Our 2017 Adjudicators Click on names for biographical information Kevin Mallon Dr. Giles Bryant Francis Mae Balodis Linda Fletcher Peter Stoll Catherine Robertson Frank Horvat Tessa Desatnik Thanks to Our Major Corporate Sponsors Ted Hunter and Paul Harris-Lowe Camp Ponacka Inc.. Comstock -Kaye Life Celebration Centre Monkman, Gracie & Johnston Insurance Topping Insurance Broker Ltd. May 28 June 3, 2017 Hamilton, Ontario
Brass, Band Woodwind Adjudicator Known for his virtuoso energy on stage as well as an easy and entertaining way of speaking with the audience, Peter Stoll teaches clarinet, chamber music, woodwind performance and the Business of Music at the University of Toronto's Faculty of Music, and is a frequent performer with orchestral and chamber ensembles in southern Ontario. Also a very popular adjudicator up to the national level, he has worked across Canada and in the United States. Peter is particularly known for his enthusiastic, positive comments and detailed suggestions to young musicians. Peter was a prizewinner in the International Clarinet Society Competition, and has been heard many times on CBC radio featured on several CD recordings and concert broadcasts. First-Prize winner in chamber music in the Federation of Canadian Music Festivals National Finals, he was invited back for the Festival's 50th Anniversary to perform as soloist in the Gala Celebration Concert. Tours as soloist and with various ensembles have taken him across Europe, to Russia and to the United States. Recent performance highlights have included chamber concerts in Japan and on a tour of 3 Chinese cities, as well as at the International Clarinet Association s conference in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. In 2016 Peter was featured on a recording with members of the Canadian Brass. Over the past 25 years Peter has been invited to adjudicate at over 100 local festivals across Canada. Fluent in both official languages, he has heard countless bands, orchestras, and woodwind, brass and percussion solos and ensembles coast-to-coast. Above the local level, he has judged at the finals of fifteen Provincial competitions, and has twice been asked to serve as the woodwind adjudicator for the national finals of the Federation of Canadian Music Festivals. Peter is also a member of the Royal Conservatory of Music's National College of Examiners, where he is the Discipline Specialist for Winds, and was the Chief Compiler of the 2014 edition of the clarinet examination syllabus. His website is www.peterstoll.ca Ted Hunter and Paul Harris-Lowe. Comstock Kaye Life Celebration Centre Canadian Legion Topping Insurance Broker Ltd. May 28 June 3, 2017, Hamilton, Ontario
Catherine Robertston, Intermediate and Senior Piano Catherine Robertson is active as a pianist, chamber musician, singer, coach and teacher. She is a frequent piano and choral adjudicator at music festivals across the country. Catherine teaches piano and piano literature courses at the music department of Conrad Grebel College, University of Waterloo and is conductor of the College Chapel Choir. Catherine received her B. Mus. Piano Performance (Queen s University), Piano Licentiate LRAM, (Royal Academy of Music, London, U.K.) and her M. Mus. Piano Performance (Western University degrees. She was a collaborative pianist and coach at Wilfrid Laurier University, and for eight years taught piano at Redeemer University College. For twenty years, Catherine demonstrated her love of early music as director of TACTUS Vocal Ensemble, a professional group that specialized in music of the European Renaissance. She is also a former consort member of Tafelmusik Chamber Choir and sang for twenty-five years with the Elora Festival Singers. Membership on the board of the Guelph Connections Concerts series has helped keep Catherine active in recital and in planning chamber concerts of musical excellence and accessibility within the community. Camp Ponacka Inc. Comstock-Kaye Life Celebration Centre May 28 June 3, 2017 Hamilton, On Sunday April 10th
