2024 Adjudicators
Danica Hoffart Vocal / Musical Theatre / Choir Adjudicator
Dr. Danica Hoffart is a singer, conductor, musical director, educator, and adjudicator. She currently directs the Ross Street Singers in Red Deer, AB and is a vocalist with the Central Alberta Chamber Orchestra. For over two decades, Danica taught post-secondary Music and Theatre including private voice lessons, choir, singing for the stage, music history, and ear training. She has performed with Kompany! Dance and has been a soprano soloist with the Red Deer Symphony Orchestra. Select musical directing credits include South Pacific, Footloose, Cabaret, The Sound of Music, and The Wizard of Oz. Danica holds a Bachelor of Music and a Master of Arts in Music from the University of Alberta, and a PhD in Music from the University of Calgary. Her doctoral research examined best practices in leadership and the empowerment of individuals through participation in choir.
Dr. Danica Hoffart is a singer, conductor, musical director, educator, and adjudicator. She currently directs the Ross Street Singers in Red Deer, AB and is a vocalist with the Central Alberta Chamber Orchestra. For over two decades, Danica taught post-secondary Music and Theatre including private voice lessons, choir, singing for the stage, music history, and ear training. She has performed with Kompany! Dance and has been a soprano soloist with the Red Deer Symphony Orchestra. Select musical directing credits include South Pacific, Footloose, Cabaret, The Sound of Music, and The Wizard of Oz. Danica holds a Bachelor of Music and a Master of Arts in Music from the University of Alberta, and a PhD in Music from the University of Calgary. Her doctoral research examined best practices in leadership and the empowerment of individuals through participation in choir.
Michèle Wheatley-Brown Piano Adjudicator
Michèle Wheatley-Brown is an accomplished pianist, teacher, adjudicator, and examiner for the Royal Conservatory of Music (RCM). She is passionate about helping her students, of all levels, realize their potential for joyful music-making. Michèle runs a thriving piano studio in High River, Alberta, where she is also the founding Artistic Director of a highly successful classical music concert and education program. She strongly believes in making music a vital part of community life. Michèle holds a Master of Arts (Music) degree and a Graduate Certificate in Piano Pedagogy Research from the University of Ottawa and Bachelor of Music and Bachelor of Education from the University of Toronto. She is a member of the RCM College of Examiners and is a Licensed Body Mapping Educator. Michèle was one of the first licensed Body Mapping Educators in Canada and is now a Mentor Teacher for apprentice teachers seeking certification. As a Body Mapping Educator, Michèle is in demand as a specialist helping musicians improve their performance and avoid pain and injury through a proper understanding of anatomical structure and biomechanical principles. She regularly presents clinics, masterclasses, and workshops to music programs at universities, colleges, and conferences throughout Western Canada. She also offers private and group lessons in Body Mapping. Michèle has published articles and papers in Arts Biomechanics Journal, ARMTA Tempo, and APTA News and Views. Michèle takes particular pleasure in her role as an adjudicator and has enjoyed participating in numerous festivals throughout Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba and the Yukon.
Michèle Wheatley-Brown is an accomplished pianist, teacher, adjudicator, and examiner for the Royal Conservatory of Music (RCM). She is passionate about helping her students, of all levels, realize their potential for joyful music-making. Michèle runs a thriving piano studio in High River, Alberta, where she is also the founding Artistic Director of a highly successful classical music concert and education program. She strongly believes in making music a vital part of community life. Michèle holds a Master of Arts (Music) degree and a Graduate Certificate in Piano Pedagogy Research from the University of Ottawa and Bachelor of Music and Bachelor of Education from the University of Toronto. She is a member of the RCM College of Examiners and is a Licensed Body Mapping Educator. Michèle was one of the first licensed Body Mapping Educators in Canada and is now a Mentor Teacher for apprentice teachers seeking certification. As a Body Mapping Educator, Michèle is in demand as a specialist helping musicians improve their performance and avoid pain and injury through a proper understanding of anatomical structure and biomechanical principles. She regularly presents clinics, masterclasses, and workshops to music programs at universities, colleges, and conferences throughout Western Canada. She also offers private and group lessons in Body Mapping. Michèle has published articles and papers in Arts Biomechanics Journal, ARMTA Tempo, and APTA News and Views. Michèle takes particular pleasure in her role as an adjudicator and has enjoyed participating in numerous festivals throughout Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba and the Yukon.
Susan Duska Speech Adjudicator
Susan Duska has wide experience in all areas of theatre, performance, vocal coaching, and teaching. She is on faculty at the Conservatory at Mount Royal University and maintains a busy schedule teaching private and group lessons, as well as theory classes and adjudicating across the country. In addition, she coordinates Presentation MRU, a non-competitive speech festival for Calgary speech students. She is an examiner for the Royal Conservatory of Music and also examines for the International Schools Association in Argentina and Uruguay. Recent projects include Poetry and Presentation – Sonnets and Rap for Grade Nine students, Shakespeare for five Grade Three classes – mini productions of A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Romeo and Juliet and The Tempest. She holds a B.F.A. in Drama from the University of Calgary, is an Associate of the Royal Conservatory of Toronto as well as an Associate and Licentiate of the Mount Royal College Conservatory.
Susan Duska has wide experience in all areas of theatre, performance, vocal coaching, and teaching. She is on faculty at the Conservatory at Mount Royal University and maintains a busy schedule teaching private and group lessons, as well as theory classes and adjudicating across the country. In addition, she coordinates Presentation MRU, a non-competitive speech festival for Calgary speech students. She is an examiner for the Royal Conservatory of Music and also examines for the International Schools Association in Argentina and Uruguay. Recent projects include Poetry and Presentation – Sonnets and Rap for Grade Nine students, Shakespeare for five Grade Three classes – mini productions of A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Romeo and Juliet and The Tempest. She holds a B.F.A. in Drama from the University of Calgary, is an Associate of the Royal Conservatory of Toronto as well as an Associate and Licentiate of the Mount Royal College Conservatory.
