivars Taurins and had the privilege of performing Mahler’s Symphony no. 2 with organ and the Elora Festival Singers. Other recent performances include Duruflé’s Requiem and Copland’s In the Beginning with the Cathedral Choir of St. James, Toronto, Rossini’s Petite Messe Solonnelle with London Pro Musica, Mendelssohn’s Elijah with Masterworks of Oakville and several performances of Handel’s Messiah.

Christina was recently in the UK, recording Mahler’s Symphony no. 2 with internationally-renowned organist David Briggs, accompanied by the City of Birmingham Choir and conducted by Dr. Christopher Robinson, for Chestnut Music.

When not performing, Christina teaches privately from her home in Hamilton, Ontario.

Music Theatre and Popular Voice – Marion Abbott 

February 20 – February 28, 2018

Marion Abbott is a proud graduate of the Musical Theatre Performance Program at Sheridan College. She also has her Grade 10 Voice and A.R.C.T. in Piano Performance from The Royal Conservatory of Music. Marion is the creator of The Confidential Project (which includes Musical Theatre, Theatre, Shakespeare, Opera and Operetta), The Plain Stage Theatre Company, The Women Of Musical Theatre Festival, New Works Series, The Artist Discovery Series and The Spirit Of Maud Theatre Company.

Consequently, Marion has produced over 300 productions in both Toronto and other neighbouring cities. Of the many (many!) shows Marion has worked on, some of her favourites include The Scarlet Pimpernel, All Shook Up, Anne And Maud, No Safe Harbour, Ragtime, Streetcar Named Desire and Passion.

As a Musical Director, Marion has worked for Drayton Entertainment (Aladdin: The Panto, Cinderella: The Panto) and was a part of the first Drayton Youth Program. She has also worked for Sheridan College: Musical Theatre Performance Program, Etobicoke School Of The Arts: Musical Theatre Program and the Ontario Music Festival Association.

As a private teacher, Marion taught voice, piano and acting for 28 years to students of all ages. From festivals to recitals to performing in Disney World, Marion cherishes her memories of her time with her students dearly. Many of her students now work in the arts full time. Walt Disney is Marion’s all time hero and she tries to visit Walt Disney World with her son at least once a year. “The way to get something done is to stop talking and get busy doing.” – Walt Disney www.marionabbott.com

Speech Arts – Nora McLellan 

February 20 – February 22, 2018

Woodwinds – Haley Marie 

February 28 – March 2, 2018

Three-time Carnegie Hall performer Haley Marie became the founder and director of Aurelia Productions in 2011, a company devoted to pre-senting classical music in new, authentic ways. Its main series, The Men Behind the Music, introduces the behind-the-scenes history of composers through film segments and live performance, often leaving the audience stunned about the circumstances and background of much-loved music.

Prior to forming Aurelia Productions, Miss Marie obtained degrees from the Royal Conservatory of Music, McGill University and the prestigious School of Music at Yale University. She is also the recipient of the 2002 Governor General’s award at the Winnipeg Music Festival. Since completing her studies, Miss Marie has carried out regular concert tours in both Canada and Europe. Her recordings have been distributed in the Americas, Europe, Japan, Mexico and Australia. She is also honoured to be a member of the College of Examiners at the Royal Conservatory of Music.

Nonetheless, preserving the authentic history of classical music is where her true passion lies, and she can often be found giving talks to audiences about Bach’s jail time or Chopin’s fear of large audiences. Miss Marie’s unique combination of music, multimedia and history has led many audiences on a journey to discover the inner workings of genius and the human spirit. Haley Marie has toured Europe and Canada as a soloist with Aurelia Productions numerous times, making the company one of the most extensively-toured organizations of its type in North America.

Brass – David Fedderly

March 1 – March 2, 2018

David T. Fedderly retired after thirty-one years as Principal Tuba of the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra. Before that time he performed as substitute or extra tuba with major orchestras in Boston, Philadelphia, St. Louis, Chicago, Milwaukee, and the Civic Orchestra of Chicago. In addition, he was the tubist in the Chicago Symphony Brass Quintet from 1977-1983.

