Biography coming soon!

Adjudicating the 2020 Senior Piano Division

Pianist and composer David McEvoy has given recitals throughout Canada, the United States, and Europe and has been a featured soloist at the Tanglewood Music Center, Music Academy of the West, and the Kitchener-Waterloo Chamber Music Society. A finalist in the 2012 Knigge National Piano Competition and the 2012 TD Canada Trust Elora Festival National Competition, Mr. McEvoy was a winner of the Penderecki String Quartet’s prize for Chamber Music Excellence (2009) and a gold medalist in the 2005 OMFA (Ontario Music Festivals Association) provincial competition. 

Mr. McEvoy has collaborated with the Mark Morris Dance company, participated in the world premiere of Robert Zuidam’s Tanglewood Concerto which featured Emanuel Ax as a principal soloist, and gave a performance of George Crumb’s Ancient Voices of Children which was reviewed by the Sunday Times of London as having been “…staggeringly well-played.” He holds a Masters degree in Piano from the New England Conservatory and has studied with pianists Jonathan Biss, Jeremy Denk, Stephen Hough, Angela Hewitt, Garrick Ohlsson, Anton Kuerti, Peter Frankl and Bernd Goetzke. His principal teachers have been Edna Golandsky, Gabriel Chodos, and Anya Alexeyev. 

Adjudicating the 2020 Intermediate Piano Division

Paul Coates holds ARCT diplomas in both piano and voice as well as a Bachelor of Music and Master of Music from the University of Western Ontario.  He also studied at the Chautauqua Institute and the Banff School of Fine Arts.  He was privileged to perform for Elisabeth Schwarzkopf in London England and has attended master classes with Gwendolyn Koldofsky, Elly Ameling and Rudolph Jansen.  Since his graduation he has enjoyed an active and varied performing career as both singer and accompanist, including solo concerts, chamber music, appearances with orchestra and CBC and TV Ontario broadcasts.

Paul has been a faculty member of the School of Music of Windsor and the Royal Conservatory of Music where he taught in both the Community School and the Glenn Gould Professional School.  Currently he maintains a private studio in Stratford.  He is also active as an adjudicator and a clinician for ORMTA and is excited about his new series of talks on “Teach and Learn from a place of joy.  The importance of being mindfully present in the now while celebrating the whole student.  You are AWESOME just because you are.  Not because of what you do or do not do! Your imagination is your limitation in life.  You should have no limits when it comes to your imagination.  However it is important to have boundaries.”

Mr. Coates has examined for RCM & CC and has travelled across Canada presenting workshops for teachers, parents and students.  Mr. Paul is passionate about taking time to explore the value of making Mindful Choices as you Practice what you Believe.  One of the most inspiring choices, over the last few years, for his students has been the MINDFUL phonecall!

Mr. Paul has just finished writing his first book entitled The “TickatiTackati” Book of Possibilities.  Contact Regal Monster Productions if interested in the book or discussing a workshop.  www.monsterworkshops.com.   Thank You for being YOU!

Adjudicating the 2020 Junior Piano Division

Christine Tithecott holds a Doctor of Musical Arts degree in Piano Performance and Pedagogy from the University of Iowa, as well as a MMus in Performance and a BMus (Honours) in Music Education from the University of Western Ontario. She has worked previously at Iowa State University in Ames, IA.  
 
In high demand as a clinician and adjudicator, Dr. Tithecott presents master classes for young pianists and workshops on pedagogical topics for piano teachers throughout North America.  She has presented lectures at national conferences for the Music Teachers National Association (MTNA) and the Canadian Federation of Music Teachers’ Associations (CFMTA). Christine is a member of the College of Examiners for the Royal Conservatory of Music (RCM), Canadian Music Festival Adjudicators Association (CMFAA), and a clinician for the Ontario Registered Music Teachers Association (ORMTA). Additionally, Dr. Tithecott has served as en editor for Conservatory Canada’s New Millennium Series. 
 