Frank Horvat Junior and Intermediate Piano Born in Ottawa, Canada in 1974, Frank Horvat is an award-winning and critically acclaimed composer and pianist. From performing in classical recitals to playing in The Frank Horvat Band, Frank maintains an active schedule of performances of his own compositions and the works of others in Canada and abroad. His portfolio of compositions consists of chamber, electronic, music theatre, film, and large ensemble works. His music has been featured on TV networks like the CBC & Bravo and a variety of radio stations internationally. Released in June 07, his debut recording, I ll Be Good, features thirteen original compositions for solo piano performed by Frank himself. This was followed by a 28-stop concert tour including performances at NuitBlanche (Toronto) and The Works Art and Design Festival (Edmonton). Frank s followup CD, A Little Dark Music, released on Earth Hour 2010 is inspired by environmental themes. A portion of the sale of this CD is being donated to WWF. From March 2010 to April 2011, Frank presented The Green Keys Tour, a 60+ city concert tour across Canada and the US that showcased eco-friendly behaviour. In January 2014 he released his third CD entitled, I Can See You, for band and electronics. The Frank Horvat Band s highly anticipated follow-up album, Strange Machine, also released in 2014 in November. 2017 will see the release of four albums of Frank s compositions. A graduate of the Faculty of Music at the University of Toronto and the Royal Conservatory of Music, Frank is also very active within the field of music education. Along with maintaining a private teaching studio working with piano, theory, and composition students, Frank also regularly conducts workshops and master classes, adjudicates festivals, and authors articles on music education. Frank is Past President of the Ontario Registered Music Association and Lakeshore Arts. From 1999 to 2011, Frank was a member of the RCM College of Theory Examiners. Residing in Toronto with his wife, Frank is an Associate Composer at the Canadian Music Centre (CMC), a member of the Canadian League of Composers and is passionate about social issues related to human rights and the environment. Comstock -Kaye Life Celebration Centre May 28 June 3, 2017 Hamilton, Ontario
Linda Fletcher Voice, Music Theatre, Pop Linda Fletcher, Hons B.Mus (Music Ed), B.Ed, A.Mus.(Gold medalist) RMT, is actively involved in the music community as a teacher, composer, singer, adjudicator, clinician, accompanist and music director. She studied piano with Grace Vandendool and Reginald Bedford, organ with Keith Hopkins, and voice with Gladys Whitehead and Tom Oliver. She also plays French horn and guitar. A dedicated voice teacher, she maintains a busy private studio and has been the organist and music director at Walton United Church in Oakville for over 35 years. Walton has a vibrant music programme of over 80 singers in three choirs. Her students and choirs have won many local, provincial and international awards for piano, singing and composition including numerous RCM gold medals. Several of Linda s students have performed internationally including leading roles in Toronto, Stratford, New York and Germany. Her student Scott MacIntyre was in the top eight of American Idol in 2009. A featured composer in the 2002 Canadian Composer s Calendar, her vocal and choral compositions have been selected for music festivals and performed internationally. Her setting of the Olde Irish Blessing is included in the RCM vocal series. Linda worked as co-writer, performer and arranger, with director Tom Oliver, for Voices in the Night, a non-profit charity fundraising vehicle. She served as chorus director for two Juno nominated recordings of children s entertainer, Eric Nagler. In 2006, Linda was the recipient of the Pauline McGibbon Lifetime Achievement in the Arts award, in recognition of her many contributions to the teaching of music. Linda is the 2012 recipient of the ORMTA Special Teacher award. In 2016 she was the inaugural recipient of the RCM Teacher of Distinction award. Linda was part of the creative team for the 2012 RCM voice series and three of her songs are included in the syllabus. She is the compiler and editor of a new series of Canadian songbooks entitled Sing! published by Leslie Music. Linda has adjudicated major music festivals across Canada. She is actively involved in local music festivals arranging fundraising concerts, and as syllabus advisor and accompanist. Linda is a founding member and president of the new Oakville Vocal Arts Festival. She also accompanies voice and theatre at OMFA provincials. Linda is a member of ACTRA, NATS, CMFAA, SOCAN, CFMTA and ORMTA where she served on the executive for ten years. She was a workshop clinician for the ORMTA convention 2012. She and her husband John are blessed with four children and four grandchildren who also share Linda s love of music. Comstock-Kaye Life Celebration Centre May 28 June 3, 2017 Hamilton, Ontario