Mr. Fedderly is perhaps best known for his teaching, having taught at several Universities including Peabody Conservatory of the Johns Hopkins University, University of Maryland, The Juilliard School, and DePaul University. He is active as a clinician throughout the United States, giving master classes and respiratory function demonstrations. He also works in conjunction with Dr. Craig VanderKolk, a Board Certified Plastic Surgeon, and David Shulman, Board Certified Physical Therapist, diagnosing, rehabilitating and re-training injured brass players. Musician’s Lip Service is located in Baltimore, Maryland.

He founded Baltimore Brass Co. in 1992, located in Catonsville, Maryland. Sales of new and used instruments and a full repair department distinguish it as a destination for many musicians world-wide.
Mr. Fedderly earned a Music Education degree from Northwestern University. He is the 2016 recipient of the International Tuba Euphonium Association Lifetime Achievement Award. He is co-author of Brass Instruments: Purchasing, Maintaining, Troubleshooting and More (Meredith Music Publicatons).

Guitar – Brent Crawford 

February 26-February 27

Brent Crawford is quickly establishing himself as one of the important Canadian guitarists of his generation. Winner at the Great Lakes International Guitar Competition, the inaugural Hamilton International Guitar Competition, and the Federation of Canadian Music Festivals’ National Music Competition, his career has included performances at the Mediterranean Guitar Festival in Cervo, Italy, the Sauble Beach Guitar Festival, the inaugural TEDx talk in Algonquin Park, as a featured soloist with the University of Toronto Guitar Orchestra, and an on-stage role in the UTSO’s production of Donizetti’s Don Pasquale.

​Brent’s current research at the University of Toronto is concerned with promoting performance excellence in classical guitar performance. Specifically, his research is looking into adopting methods and techniques from athletics to form a more rounded, holistic approach to performance preparation.

​Born and raised in Toronto, Brent started playing guitar at age 8, studying under Richard Summers at the Toronto Guitar Institute. He then continued his musical education with Robert Kubica at the University of Western Ontario, and is currently under the tutelage of Dr. Jeffrey McFadden at the University of Toronto. Brent maintains a busy teaching schedule with a private studio, is active as both a soloist and a chamber musician, and also finds opportunity for community outreach in the Greater Toronto Area.

Brent performs on a 2009 guitar by Paulino Bernabé.

Choirs – Mitchell Pady 

February 20 – February 28, 2018

From his beginnings as a boy treble with Derek Holman to Toronto Mendelssohn Youth Choir under Robert Cooper, Mitchell Pady went on to study voice and composition at Western University. Mitchell has had the great fortune to work with many other visionary choral conductors including Sir David Willcocks, Helmuth Rilling, Paul Hillier, Tonu Kaljuste and Kaspars Putnins. As a conductor, Mitchell has worked with orchestras and choirs across Canada and is in demand as a festival adjudicator and clinician. He is the artistic director of both The Cellar Singers and Oriana Women’s Choir and, since 2004, has been the choral director for the Interprovincial Music Camp. Currently Mitchell sings professionally with the Elmer Iseler Singers under Lydia Adams and Choir 21 with David Fallis. He has also been featured as a pops soloist under the baton of Howard Cable and as a jazz singer across Toronto. Mitchell has recorded for Naxos, Perimeter Records and Centrediscs.

Choirs – Melanie Tellez 

February 20, 22, 27, Mar. 1, 2, 2018

Melanie strives to bring an energetic and open-hearted approach to choral leadership as a conductor, vocal pedagogue and music educator.

In her role as Assistant Artistic Director of the Hamilton Children’s Choir, Melanie develops original choral programming, oversees and delivers music theory and literacy programs, and directs the HCC’s Esprimas choir. As an educator of young voices, Melanie also leads the Early Education Music Programme at Hillfield Strathallan College (Hamilton).

