2025 ADJUDICATORS
JUNIOR PIANO - TERESA (PITCHER) ALLRED
Teresa Allred was born and raised in Cardston, Alberta. In Cardston and Lethbridge, she won various awards and scholarships in music festivals from the time she was 6 years old. She would like to extend a special tribute to Beatrice Foster of Lethbridge who taught her piano from Grade VII through her Western Board Performer/Teacher Degree.
She is a graduate of Brigham Young University (BA – piano / choral). Teresa studied music in Salzburg, Austria for 7 months and student taught one semester in the music department for BYU-Hawaii.
She lived in Hinton, Alberta for 10 years teaching private piano, serving as Community Theatre Music Director and teaching in the High School. She has been involved in adjudicating piano at music festivals throughout Alberta for 30 years.
Teresa has resided in Red Deer for 34 years where she maintains a 20+ private piano/vocal studio. She co- conducted Red Deer Chamber Singers for 17 years, served as Provincial President for both the Alberta Registered Music Teachers Association and The Alberta Music Education Foundation and served on the Red Deer Performing Arts Festival Board. Teresa taught the Keyboards for Kids Program sponsored by AMEF in Red Deer for 10 years. She has also been music director for several Hunting Hills High School Musical productions and Treehouse Theatre productions.
A milestone for Red Deer music teachers was reached when Teresa initiated the ground work for a new city by-law which allows private teachers to have business licenses for $155 a year without student limitations.
Her husband Drew, also from Cardston, is a retired French immersion teacher. She is mother of 4 married sons and grandmother to 10 grandchildren....6 of them girls! Justice!
COMPOSITION - JORDAN BERG
Jordan Berg is an award winning composer from Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada. Jordan's music has been performed at home and abroad by ensembles, solo musicians, and orchestras in Canada, Mexico, the United States, England, Portugal, Russia, Germany and Italy. Recordings have been featured on CBC Radio and released on the Da Vinci Classics label in Europe.
Jordan completed his degree in Composition under Dr. Arlan Schultz at the University of Lethbridge and in the last few years has attended prestigious residencies at the University of Cincinnati College Conservatory of Music, NYU Steinhardt, the Atlantic Music Festival in Waterville, Maine, the highSCORE festival in Pavia, Italy and the Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity. Jordan has also studied at Musicians Institute in Hollywood, California, The University of Toronto under Dr. Roger Bergs, the Berklee College of Music and the Juilliard School.
HANDBELLS - CAROL BERGUM
Carol has been playing and directing handbells for over 40 years.JUNIOR CLASSICAL VOICE - JOANNE COLLIER
Joanne has shared her passion for singing with people of all ages as either a singer or conductor her entire life. She has been Music Director of Vox Musica Choral Society since 2019. During that time, Vox has collaborated with various community musicians and groups, most recently with the Lethbridge Symphony for Handel’s Messiah and Mozart’s Grand Mass in C Minor.
Currently, Joanne is a teacher with Holy Spirit Catholic School Division. She also served as Music Director at St. Augustine’s Church and Southminster Church. For nineteen years she was on faculty at Medicine Hat College where she taught voice and directed children’s, youth, and adult choirs including the award-winning Medicine Hat College Girls’ Choir.
Joanne has been active as an adjudicator and clinician throughout the western provinces and is the founding artistic director of the Southern Alberta Vocal Experience (S.A.V.E.) summer vocal intensive for young singers at the University of Lethbridge. She has served on the boards of Choir Alberta, Alberta Kodaly Association, and the Alberta Music Advocacy Alliance. Joanne has also taught at the University of Lethbridge Faculty of Fine Arts as a sessional instructor in studio voice and choral ensembles.
Originally from Boissevain, Manitoba, Joanne holds a Bachelor of Music (Performance) from the University of Manitoba and Master of Music (Vocal Performance) from the University of British Columbia. Following an accomplished career of almost twenty years, she entered the Faculty of Education at the University of Lethbridge in 2011 where she received the William Aberhardt Gold Medal upon graduation. She is the recipient of the Alberta Choral Federation’s “Con Spirito” award for contributions to choral music in her community, the Johann Strauss Foundation scholarship for study in Austria, Medicine Hat College Employee of the Year and City of Medicine Hat Civic Award for contributions to the arts.