An avid performer, Dr. Tithecott has had the opportunity to perform as a solo and collaborative artist throughout Canada, USA, and Europe. Christine has a strong passion for performing and promoting contemporary repertoire and has performed with numerous new music ensembles including Ensemble 319, and The CNM Ensemble (Iowa City, IA).   
 
Christine currently resides in London, where she is on faculty at Western University’s Don Wright Faculty of Music. She also works as a collaborative artist and maintains a full studio of private piano students.

Adjudicating the 2020 Elementary Piano Division

Rennie began his musical career as Principal Violist of the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra. From there he became an educator, training and influencing countless professional musicians, most notably as the Dean of the Glenn Gould School of the Royal Conservatory of Music in Toronto followed by more than a decade as viola instructor and orchestra conductor at the University of Ottawa. Along with his wife, pianist Jenny Regehr, he has performed, conducted and taught extensively in North America, Europe and China.

Adjudicating the 2020 Strings Division

Darryl Edwards’ has been hailed as "the coach behind many of Canada's best young voices these days." (Toronto Star). Prof. Edwards is Artistic Director of the Centre for Opera Studies in Italy and Canada’s Centre for Opera Studies and Appreciation. His students are frequent winners of national and international singing competitions and take their places on acclaimed international stages. In Canada, his students are regularly selected as members of the Canadian Opera Company Ensemble Studio, as well as Canada’s other leading opera young artist programs. As a tenor, Darryl Edwards has appeared to critical acclaim in oratorio, recital, and opera in England, Germany, France, Italy, China, Corsica, the United States, and across Canada. His performing engagements have included Britten’s War Requiem with the National Arts Centre Orchestra in Ottawa, Bach and Handel with the Filharmonie Hradec Králové and The Czech Boys’ Choir, the title role in Mozart’s Idomeneo in Mulhouse, France, Orff's Carmina Burana with the Toronto Mendelssohn Choir, the Mozart Requiem with the Pesaro Philharmonic and Chorus in Italy, Handel's Messiah with the Elmer Iseler Singers, and Mozart concert arias for tenor with the Montreal Symphony Orchestra.

Adjudicating the 2020 Vocal Solo Division

 Melissa Bencic is the Founder and Artistic Director of Bravo Academy for the Performing Arts in Toronto where she works extensively in developing innovative performing arts programs for young and emerging professional artists.  In addition, Melissa is part of the Vocal Faculty at Sheridan College where teachers Vocal Techniques Class and Vocal Tutorials. Melissa is active as a voice instructor, adjudicator, master class clinician, producer, stage director and performer. She holds a M.Mus. in Opera Performance from McGill, a B.Mus. in Opera Performance from UBC and studied Bel Canto Opera at Liceo Musicale “F. Manzato” in Treviso, Italy.  Melissa performs both nationally and internationally and favorite roles include Susanna (Le Nozze Di Figaro), Zerlina (Don Giovanni), Gretel (Hansel & Gretel), Adele (Die Fledermaus) and Serpetta (Die Gartnerin aus Liebe). Melissa has produced over 150 musicals and staged directed over 50 musicals and operas.   Melissa is also the Founder and Artistic Director of the inventive New Music Theatre Intensives (NMTI) which is a specialized music theatre program designed to teach students contemporary music theatre skills through developing new musicals and working directly alongside the writers.  As part of the program Melissa has worked with some of Canada’s leading music theatre composers and has developed 4 new Canadian musicals; Drama 101 (Best Musical Fringe 2019), Going Under,  Crack of Doom: Or How I Learned to Love the Meteor and is currently developing #Hashtag a new musical.   Most recent credits include producing the viral hit musical Be More Chill  which was nominated by Broadway World Toronto for Best Community Theatre Production and she recently stage directed Newsies with Bravo Academy's Teen Troupe.  Currently, Melissa is directing Anne & Gilbert the musical.    Many of Melissa's students are professional working artists in music theatre, theatre, opera, film and pop. She holds much experience teaching artists in all styles of music in all ages and levels.  Melissa is a member of the Music Theatre Educators' Alliance, MTEA Voice, National Alliance of Music Theatre, Theatre Ontario, Toronto Alliance of the Performing Arts, Ontario Registered Music Teachers' Association and the National Association of Teachers of Singing. Melissa loves adjudicating and working with young artists and is honoured to be part of the Kitchener-Waterloo Kiwanis Music Festival!