A finalist in the national Sir Ernest MacMillan Foundation Award in Choral Conducting (2012) and provincial Leslie Bell Prize for Choral Conducting (2015), Melanie is an emerging leader in Canada’s choral scene. Melanie holds a Bachelor of Music in Voice from Dalhousie University and a Master of Music in Choral Conducting from the University of Alberta. She also serves on the executive board of the provincial choral organization, Choirs Ontario.

Past conducting engagements include: Toronto Children’s Chorus, High Park Choirs of Toronto (now Young Voices Toronto), Chorus Niagara Children’s Choir, Sherwood Park Festival Singers (Alberta), and The King’s University College Concert Choir (Alberta).

Choirs – Zimfira Poloz 

February 20, 21, 23, 26 & 28, 2018

Zimfira Poloz is a highly respected conductor, educator and adjudicator with a distinguished international reputation. She has been decorated with numerous awards in her long career, including the Honoured Representative of Education of the Republic of Kazakhstan Award, the city of Hamilton’s V.I.P. Award, and the Leslie Bell Prize Award for Choral Conducting from the Ontario Arts Council.

Zimfira first established her musical credentials in Kazakhstan founding the country’s first Choir School that provided an outstanding music program that grew to employ 35 music teachers with an enrollment of 450 children. In addition to her duties as Principal of the school, she also served as Artistic Director and Conductor of the school’s Concert Choir, Koktem, that attained top international choral status and was a recurring prize-winner in choral competitions and festivals around the world.

Immediately upon her arrival to Canada Zimfira’s boundless energy and her passion for choral music found an outlet, first as a member of the Toronto Children’s Chorus Artistic Staff, later as vocal coach at St. Michael’s Choir School, and Artistic Director of Young Voices Toronto.

In 2003, Zimfira Poloz became the Artistic Director of the Hamilton Children’s Choir. She transformed the organization by raising the level of artistry, creativity and musicianship making the HCC one of the most sought-after children and youth choral music programs in the world.

Zimfira also has numerous articles and publications in National and International choral magazines.

In addition to her global travels as jury member, clinician, conductor, and presenter at world prestigious choral events in North America, South America, Asia and Europe, Zimfira continues to teach, lecturing on ‘Vocal Pedagogy for Young Choirs’ at the University of Toronto.

Choirs – Elaine Choi 

March 1-2 2018

Elaine Choi contributes to Toronto’s vibrant choral community as a conductor, educator, guest clinician and collaborative pianist. She is currently the Director of Music at Timothy Eaton Memorial Church and President Elect of Choirs Ontario. As a music educator, Elaine works as a faculty member at the National Music Camp and a guest coach at The York School. She also directs a 50-people Children’s Choir program at Timothy Eaton Memorial Church. Elaine is the co-founder and co-conductor of Windago, an ensemble of wind instruments and SATB chorus, which has premiered works by Alice Ho, Stephanie Martin, Kevin Lau, Elisha Denburg and many more. Elaine’s early music studies began on the piano and violin. She is also proficient on the Erhu, a Chinese traditional instrument and is currently the Associate Conductor of the Toronto Chinese Orchestra. Elaine earned her BMus in Music Education (2008) and a MMus in Music Performance specializing in Choral Conducting (2010) at the University of Toronto. She has also earned an ATCL (1999), an AmusTCL Diploma (2001) in piano performance from the Trinity College of Music, London, and an Advanced Certificate (2000) from ABRSM, England. She is a four time recipient of the Elmer Iseler Fellowship in Choral Conducting (2008,2009, 2014, 2015) and a finalist in the Sir Ernest MacMillan Foundation Fellowship Award in Choral Conducting (2012). In 2014, Elaine began her Doctorate study in choral conducting at the University of Toronto under the tutelage of Dr. Hilary Apfelstadt. She is currently the co-director of the University of Toronto Women’s Chorus.

Bands – Sally Wagner

February 20 – March 2, 2018

Sally S. Wagner recently retired after 40 years of public school teaching, 34 as Director of Bands at Eleanor Roosevelt High School in Greenbelt, Maryland, where she conducted four concert bands, Jazz Band, and oversaw the Dixieland Combo, Clarinet Choir, Woodwind Quintet and Brass Quintet. During her years at the school, her bands earned a reputation for superior musicianship and performance standards, and were recognized as outstanding by respected adjudicators at local, national and international music festivals.