Maria Medlow Strings Adjudicator
Originally from Argentina, Maria grew up playing the violin and piano. Upon moving to Canada , she was accepted at the Senior Academy at Mount Royal Conservatory and studied with prominent teachers including Lise Elson, Cenek Vbra and John Lowry. Maria completed her ARCT certification in both violin and piano and moved to complete her music performance studies at the University of Calgary under the direction of Edmond Agopian.
Maria is currently an active member of the Calgary Musicians Association and is also the Registration Chair for the Cochrane Youth Talent Festival and is a member of the Board of Directors for the Alberta Music Education Foundation. She has performed and recorded solo and chamber concerts with members of the Calgary Opera, Calgary Cowtown Opera, Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra, Red Deer Symphony, Metropolitan Opera of New York, Rocky Mountain Symphony Orchestra, Cirque De Soleil and played alongside Michael Buble for his 2014 Canada Tour. She was invited to record for the Canadian Country Music Awards and was featured in the CBC Television special for the CCMA awards.Maria runs a thriving private studio in Calgary. Her students have been finalists in the Canadian Music Competition, placed in provincials at the Kiwanis Music Festival, and won medals and scholarships for RCM exams. She has prepared her students for successful admission to classical string programs throughout North America. Maria continues her active role as a teacher, adjudicator and performer hosting and playing numerous concerts and fundraisers in support of different charities. Maria resides in Calgary with her husband and 7 year old son Lucas.
Originally from Argentina, Maria grew up playing the violin and piano. Upon moving to Canada , she was accepted at the Senior Academy at Mount Royal Conservatory and studied with prominent teachers including Lise Elson, Cenek Vbra and John Lowry. Maria completed her ARCT certification in both violin and piano and moved to complete her music performance studies at the University of Calgary under the direction of Edmond Agopian.
Maria is currently an active member of the Calgary Musicians Association and is also the Registration Chair for the Cochrane Youth Talent Festival and is a member of the Board of Directors for the Alberta Music Education Foundation. She has performed and recorded solo and chamber concerts with members of the Calgary Opera, Calgary Cowtown Opera, Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra, Red Deer Symphony, Metropolitan Opera of New York, Rocky Mountain Symphony Orchestra, Cirque De Soleil and played alongside Michael Buble for his 2014 Canada Tour. She was invited to record for the Canadian Country Music Awards and was featured in the CBC Television special for the CCMA awards.Maria runs a thriving private studio in Calgary. Her students have been finalists in the Canadian Music Competition, placed in provincials at the Kiwanis Music Festival, and won medals and scholarships for RCM exams. She has prepared her students for successful admission to classical string programs throughout North America. Maria continues her active role as a teacher, adjudicator and performer hosting and playing numerous concerts and fundraisers in support of different charities. Maria resides in Calgary with her husband and 7 year old son Lucas.
Don Robb Band Adjudicator
Junior and senior concert and jazz bands were Don’s primary focus during his teaching career. His teaching career began in Moosomin, SK in 1976. He moved to southern Alberta and taught in various schools. From 1989 - 2010, he was the band teacher at Catholic Central High School in Lethbridge, was heavily involved in the school’s musical theatre productions, and help found the Music Academy program. In his 35 years of teaching, Don taught several subjects other than music. These include Grade 10 English, Junior High Science and Math, Information Processing (computer basics), Knowledge and Employability Social Studies (a special education class)
From 1998 - 2007 Don conducted the award-winning Lethbridge Community Gold Band.
Other aspects of his career include directing the University of Lethbridge Jazz Ensemble (11 years), and teaching Jazz History, Popular Music History, and Jazz Improvisation. Don also did Field Supervision for the Faculty of Education on several occasions.
Don is busy as a trumpet player with the Bridge Brass Quintet, the Lethbridge Big Band, Hippodrome, Standard Time Jazz Combo, the Lethbridge Symphony, and many musical theatre productions. Don is a founding board member and past - president of the Lethbridge Jazz Society. He has also served on the board of the Alberta Band Association (ABA) for several years and was President of the ABA for 2 years.
Don is a graduate of the University of Regina (B. MusEd 1976).
Junior and senior concert and jazz bands were Don’s primary focus during his teaching career. His teaching career began in Moosomin, SK in 1976. He moved to southern Alberta and taught in various schools. From 1989 - 2010, he was the band teacher at Catholic Central High School in Lethbridge, was heavily involved in the school’s musical theatre productions, and help found the Music Academy program. In his 35 years of teaching, Don taught several subjects other than music. These include Grade 10 English, Junior High Science and Math, Information Processing (computer basics), Knowledge and Employability Social Studies (a special education class)
From 1998 - 2007 Don conducted the award-winning Lethbridge Community Gold Band.
Other aspects of his career include directing the University of Lethbridge Jazz Ensemble (11 years), and teaching Jazz History, Popular Music History, and Jazz Improvisation. Don also did Field Supervision for the Faculty of Education on several occasions.
Don is busy as a trumpet player with the Bridge Brass Quintet, the Lethbridge Big Band, Hippodrome, Standard Time Jazz Combo, the Lethbridge Symphony, and many musical theatre productions. Don is a founding board member and past - president of the Lethbridge Jazz Society. He has also served on the board of the Alberta Band Association (ABA) for several years and was President of the ABA for 2 years.
Don is a graduate of the University of Regina (B. MusEd 1976).
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