GUITAR - BRETT GUNTHER
Classical guitarist Brett Gunther has been an active performer for the last 25 years as a soloist and in various ensembles. In addition to completing his Bachelor of Music and Master of Music degrees in performance at the University of Calgary Brett has competed in major competitions across North America including the Northwest Guitar Festival and Competition winning 3rd Place in 2009, and 2nd Place in 2010.
Brett has been serving on the board of governors for the Classical Guitar Society of Calgary as the artistic director since 2010, and director for the Classical GuitarFest West festival since 2015. He is currently on the faculty at Mount Royal University Conservatory teaching private lessons as well as ensemble classes for the Academy program. Brett is in high demand as an adjudicator for festivals across Canada and is an examiner for the Royal Conservatory of Music in Toronto.
Brett's latest recording, Distant Times. Distant Shores. released in March of 2024 is a stunning collection of pieces exploring music from around the world including Australia, Spain, Ireland, Scotland, The United States, Germany, Paraguay, and Italy, from the Baroque Period to the Present. Other releases include Guitar Music (2012) and An Idea (2017).
CONTEMPORARY VOICE - LAUREN IRELAND
At her Calgary studio, Singsana, Lauren teaches one-on-one, an adult vocal group, The Extremities and has multiple online courses where she can work with singers remotely. In addition to founding Singsana Performing Arts, Lauren served on the faculty of The Young Canadians of the Calgary Stampede and worked annually on the Calgary Stampede Grandstand Show.
Active in Calgary’s music scene, Lauren released her debut album with the folk-pop trio Minerva in 2011 and is one of the lead singers of One Nite Band. She holds a Bachelor of Secondary Music Education from the University of Calgary, where her dedication earned her a chance to study with Grammy Award winner Bobby McFerrin. In 2000, she performed at Carnegie Hall with the St. Mary’s High School Jazz Choir, where she was a soloist. Lauren co-founded The SHOW, a non-profit Canadian performing arts company that fosters creativity and skill development through exceptional performances. She is also composing music for a musical about ADHD.
Accordion - Maureen Jarosh
Maureen Jarosh is a third generation Albertan raised and educated in Calgary Alberta. Maureen holds a Grade 10 Practical Accordion diploma from the United Conservatory of Music, and has earned a Fine
Arts Degree from the Alberta Collage of Arts.
Teaching music for accordion and piano, performing as conductor for several accordion orchestras, and practicing art has been her life passion. At a recent accordion competition in BC, the BC Accordion association presented her with a Lifetime Achievement award for 50 years of teaching and performing accordion.
Maureen is currently serving as President of the Accordion Association of Calgary. Maureen has had the privilege of judging accordion performances for many events. Highlighted events include Coupe Mondiale World Accordion Championships, Victoria BC 2018, and the Roland Digital Canadian Championships 2013,Maureen’s students, accordion orchestras and ensembles have had the opportunity to travel and perform in numerous accordion festivals and competitions throughout North America from 2003 -present. Locations include the Kennedy Memorial Center for the Performing Arts, Washington DC, Knots Berry Farm CA, Chicago Il, Denver Co, Victoria BC, Lethbridge AB, Edmonton AB, Dallas Tx, and more.
Everyday she strives to encourage students young and old to hone their skills and perform this versatile and emotive instrument.