Ms. Wagner is an MENC Nationally Registered Music Educator. She received the Prince George’s County Chamber of Commerce Outstanding Educator Award, Excellence in Teaching Awards from Prince George’s County Public Schools, the County Council, the Maryland House of Delegates and the Governor of Maryland, and was recognized in 1994 by the University of Maryland Center for Teaching Excellence. In 2001 she was cited in School Band and Orchestra Magazine as one of “50 Directors who make a Difference” and received the Maryland Music Educators Association Outstanding Music Teacher Award. In 2009 she received the National Honor Society Outstanding Teacher Award and the Claes Nobel Educator of Distinction Award. In 2013 she was recognized as the Greenbelt ACE Outstanding Educator and received the first annual Andrea Henderson Mentoring Teacher Award. Recently, she was awarded the James and Rosemary Walters Award for Service by the Maryland Music Educators Association.

Ms. Wagner earned degrees from Michigan State University and The University of Delaware. She is a member of Music Educators National Conference, Women Band Directors International, National Association for Music Education, National Band Association and Maryland Band Directors Association. She is active as an adjudicator, clinician, and guest conductor and writes articles for ‘The Woman Conductor’ and ‘BandWorld Magazine’. She is co-author of Brass Instruments: Purchasing, Maintaining, Troubleshooting and More and author of The Pursuit of Excellence: A Band Director’s Guide To Success (Meredith Music Publications). Sally is currently the Educational Representative for Baltimore Brass CO. in Catonsville, Maryland.

Bands – David Fedderly

February 20-24, 2018

David T. Fedderly retired after thirty-one years as Principal Tuba of the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra. Before that time he performed as substitute or extra tuba with major orchestras in Boston, Philadelphia, St. Louis, Chicago, Milwaukee, and the Civic Orchestra of Chicago. In addition, he was the tubist in the Chicago Symphony Brass Quintet from 1977-1983.

Mr. Fedderly is perhaps best known for his teaching, having taught at several Universities including Peabody Conservatory of the Johns Hopkins University, University of Maryland, The Juilliard School, and DePaul University. He is active as a clinician throughout the United States, giving master classes and respiratory function demonstrations. He also works in conjunction with Dr. Craig VanderKolk, a Board Certified Plastic Surgeon, and David Shulman, Board Certified Physical Therapist, diagnosing, rehabilitating and re-training injured brass players. Musician’s Lip Service is located in Baltimore, Maryland.

He founded Baltimore Brass Co. in 1992, located in Catonsville, Maryland. Sales of new and used instruments and a full repair department distinguish it as a destination for many musicians world-wide.
Mr. Fedderly earned a Music Education degree from Northwestern University. He is the 2016 recipient of the International Tuba Euphonium Association Lifetime Achievement Award. He is co-author of Brass Instruments: Purchasing, Maintaining, Troubleshooting and More (Meredith Music Publicatons).

Bands – Dr. Rebecca Phillips

February 25 – March 2, 2018

Dr. Rebecca Phillips is the Director of Bands at Colorado State University where she conducts the CSU Wind Symphony and guides all aspects of the band and graduate wind conducting program. Prior to this appointment, she served as the Associate Director of Bands, Director of Athletic Bands, and Associate Professor at the University of South Carolina where she was responsible for directing the Symphonic Winds Concert Band, “The Mighty Sound of the Southeast” Carolina Marching Band, “Concocktion” Pep Bands, teaching undergraduate instrumental conducting, and directing the Carolina Summer Drum Major Clinic.

