CHILLIWACK MUSIC & DANCE FESTIVAL
ADJUDICATORS for 2023
DANCE ADJUDICATORS
CLASSICAL BALLET
Kim Pettie
Born and raised in England, Kim received her foundational training through winning a scholarship to attend The Royal Ballet School, White Lodge at age 11. It was here that she performed in a multitude of performances at The Royal Opera House (Covent Garden) along with gaining Distinction in her vocational RAD Exam’s and training in the Cecchetti and Vaganova methods as well. Kim completed her training at Central School of Ballet where she was part of the Ballet Central Touring Company. Here she gained a diploma in classical ballet and performing arts.
Upon graduating Kim appeared as a dancer with Jean Ann Ryan Productions internationally. In London, England Kim appeared as a dancer in stage, commercials, TV, music videos and fashion shows for – T-Mobile, The BBC, E4, MTV, The World Cup in Dubai, The Prince of Brunei, Hurts, Aveda, and Jones Bootmaker Stores. In May 2011, Kim was delighted to be asked to perform in a one off performance for the Queen at Buckingham Palace titled ‘A Celebration of Young People In The Performing Arts.’ Kim also performed for the Queen in a private contemporary dance performance for the opening of Southook LNG terminal in Wales.
Kim has taught and choreographed all ages at various prestigious Ballet and Performing Arts Schools internationally and is passionate about passing on her knowledge and love of the arts to the current generation.
Kim currently resides In Alberta with her husband and three young sons.
She is delighted to be a part of The Chilliwack Music and Dance Festival and looks forward to meeting all of the artists!
CONTEMPORARY & MODERN
Carolyn Schmidt
Carolyn Schmidt has been a teacher of dance and movement for 15 years, and a student of movement for life! Carolyn has taught for many studios and programs around the Vancouver metro area and on Vancouver Island, working with young children to professional dancers. Carolyn was active in Vancouver’s professional contemporary dance scene from about 2010 to 2018, working with other artists, creating her own work, and producing contemporary dance performances.
Originally from Vancouver Island, Carolyn grew up training in ballet, modern and jazz and loved every moment of it! She pursued a post-secondary education in dance at University of Calgary, then later at The Ailey School in New York City. Living and dancing in NYC for 5 years, Carolyn has been blessed to receive teachings from many prominent figures in the Modern and Contemporary dance world. Carolyn discovered a deep passion for choreography while living in New York and her work has been presented at various festivals and theatres in New York City, Maine, Vancouver, Victoria, Calgary, and Edmonton.
Carolyn’s career path shifted in 2017 when she became a Fascial Stretch Therapist. Together with her husband, they opened a wellness studio in Vancouver focused on Stretch Therapy, Breathwork and restorative movement. Carolyn loves using her dance background and deep knowledge of the human body to help her clients move better and break free from pain.
Carolyn became a mother in 2021, and when she is not dancing or working with clients, she can be found chasing her energetic toddler around Kitsilano beach.
JAZZ & LYRICAL JAZZ and ACRO and STREET DANCE
Alia Ruemper
Alia is a certified ADAPT jazz & tap teacher and has completed her Canadian Dance Teachers Association (CDTA) Gold medal jazz and tap exams with Honours status. She has a BA Dance and a BKin General Kinesiology from the University of Calgary and completed her MSc in Dance Science (with distinction) at Laban in London, England. Alia is also Certified in the Acrobatic Arts syllabus, Progressing Ballet Technique and International Dance Teaching Standards.
Her Master thesis “Correlations Between General Joint Hypermobility and Joint Hypermobility Syndrome and Injury in Contemporary Dance Students” was published in the Journal of Dance Medicine and Science. She presented her thesis at the International Association of Dance Medicine and Science conference in The Hague, The Netherlands where she was received the “Student Research Award”. While she was completing her Masters degree in England she performed in a charity showcase of the musical, “Me and My Girl” at the famous London Palladium, and also participated in the Jack Petchey Theatre Challenge at Her Majesty’s Theatre.
The world of dance is constantly progressing and Alia strives to continue learning and educating herself. She has taken Lisa Howell’s Level 1 & 2 training courses, Lauren Ritchie’s Mental Skills training course, The “Comix” Method Hip Hop, as well as Dance Summit in NYC and Rhee Gold’s Conference in Arizona. In 2020, Alia was named Dance Educator of the Year by Canada’s National Academy of Dance Education and also received the Heather Simpson Memorial Award. She is an active member of the Bridge Dance Project and Wild Rose Dance Arts.