CHORAL - DR. JENNIFER LANG
Dr. Jennifer Lang (Ph.D University of Western Ontario) is a Professor of Music Education, Director of Choral Activities, and the Interim Vice-Dean Academic in the College of Arts & Science at the University of Saskatchewan. She is a co-lead for the University of Saskatchewan’s Signature Area in Health & Wellness and serves as the Pillar Lead for Music, Arts, and Wellbeing. She is the organizer of the Department of Music’s Music Education in Action Series, the founder and organizer of the uSing uSask Choral Festival, the conductor of the Greystone Singers and the Founder and Artistic Director of Aurora Voce. Her choirs recently returned from their guest performance at Carnegie Hall in New York City, and they regularly perform with the Saskatoon Symphony Orchestra and other celebrated ensembles and composers. Jennifer has been awarded the University’s Publicly Engaged Scholarly Team Award (2024), the Publicly Engaged Scholar Award for Research, Scholarly, and Artistic Work in the College of Arts & Science (2023), and the USSU Teaching Award (2020).
Dr. Lang has adjudicated most recently at the Moose Jaw Band and Choral Festival (2024), Cantando Whistler Festival British Columbia (2024), Edmonton Music and Speech Arts Festival (2024), Vancouver Kiwanis Festival (2024); Rotary Music Festival in Medicine Hat Alberta (2024); Saskatchewan Music Festival in Saskatoon and Regina in 2023; the Manitoba ChoralFest in 2022; Cantando Festival 2019 in Alberta; ChorFest 2019 in Saskatchewan; the Moose Jaw Band and Choral Festival 2019 in Moose Jaw Saskatchewan; ChoralFest North 2018 in Alberta; 2017 Cantando Sun Peaks Festival in British Columbia; and ChorFest 2016 in Saskatchewan. Before moving to the province of Saskatchewan, Jennifer taught high school music in Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario.
Jennifer’s research examines engagement and agency in music education programs, including informal music learning in a variety of educational contexts, intergenerational singing programs, and language and music development for Newcomer Youth to Canada for which she holds several research grants. Jennifer is also active as a conductor, choral adjudicator, clinician and conference presenter. Her forthcoming edited book, Music and wellbeing in education and community contexts, presents a variety of contributed chapters exploring the intersections of music education and wellbeing.
BAND & INSTRUMENTAL - ROSS MCINTYRE
Ross McIntyre has been a conductor/educator within the Westwinds Music Society adult band organization in Calgary since 1992. He retired from The Calgary Board of Education in 2019 after thirty years of teaching both junior and senior high school music and is currently teaching for Mount Royal University, (Custom Music Workshops) as teacher mentor, guest conductor and trumpet clinician. Ross continues to be active throughout western Canada adjudicating music festivals.
In 1993, Ross received the "Excellence in Teaching Award" from the Alberta government and in 2001 received the "Tommy Banks Award" for his contribution to Jazz education. Ross was honoured in 2006 as one of the University of Calgary's "Top Forty Alumni”. In 2013, Ross was awarded by the Canadian Government with the Prime Minister’s Award for teaching excellence.
Along with friend and co-producer, Samantha Whelan Kotkas, Ross received funding from the Canadian Space Agency to create and produce "From Blue To Red" - a hard cover children's book and interactive on line e-book. The book was written and illustrated by Lord Beaverbrook High School students whom were inspired by several professional mentors from across Canada. "From Blue To Red" features the narration of Jazz legend, Diana Krall and three Canadian astronauts: Dr. Robert Thirsk, Julie Payette and David Saint- Jacques. The e-book continues to live online in both English and French at: www.frombluetored.net or www.dubleuaurouge.net. "From Blue to Red" was chosen as the recipient of the 2013 Award for "Best Children's and Young Adult Book of the Year" among Alberta Publishers.
SPEECH - JENNIFER ORR
Jennifer Orr is a speech teacher, adjudicator and examiner from Calgary, Alberta. Jennifer teaches speech students at all levels, from young beginners to advanced, in both private and group class settings. Jennifer teaches all aspects of speech arts, including creative drama, speech arts, public speaking, storytelling, and speech arts theory.
Jennifer has worked at Calgary’s Mount Royal University Conservatory for more than three decades, serving as both an instructor, curriculum designer and program facilitator. Jennifer maintains a full roster of private students and teaches group classes including Speechworks, Speak Up Make Your Point , Act Up Speak Out and Speech Theory. She plays an active leadership role in the discipline of speech and drama, contributing across Canada as a teacher, administrator, adjudicator, examiner, workshop clinician, and curriculum developer.