Dr. Phillips has served as a guest-conductor, clinician, and performer throughout North America, Europe, and Asia. Most recently, she conducted a chamber wind concert featuring members of the Des Moines Symphony for the 2018 Iowa Bandmasters Association annual conference. In 2017, she conducted members of the Prague National Symphony at the inaugural “2017 American Spring Festival” in Prague, The Czech Republic. Dr. Phillips regularly conducts collegiate honor bands and all-state bands across the United States and she has been a rehearsal clinician at the Midwest Clinic: An International Band and Orchestra Conference. Ensembles under her direction have been featured at the 2012 College Band Director’s National Association Southern Division Conference (CBDNA), the 2010 Society of Composers International Conference, and the 2008 North American Saxophone Alliance International Convention. In 2019, the Colorado State University Wind Symphony will be featured at the American Bandmasters Association National Convention.

Dr. Phillips believes in treasuring the traditional wind music of the past as well as promoting cutting edge works of today’s finest composers. She has commissioned and conducted world and consortium premieres of works by several leading composers, including William Bolcomb, Frank Ticheli, James David, John Mackey, John Fitz Rogers, Robert Bradshaw, and Brett Dietz. Her conducting performances of David del Tredici’s In Wartime and John Mackey’s Redline Tango are both featured on the nationally distributed Louisiana State University Wind Ensemble compact disc project and the world premiere of John Fitz Rogers Narragansett is featured on the Compact Disc And I Await, featuring Dr. Phillips as guest conductor of the University of South Carolina Wind Ensemble.

As a trombonist, Dr. Phillips’ performances can be found on several internationally distributed recordings. She has performed with the National Symphony Orchestra, U.S. Army Band (Pershing’s Own), the Tallahassee Symphony, and the Tampa Bay Opera Orchestra. She has also performed internationally in England, Mexico, the Caribbean, Russia, and Sweden, and has toured as a trombonist with Johnny Mathis and Barry Manilow.

A native of the Washington, D.C. area, Dr. Phillips earned her Bachelor’s degree in Music Education from The Florida State University, Master of Music degrees in conducting and trombone performance from the University of South Florida, and a Doctorate of Musical Arts in conducting at Louisiana State University. She served as a secondary school band director for seven years in Florida, including Director of Bands at Howard W. Blake Performing Arts High School in Tampa, Florida where she developed an award-winning concert band program.

Jazz – Josh Grossman

February 28 – March 1, 2018

Since graduating from the University of Toronto’s Jazz Performance Program in 1999, Josh Grossman has gained a wealth of experience in the worlds of music performance and administration.

As a trumpeter, Josh has performed in big bands under the direction of Phil Nimmons, Paul Read, Ron Collier and Paul Ashwell; he has performed with the Chris Hunt Tentet since its inception in 2002. Josh is the founding Artistic Director and Conductor for the Toronto Jazz Orchestra (TJO), an 18-piece big band featuring some of Toronto’s top jazz talent. Now in its 19th year, the TJO has released three full-length recordings, has performed with Phil Nimmons, Ingrid Jensen, Christine Jensen, Emilie-Claire Barlow, Seamus Blake, Geoffrey Keezer, the Toronto Mass Choir and Kurt Elling (among others); has presented musical tributes to Thad Jones, Stan Kenton, Duke Ellington and Radiohead; and has undertaken special projects including the Big Band Gospel Project (with the Toronto Mass Choir) and the Big Band Tap Revue (with five tap dancers).

For four years Josh was Performance Manager for The Glenn Gould School at The Royal Conservatory, where he was responsible for producing the School’s annual orchestra and chamber music concerts as well as over 100 master classes each year featuring top musicians and teachers from around the world. Following The Glenn Gould School Josh managed the High Park Choirs of Toronto (2007-2009), a 120-voice children’s choir for which he served as the sole administrator; he served as Operations Manager for Continuum Contemporary Music from 2007-2017, managing all administrative duties for one of Canada’s top contemporary chamber ensembles.

Josh was Artistic Director for the Markham Jazz Festival from 2006 to 2009, and in January, 2010 he was hired as Artistic Director for Toronto Downtown Jazz (TDJ), which each year presents the TD Toronto Jazz Festival, one of Canada’s largest international music festivals. Since beginning with TDJ in January, 2010, Josh has sought to re-invigourate the organization’s activities, launching new educational and off-season activity, building new bridges into the local jazz community, and encouraging the presentation of those artists who are moving jazz into a new and exciting direction. Josh recently completed a 4-year term as co-chair of the Toronto Arts Council (TAC) Music Committee, and a member of the TAC Board of Directors.