TAP, STAGE and SONG & DANCE
Shelley Stewart Hunt
Shelley Stewart Hunt has been continuously active in the performing arts since childhood, with numerous television, film and theatre credits as a singer, dancer, actor, choreographer, and educator. Shelley played the role of Rumpelteazer in the national touring production of “CATS” and had a featured role in ABC-TV’s “Bye Bye Birdie”. She is very proud to have tap-danced up a firestorm, literally, as a featured “Hero Tapper” in the opening ceremonies of the 2010 Vancouver Olympic Games. Last year, Shelley was thrilled to be a core ensemble dancer in the new Apple TV musical series “Schmigadoon!”
Choreographic credits include: “The Sound of Music” 2019 & 2022 (Arts Club Theatre Co.); “Elf the Musical”(Persephone); “Into the Woods”, “She Loves Me”(Thousand Islands Playhouse); “The Duchess”, (Ruby Slippers); “25th Annual…Spelling Bee”(WCTC); motion capture choreography for Mattel‘s “Barbie” movie “The Princess and the Pauper”; “Mamma Mia!”, (TUTS); “The Rocky Horror Show”, “Cabaret”, and the upcoming “A Chorus Line” for Studio 58.
As a choreographer, instructor an adjudicator, Shelley has had 30+ years of experience working with professional and non-professional performers of all ages across a wide range of genres. From 2004 to 2021, Shelley was an active faculty member in Capilano University’s Musical Theatre Diploma Program, where she served as a choreographer and a tap, jazz, and musical theatre instructor. In 2016 Shelley joined the faculty of Studio 58 at Langara College where she teaches tap and movement.
Shelley is pleased to be returning to adjudicate at the Chilliwack Music & Dance Festival 2023.
MUSIC ADJUDICATORS
Please note that BAND and CHORAL may be cancelled due to COVID Restrictions further information to be added when available. As of December 9, 2022, there are no restrictions in place at this date.
BAND
Rick Becker
Rick Becker has been a music director in Nanaimo, British Columbia for 27 years. His teaching experiences include concert bands, jazz bands, combos, choirs, and musical theatre. His students have had opportunities to excel in performances at the Lionel Hampton Jazz Festival, the West Coast Jazz Festival, the Vancouver Island Concert Band Festival, and the Comox Valley Concert Band and Choir Festival, as well as performance excursions to Cuba. He is also co-founder of JazzFest Nanaimo, a showcase for young musicians and guest artists at Nanaimo’s Port Theatre. Rick served over 15 years as Brass and Woodwind chairperson for the Mid-Island Performing Arts Festival.
Previously, Mr. Becker was music director and music education coordinator for Kelsey School Division in The Pas, Manitoba. His career also led him to a position as Educational Music representative in Alberta for St. John’s Music, LTD, with focus on Concert Band literature and band-teaching materials.
His Bachelor of Music Education degree is from Minnesota State University Moorhead (MSUM), where he studied tuba performance and conducting. Rick is now enjoying retirement as co-director of the Mid-Island Community Bands Society, and as a member of several performance groups as trombonist and bassist.
Brent Ghiglione
Raised in Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan, Brent Ghiglione started his musical career with the Moose Jaw Lions Jr. Band. He continued his musical education at the University of Regina where he graduated with a B.Mus. Ed. degree. He also completed a Diploma of Fine Arts from the University of Calgary in Wind Band Conducting and Repertoire and finished his Masters of Education from the University of Victoria. He has made four recordings with the University of Regina Wind Ensemble.
After teaching at Campbell Collegiate for 17 years Brent moved to the University of Regina where he is director of bands responsible for the Wind Ensemble and Concert Band. Mr. ‘G’ as he is affectionately known, is recognized for setting high expectations for his students. As a trumpet player, he is a member of the Regina Symphony Orchestra and currently leads The Bob Moyer Big Band and the Regina Jazz Orchestra (RJO). Brent started the Regina Jazz Orchestra (RJO) a professional big band and the Regina Winds a semiprofessional wind band. Mr. Ghiglione has played with the likes of Wayne Bergeron, PJ Perry, Tommy Banks, Red Skeleton, Bob McGrath, Ice Capades, and Frank Mills.
Brent is also an active clinician and adjudicator and is a Yamaha Performing Artist. He is responsible for initiating and coordinating the Prairieland Jazz Camp which moves to their 28th year. Mr. Ghiglione is a member of the Saskatchewan Band Association, Saskatchewan Music Educators Association, Canadian Music Educators Association, Canadian Band Association, American Federation of Musicians (Local 446), International Trumpet Guild, and the College Band Directors National Association.
CHORAL
Jean-Louis Bleau
Jean-Louis Bleau is an innovative, collaborative, and high energy individual with significant experience as an artistic director and administrator in the performing arts.
