2026 Adjudicators

Connor O’Kane is a highly sought-after pianist, teacher, chamber musician, vocal coach, and conductor. Since his concerto debut with the Kitchener-Waterloo Symphony in 2014, he has appeared as a recitalist in the United States, France, and across Canada. In 2022, he was awarded the Canimex Second Prize and top award for piano at the prestigious CMC Stepping Stone. He performs in a variety of concert series and festivals including recent appearances at the Banff Centre Summer Arts Festival, Ottawa Chamberfest, Music at St. Andrews Toronto, and Sundays at Chateau Windrush, among others.

A passionate collaborative musician with an affinity for opera, Connor has worked as both a pianist and conductor on nearly 20 opera productions. In recent seasons he conducted performances at the Glenn Gould School (Ravel’s L’enfant et les sortilèges and Debussy’s Prodigal Son), Western University (Britten’s Albert Herring), Toronto City Opera (Bizet’s Carmen), and the Banff Centre (Bach’s St. Matthew Passion). He is regularly invited to collaborate with many of Canada’s top vocalists.

Connor is currently a Piano Instructor at Western University, where he previously completed a Doctor of Musical Arts degree in piano performance under the tutelage of Stéphan Sylvestre. Connor’s previous teachers include David Jalbert, Heather Taves, and Joan Walker, with additional training at the Conservatoire de Lyon in the studio of Manuel Schweizer. Connor also maintains an active private studio in Kitchener-Waterloo, and regularly appears as an adjudicator at local and provincial music festivals.
connorokane.com