Adjudicating the 2020 Music Theatre & CCM Division

Colin Labadie is a composer and performer based in Kitchener, Ontario. He has taught music both in classrooms and private studios; above all, he encourages people to find their own path through music by exploring the intersections between imagination, knowledge, and technique. He is also committed to fostering music in the community, having held various administrative and organizational roles in several local arts and not-for-profit organizations.

Colin has been fortunate enough to perform or have his work performed across Canada and internationally. He currently teaches guitar, theory, and composition at Wilfrid Laurier University and at the Beckett School of Music.

Adjudicating the 2020 Composition Division

Megan Hodge is an active freelancer on tenor and bass trombone, and has made Toronto her home for the past twelve years. Originally from Edmonton, Alberta, Megan studied at the Glenn Gould School (Artist Diploma), McGill University (MMus) and the University of Alberta (BMus). She performs regularly with the Toronto Symphony Orchestra, the Canadian Opera Company, The National Ballet Orchestra of Canada, the Hamilton Philharmonic, Hannaford Street Silver Band and is a founding member of the Toronto Brass Quintet. She has held positions as Principal Trombone with the Victoria Symphony (1 year position) and trombonist in The Royal Canadian Artillery Band with the Canadian Armed Forces. Megan has a passion for chamber music and pushing the boundaries of brass music and uses groups such as the Toronto Brass Quintet, to explore various instrumental collaborations, experimentation with technology and original works composed by the members. Their recent collaboration with cellist Cris Derksen’s Orchestral Pow Wow CD was nominated for a Juno.

Adjudicating the 2020 Brass Solo & Chamber Division

Known for his warm tone and musical lyricism Canadian guitarist Brad Kukko currently resides in Toronto, Ontario.  A native of Thunder Bay, Ontario Brad holds a Bachelor of Music Degree from Lakehead University.  Upon completion of his Bachelor Degree Mr. Kukko continued his guitar studies with Dr. Jeffrey McFadden at the Royal Conservatory of Music (R.C.M.) in Toronto from 1998 to 2007.  While at Lakehead University and the R.C.M. Brad received many awards for his playing at the Lakehead Music Festival, R.C.M. scholarships and bursaries, Peel Music Festival, and Toronto Kiwanis Music Festival.  Mr. Kukko performed in and audited the R.C.M. Toronto’s advanced teacher master class taught by pianist Boyanna Toyich (2002 and 2003).  This master class featured performers on double bass, piano, voice, violin, and guitar.  Brad was awarded two scholarships from the Guitar Society of Toronto to study abroad at the “Guitar on the Mediterranean Festival” in Cervo, Italy (2004) and the “East Carolina Guitar Festival” in Greensboro, North Carolina (2005).  Mr. Kukko has performed in master classes taught by Denis Azabagic, Roland Dyens, Adam Holzman, Wilma van Berkel, Andrew Zohn, Stephen Aron, Lorenzo Micheli, and Matteo Mela.

Brad enjoys teaching guitar and theory to students of all ages.  He is a R.C.M certified guitar instructor at the elementary, intermediate, and advanced levels.  Many of his students have been awarded R.C.M. Ontario regional gold medals for guitar and consistently win scholarships and prizes from the Toronto Kiwanis Festival, North York Music Festival and Ontario Music Festivals Association (OMFA) provincials.  An experienced festival adjudicator, Brad’s recent engagements have been with the Calgary Performing Arts Festival (2019), Kiwanis Guelph Music Festival (2019), and the St. Catherine’s Kiwanis Music Festival (2018).