Jennifer has a long-standing affiliation with the Royal Conservatory of Music, where she serves as Speech and Drama specialist and senior member of the College of Examiners, examining both practical and theoretical subjects. She was a member of the team that produced both the 2000 and the 2011 editions of the RCM Examinations Speech Arts and Drama syllabus.
Jennifer’s former students consistently credit their speech training as "the thing that made the biggest difference" in their road to success, and Jennifer is proud that many of her students are now speech teachers. She is passionate about the art of communication and delights in sharing poetry and stories with students, empowering them to explore their creativity and speak with confidence.
STRINGS & CHAMBER MUSIC - DR. VLADIMIR RUFINO
Brazilian-Canadian violinist Vladimir Rufino has brought his love of music to stages in South America and Europe as well as Canada and the United States. Dr. Rufino has performed with orchestras in Brazil, the United States, and Canada serving as soloist, and concertmaster. His chamber music experience includes numerous international performances as part of the Quartet Quarta Dimensão, the Camerata Brasílica, the Villa-Lobos String Quartet, and the Vaughan String Quartet.SENIOR PIANO - DR. JAMIE SYER
Though he finds it hard to believe, Jamie Syer is marking more than 50 years as a professional pianist, having debuted at Calgary’s Pleiades Theatre in 1971. Dr. Syer completed his graduate degrees at the Yale University School of Music as a student of Claude Frank and Ward Davenny. He has taught at universities and colleges in Alberta, Saskatchewan, British Columbia and New Brunswick. Jamie maintains a website jamiesyer.ca where he shares what he knows—and what he’s still learning—about teaching and playing piano.
Jamie Syer was Dean of the Victoria Conservatory of Music until 2012. He also served as Head of the Conservatory’s Keyboard Department, and taught at the School of Music, University of Victoria. As a lecturer for UVic’s Faculty of Continuing Education, he led two arts related travel tours to France. Jamie is the founder of the Victoria Conservatory’s Young Artists Collegium program, which offers an enriched curriculum for talented young pianists and instrumentalists. He has performed many times in Europe: in Scotland, Ireland, Hungary, France, and England; as well as closer to home in recital venues across Canada.
Dr. Syer is a popular adjudicator and workshop clinician, who enjoys working with teachers’ groups and with students of all ages. He teaches every year at the University of Victoria’s summer piano program. uvicsummerpiano.ca
Jamie is a keen aficionado of musical theatre. His has been Music Director for productions of Mary Poppins, Anne of Green Gables, Matilda, and many others; and he has composed an original musical, Camp Spartan, which premiered in February 2023. Beyond music, Jamie was Manager of his local public library for six years, and he enjoys the art and craft of letterpress printing.
SENIOR CLASSICAL VOICE - JOHN TESSIER
The Juno Award-winning Tenor, John Tessier, has worked with many of the most notable conductors and stage directors of our day. Appearances of the recent past and near future include performances at the Teatro alla Scala Milano, the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, Wiener Staatsoper, Carnegie Hall, Teatro Colon, Oper Frankfurt, Grand Théâtre de Genève, English National Opera, Washington National Opera, Seattle Opera, New Zealand Opera, the New York Philharmonic, Taiwan Philharmonic, Wiener Musikverein, National Symphony Orchestra, San Francisco Symphony, Philadelphia Orchestra, Cleveland Orchestra, Royal Liverpool Philharmonic, Orchestre National de Lyon, Ensemble Orchestral de Paris, Seattle Symphony, the Sydney Symphony, L.A. Philharmonic and the Toronto Symphony. Equally comfortable in the genres of opera, oratorio and recital, Mr. Tessier is also a full professor at the University of Alberta. His discography includes recordings on the Decca, Naxos, Telarc, BIS, Challenge Records and Dorian labels.
MUSICAL THEATRE - ANDREA TIMMONS O'BRIEN