During the course of his career, he has developed a reputation for cutting edge, interdisciplinary, and engaging productions — performances that focus on creating positive and impactful audience experiences. Bleau has always sought to push the boundaries of the performing arts experience through unique collaborations and concert events. His innovative and inventive approach has resulted in performances in the mountains, around a lake, in a planetarium, parking garages, an industrial shop, and even a swimming pool. He has worked to collaborate with a variety of musicians, ensembles, choreographers, dancers, synchronized swimmers, and aerial gymnasts. This inventive creativity led to him being selected one of the Top 40 Under 40 for Calgary in 2014.
All of Jean-Louis’ work is born from his passionate love of arts, culture, and performance, holding fast to one principle: while artistic creation can be hard work, it must always be fun, inspiring, and allow for all involved to pour their whole heart, soul, and individual artistry into the realization of a rich and vibrant performance expression.
Currently Jean-Louis is the Executive Director of the Chilliwack Cultural Centre in Chilliwack, British Columbia. In addition to his administrative role Jean-Louis is a passionate choral conductor and educator, teaching courses on artistic creativity and interdisciplinary performance practice at the University of Calgary.
UPPER INTERMEDIATE & SENIOR PIANO
Cythnia Goddard
Cynthia Goddard earned her A.R.C.T. diploma in performance at the age of fifteen and received her Bachelor of Music Degree and Master of Music Degree with a full graduate fellowship in piano performance from the University of British Columbia, studying under Dr. Dale Reubart. She has also worked with Anton Kuerti, Robert Silverman, and Lee Kum Sing.
Mrs. Goddard has accompanied members of a number of North American orchestras in concert and has performed numerous solo recitals. She has been an instructor with the Delta Conservatory of Music, Langley Community Music School, Kamloops Interior Summer School of Music and the Courtenay Youth Music Centre.
Mrs. Goddard is a past president of the South Fraser Branch of the B.C. Registered Music Teachers’ Association and has been a member of the B.C. Choral Federation. She has also been an official accompanist for the International Clarinet Association’s “Clarinet Fest” where she worked with visiting artists from several countries around the world. Mrs. Goddard has also had experience teaching elementary band and worked for a number of years as a church music facilitator and choral director and composer. Cynthia has a passion for sharing her love of music and the arts with students of all ages and has adjudicated extensively throughout BC.
UPPER INTERMEDIATE & SENIOR PIANO
Bernard Duerksen
Pianist Bernard Duerksen has been actively performing, teaching, and adjudicating for 40 years. He is experienced in solo, chamber, and concerto work. In 1991 he was honoured to work with Jean Coulthard in preparation for the world premiere performance of Image Terrestre. Coulthard described him as a “splendid pianist” and the noted composer and critic, David Gordon Duke, described the performance as “radiant.” In the mid-1990’s, Mr. Duerksen learned the 32 sonatas of Beethoven and performed many of them, as well as piano concertos 3 and 4. His six-year collaboration with baritone, Glen Harder, culminated with an invitation to perform Schubert’s “Die Winterreise” at the 1993 International Schubert Conference and Festival at the University of Victoria. He has made recordings for CBC radio and is an accomplished organist.
Bernard Duerksen is a graduate of UBC with a MMus degree, and is on faculty at a number of music schools including the VSO School of Music. His student, Ben Su, placed first in the January 2013 New York International Artists Association Competition (age 15-17 category), and performed in Carnegie Hall in February 2013. He won the B.C. Provincials in 2012 and also won first place in the Canadian Music Centre Duo Piano Competition in Ottawa, and also in the Russian Piano Competition in Seattle. He was accepted to study with James Parker on full scholarship at U of T. His student, Daniel Tong, won the Vancouver Kiwanis Festival senior piano competition in 2015 and placed second in the Provincials. Daniel also advanced to the CMC finals and played Brahm’s “D Minor Concerto” in Montreal in 2016. Mr. Duerksen’s student, Niko Nelson, won the BCCM seniors in 2013 and was accepted into Berklee College of Music in Boston on a $30,000 annual scholarship to study jazz. Duerksen’s students have played in master classes for John Kimura Parker, Louis Lortie, Stephen Hough, Yefim Bronfman, Inon Barnatan, Angela Cheng, Joyce Yang, and Jeffrey Kahane. Noted pedagogue, Edward Parker, stated “Bernard Duerksen can teach anything to anybody.”
Mr. Duerksen’s training included studies with pianists: Hilda Reimer, Peter Katin, Jane Coop, Robin Wood, John-Paul Bracey, and composers: Peter-Paul Koprowski and Gerhard Wuensch.