Francis Mae Balodis Non Competitive Piano, Beginner Piano, Adjudicator Frances Mae Balodis MEd., ARCT, LCCN(H), LCNCM(H), RMT, MYCC is founder (in 1980) of Music for Young Chil dren and cofounder of CLU. As a Registered Music Teacher, Frances received the Hugheen Ferguson Distinguished Teacher award in Regina SK in July 2011. She was nominated (in 2011) and was a finalist for the Louis Applebaum Composer Award. A certified Neurolinguistic Programmer (NLP) and an Accredited DISC Training provider, as well as teacher with over 50 years experience, Frances is a speaker and a workshop clinician, adjudicator and examiner. She delights in helping people of all ages and places understand their learning styles. Frances is the Chairperson for the MYC Composition Festival. Frances has adjudicated at many Festivals. In addition, in 2016 she was the adjudicator for the Mary Gardiner Junior and Senior candidates for Performance Excellence across Canada for ACNMP Contemporary Showcase. Frances enjoys being a Conservatory Canada examiner. She lives in Ullswater, Muskoka, ON with her husband, Gunars. She shares the organist position at St. Thomas Anglican church, Ullswater, ON. Frances played handbells for five years. Frances makes and sells birch bark cards for her business Creative Muskoka Cards. Frances is a member of the Canadian Association of Professional Speakers CAPS. She is also the director of The Muskoka Men of Song, a 30 voice male choir centered in Bracebridge, ON. Comstock -Kaye Life Celebration Centre Monkman, Gracie & Johnston Insurance May 28 June 3, 2017, Hamilton
Kevin Mallon String Adjudicator Conductor Kevin Mallon was brought up in Belfast, Northern Ireland. He studied at Chetham s School of Music, Man chester s Royal Northern College of Music and at Dartington College of Arts, studying composition with Peter Maxwell Davies, conducting with John Eliot Gardiner, singing and specializing in baroque violin. He became concert-master with Le Concert Spirituel and Les Arts Florissants in Paris and led and directed The Irish Baroque Orchestra before moving to Canada to take up posts with Tafelmusik Baroque Orchestra and the University of Toronto, (positions he left to pursue his conducting career). In 1999 he founded the instrumental and vocal group the Aradia Ensemble, with whom he has toured widely, and become conductor of the Toronto Chamber Orchestra and has made over 50 recordings for Naxos. Many of these recordings have won international awards- Gramophone Editors Choice Awards, Penguin Guide Rosettes and a nomination for a Juno Award. With Toronto s Opera in Concert he has conducted ten baroque and classical operas. From 2004-2008, he was Artistic Director of the Irish company Opera 2005; his seventh production with them being Verdi s Ballo in Maschera in September 2008 for which he achieved his third Irish Times Theatre Award nomination. In 2009 he conducted Carmen and Don Giovanni in Odessa, Holland, Belgium and Spain. Kevin's most recent appointments are as Music Director of the Thirteen Strings Chamber Orchestra in Ottawa (2010), Conductor of the Centre for Opera Studies in Italy (2010) and as Conductor of New York s West Side Chamber Orchestra (2011). Kevin was appointed as Music Director of Orchestra Toronto in 2013 and was Interim Artistic Director of Opera Lyra in 2014/2015. He has written music for the TV series Camelot. Comstock -Kaye Life Celebration Centre May 28 June 3, Hamilton, Ont
Tessa Desatnik Speech Arts Adjudicator Tessa Desatnik has been involved in speech arts and communication skills training since 1991. She opened the Sharper Image Academy of speech and drama in 1991 and continues to be actively involved in offering private and group classes at her studio in Vaughan. Tessa is also involved in corporate training and is the founder of The Sharper Image corporate consulting company ( 1995 to present) focusing on executive presence, vocal leadership and accent modification. In 2011 Tessa wrote and cofounded Now you re Talking, a 3-part presentation skills program aimed at elementary to university students. This course is offered at her studio or as a lunch time program. In-class workshops or professional development for teachers. Tessa continues to be actively involved in running and operating all three businesses. She is passionate about the work she does and is constantly looking to find creative and valuable ways to impact students and adults alike. Comstock -Kaye Life Celebration Centre Monkman, Gracie & Johnston Insurance May 28 June 3, 2017 Hamilton, Ontario