Orchestras – Joan Woodrow

February 20 – February 23, 2018

A native of St. John’s, Newfoundland, Joan Woodrow received her early musical training from the Sisters of Mercy. She obtained her Bachelor of Music degree from Mount Allison University and went on to further her studies at Ithaca College, New York, University of Wisconsin, as well as Queen’s University, Kingston. Mrs. Woodrow has won numerous awards and scholarships, and was a frequent winner in both piano and cello at the Kiwanis Music Festivals. She also holds two Music Exhibitioner Awards from Trinity College of Music, London, England for the highest marks in Canada in Pianoforte playing.

Joan is a past member of the Newfoundland Symphony Orchestra, having played in this Orchestra as principal cellist when it had its beginnings as the St. John’s Orchestra. She has also worked in the capacity of Instrumental instructor with the Roman Catholic School Board of St. John’s.

Mrs. Woodrow has composed a collection of pedagogical pieces for children entitled “A Stroll Through Old St. John’s”. These compositions are performed frequently at local festivals and have received national coverage on CBC Radio.

An active member of the Newfoundland Registered Music Teacher’s Association, Joan is Provincial Past President and is a delegate to the Canadian Federation of Music Teachers Associations. In 2003 she was a member of the host committee for the CFMTA National Convention. Mrs. Woodrow is also the chairperson of the advisory board for the St. John’s Kiwanis Music Festival, and is the Executive Director of the Newfoundland and Labrador Provincial Music Festival, as well as Provincial Advisor for the National Music Festival. She is an active adjudicator, having adjudicated a variety of instruments extensively in Canada from coast to coast. Joan is also an examiner for Conservatory Canada.

Joan should also be recognized for being a member of the founding board of the Suzuki Talent Education Program and as the originator of the Atlantic Canada Suzuki Institute. The Suzuki institute is an international camp for student and teacher training which Ms. Woodrow, not only established in Newfoundland but also directed and organized for 10 successful years.

In 2011, Joan was inducted into the Kiwanis Music Festival Association Hall of Honour for significant contribution to the Kiwanis Music Festival and the music community. In 2012 she was elected to the national executive board of the Federation of Canadian Music Festivals. In February of 2015, Joan was invited to be an executive board member of Conservatory Canada.

Joan Woodrow currently lives in St. John’s where she operates a successful music studio, and is sought after as an accompanist.

Orchestras & Chamber – Martha Gregory

February 20-23, 2018 – Orchestras
February 27, 2018 – Chamber Groups

Martha Gregory was born in Rochester, New York where she studied violin, piano and voice at the Hochstein School of Music,The Eastman School of Music and Roberts Wesleyan College. Her Conservatory and University classes included chamber, choral and orchestral work and she enjoyed many years playing with the Rochester Youth Orchestra and the Hochstein Symphony.

To help pay for all this, she worked in the offices of the schools which gave her the basis for her festival work. Martha also spent many years accompanying Suzuki classes, voice students and ballet classes.

Inspired by her first voice teacher, Lois Gilbert, Martha always knew her passion was teaching. After moving to Canada, she established a private studio in Pickering, Ontario that she still maintains. She currently performs with the Ontario Philharmonic Orchestra and is principal violinist with the Hamstrings of Durham Trio. She has been an active freelance performer in classical voice, music theatre, violin and piano.

Martha has been involved with music festivals for the last 28 years and has been Executive Director of the Pickering GTA Music Festival for 15 years. She is in her 7th year as President of the Ontario Music Festivals Association and has enjoyed adjudicating all across Canada. Adjudicating has become her new passion and she is inspired by the performances and feedback from all of the people she has met throughout Canada. The Toronto Kiwanis Festival introduced Martha to adjudicating and she is very happy to be returning to hear many more exciting performances.