Adjudicating the 2020 Guitar Solo Division

Melanie brings an energetic, open-hearted approach to singing through her work as a choral conductor and music educator.  As Assistant Artistic Director of the Hamilton Children’s Choir, Melanie develops original choral programming, oversees music theory and literacy programs, directs the Esprimas and Komenci choirs, and assists with the touring ensemble, Ilumini. Melanie also teaches vocal music at Hillfield Strathallan College in Hamilton. Originally from Nova Scotia, 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 has been thrilled to adjudicate choral festivals across Southwestern Ontario, and proudly serves on the executive board of Choirs Ontario.

Adjudicating the 2020 Choir Division

​Jessica V. Kun, a native of Toronto, Canada, is Conductor and Artistic Director of the Richmond Hill Philharmonic Orchestra. She completed a Doctor of Musical Arts degree in Conducting at Arizona State University, where she conducted the Wind Symphony, Wind Ensemble, Chamber Winds, and the Lyric Opera Theatre. She holds Bachelor of Music and Bachelor of Education degrees from the University of Calgary (Canada), Master’s Certificate in Conducting from the University of Calgary Wind Conducting Program, and a Master of Music degree in Musicology from the University of Manchester (England), where she conducted the Symphony Orchestra, chamber ensembles, and the New Music Ensemble, as well as civic, professional, and youth orchestras and new music ensembles across the country. She has conducted string and full orchestras, symphonic and jazz bands, chamber music, contemporary music ensembles, and opera. She has taught and conducted musicians at all levels, from novice to professional, and has written articles for Canadian Music Education journals and curriculum documents for the Ontario Ministry of Education. Dr. Kun currently serves as Conductor and Associate Professor of Music at Wilfrid Laurier University, where she teaches conducting and orchestration. Her research includes the development of conducting and conducting pedagogy, using digital media, and further studies into emotional contagion and effective gestural communication. Dr. Kun is active as a conductor, adjudicator, and clinician in North America, Great Britain, Europe, and South America.

Adjudicating the 2020 Orchestra Division

Bio Coming Soon!

Adjudicating the 2020 Bands Division

Mark Thompson is a passionate music educator dedicated to promoting growth in individual artistic endeavours. Achieving communication with students and facilitating artistic growth in the individual are his lifelong goals. He holds Bachelor and Masters Degrees in performance from The University of Toronto as well as a professional studies certificate from The Mannes College of Music in New York City. His performance credentials are vast- from being the only Canadian clarinettist to perform a solo recital at Carnegie Hall to performing and touring internationally with Quartetto Gelato and the Penderecki String Quartet to performing with many of Canada’s orchestras including The Toronto Symphony. He has been heard on CBC and National Public Radio as well as the Disney Channel. As a senior woodwind examiner for the Royal Conservatory, he has had the privilege of conducting hundreds of examinations in every province in Canada as well as in the United States. As a music festival clinician, he has adjudicated over 100 festivals in the past 15 years. His private students greatly benefit from his continual perspective of our national music community. Mark Thompson has been teaching clarinet, saxophone and flute for the past 25 years. He has worked with all levels of students as well as all ages from 5 to 90 years old! He has a vast knowledge of woodwind pedagogy which he is able to share effectively according to the needs of each individual student.

He has prepared many students for examinations, festivals, auditions and recitals. His students have achieved high results in Royal Conservatory examinations as well as completing successful auditions for youth orchestras and jazz bands. Some of his students have earned Gold medals from the Royal Conservatory. In addition to this, he has given instruction to professional doublers who work at festivals like Shaw and Stratford. For students needing rudimentary theory, harmony and history Mark is able to help students achieve the best result they can while keeping it fun and interesting! 

Adjudicating the 2020 Woodwind Solo Division