z Dr. Giles Bryant Choir adjudicator Giles Bryant was born in England. Since he first began to sing as a treble in his school Chapel choir, he has been actively engaged with choral music, both as a singer and as an organist and choirmaster. He has an Honours degree in English Language and Literature from London University and holds both the Associate and Choirmaster s Diplomas (John Brook Prize) of the Royal College of Organists and is a Fellow of the Royal Canadian College of Organists (honoris causa). He served in the Royal Air Force as a Pilot Officer (Instructor). Dr. Bryant was organist and choirmaster of St. Andrew s Presbyterian Church in Toronto. After working with Healey Willan on cataloguing his works, in 1968 he succeeded Willan at the Church of St. Mary Magdalene. In 1979 he was appointed Organist and Master of the Choristers at St. James Cathedral. He has also served as Director of Music of Upper Canada College, and Cranborne Chase School in England. He has been organist of Massey College in the University of Toronto, and held a similar position at Trinity College. He has been Musical Director of the Toronto Diocesan Choir School and was Head of Choral Music at Royal St. George s College in Toronto. He has also served as Music Director of the Conservatory Singers and the Repertory Chorus of the Royal Conservatory, and taught summer courses at the Conservatory each year. He was the founder-conductor of the Clerkes and the Sine Nomine Singers, and has conducted the Festival Singers of Canada and the Toronto Concert Singers. In 1990 he became Chorus Master for the Toronto Philharmonic Orchestra. In 1989 he conducted a choir of 1500 singers in Skydome, Toronto, for the Sesquicentennial of the Diocese of Toronto. He is greatly in demand as lecturer and clinician on choral subjects, and has adjudicated choirs extensively in Canada, England and the USA. He has given organ recitals across Canada, in England, France and Spain. In 1984 he played for the Pope s visit to the Martyr s Shrine at Midland. Dr. Bryant has written many articles on choral matters in Canada and in England, and is a contributor to the Encyclopedia of Music in Canada, and Grove s Dictionary of Music. He has reviewed choral records for the BBC and CBC radio, and his own choirs have made thirteen recordings. He is the author of Healey Willan Catalogue (National Library of Canada 1972) In 1988 he was awarded the honorary degree of Doctor of Sacred Letters by Wycliffe College, for his services to Anglican Church Music, and an honorary Doctorate of Sacred Letters by Trinity College in 2001. In 1987 he was appointed Executive Director of the Kiwanis Music Festival of Greater Toronto, appointed Artistic Director in 1993, and was named a Peacock Fellow of the Kiwanis Music Festival in 2001. He was National President of the Royal Canadian College of Organists from 1990 to 1992. In 1996 he was given the Distinguished Service Award of the Ontario Choral Federation. He retired from Royal St. George s College and St. James Cathedral in 1999 and became Organist and Choirmaster at All Saints Church, Peterborough. He is Organist and Master of the Choristers Emeritus of St. James Cathedral and was named a Lay Canon of the Diocese of Toronto in 1998. In 2015 he was awarded a Fellowship of the Royal School of Church Music. He is now fully retired and working as a freelance organist. Camp Ponacka Inc Comstock-Kaye Life Celebration Centre Monkman, Gracie & Johnston Insurance May 28 June 3, Hamilton, Ontario
Sunday April 22nd, Ted Hunter and Paul Harris-Lowe Comstock Funeral Home Kawartha Youth Orchestra Canadian Legion RTO-ERO Peterborough District 36 Retired of Ontario Swish Maintenance Limited June 1 6, 2015 Peterborough Magic 96.7 Radio
Sunday April 10th Magic 96.7 Radio Comstock Funeral Home Kawartha Youth Orchestra Monkman, Gracie & Johnston Insurance RTO-ERO Peterborough District 36 Retired of Ontario Swish Maintenance Limited Westben Arts Festival Theatre Mainly Music Camp June 1 6, 2015 Peterborough