Bernard Duerksen is an avid runner and placed fourth in the Terry Fox Run in 1998. In 2012, Mr. Duerksen was the hand double for John Lithgow playing Bach in the movie “Rise of the Planet of the Apes”.
STRINGS, GUITAR & UKULELE
Simon MacDonald
Simon MacDonald, Artistic Director of the Young Artists Collegium, and Strings Department Head, at the Victoria Conservatory of Music (VCM), began playing the violin at age seven, in Victoria, British Columbia. Following studies with Frona Colquhoun and Sydney Humphreys, Simon earned his AVCM Teacher and Performance Diploma from the VCM, Bachelor’s degree from New England Conservatory in Boston, and Master’s degree from the Schulich School of Music, at the University of McGill, in Montreal. Simon’s musical education also included performing at music festivals across Europe and North America, including Schleswig Holstein Music Festival (Germany), The Festival of Two Worlds (Italy), the Spoleto Festival (Charleston, South Carolina), and Tanglewood Music Festival (Massachusetts).
After graduating from McGill in 1998, Simon joined the Louisiana Philharmonic in New Orleans. Shortly after that, he moved to Winnipeg where he was in the first violin section of the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra, Principal Second violin of the Manitoba Chamber Orchestra, a member of the Rembrandt String Quartet, a regular guest with the Brandon Chamber Players and the new music ensemble GroundSwell, eventually becoming Concertmaster of the Regina Symphony Orchestra in 2015. Included in his duties as RSO concertmaster, Simon regularly performed concerti with the Regina Symphony, and as co-curator of the Regina Symphony Chamber Players, Simon initiated the first complete cycle of Beethoven quartets to the city of Regina, as well as a wide selection of new music from many living Canadian composers.
Teaching has always been an important part of Simon’s musical life; before joining the VCM, he maintained a private studio, and regularly coached University ensembles and Youth Orchestras in Winnipeg, Brandon, Regina, and Victoria. Simon has been faculty at Rosamunde Summer Music Academy (Winnipeg), Regina Summer Strings (Regina), Cadenza Summer Strings (Winkler), the Brandon Summer Suzuki Institute, the International Music Camp at the Peace Gardens. Simon is currently the Artistic Director of the Summer Strings Academy at the VCM, was Artist in Residence at the Salt Spring Island Chamber Music Festival in 2018, and Artist in Residence at Orchestra North, in Smithers, in 2022. In 2016, Simon was invited as guest artist for the Greater Victoria Youth Orchestra’s 30th anniversary season; that same year he was also guest artist and clinician at the Western Australia Academy of Performing Arts, and at the prestigious Hale School, in Perth, Australia.
Simon also enjoys a departure from the classical genre; he has acted as concertmaster for various theatre productions including “The King and I”, the Broadway Touring production of Chicago, and a memorable moment performing while tethered to a roof top on stage for the Royal Manitoba Theatre Centre’s production of “Fiddler on the Roof”. He also acted as roady and fiddle player for the touring blues group BluesWater, on Islay, in Scotland, during the Festival of Music and Malt in 2014.
VOCAL
Leah Giselle Field
Canadian Contralto Dr. Leah Giselle Field is noted for her versatility as a vocalist and the strength of her dramatic presence. Praised for “soaring tone and spectacular low notes” in her “sumptuous” instrument, she is a graduate of Vancouver Opera’s Yulanda M. Faris Young Artists Program, she is a Vancouver Opera Foundation Amatori bursary recipient and district winner and regional finalist of the Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions. She holds degrees from the University of Western Ontario and the University of British Columbia.
Recent performances include “Cavalleria Rusticana”, “Eugene Onegin“, “Le Nozze di Figaro”, and “Hansel and Gretel” with Vancouver Opera, recitals with pianists Leslie Dala and Richard Epp, Handel’s “Messiah”, Verdi’s “Messa da Requiem”, Beethoven’s “Symphony No. 9”, and Mahler’s “Symphony No. 8” with the Vancouver Bach Choir, appearances in the Vancouver Opera Chamber Music Festival and the VSO School of Music Choral Masterworks series, and productions of “Luisa Miller”, “Suor Angelica”, “Cendrillon”, and “Aida” in Nova Scotia, Ontario, and British Columbia. Upcoming engagements include Beethoven’s “Symphony No. 9” with the Vancouver Bach Choir and West Coast Symphony Orchestra, and recitals in British Columbia and Ontario.
Leah has sung in North America, Europe, and China in opera, recital, and with orchestras and chamber ensembles. She has performed with the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra, the Windsor Symphony Orchestra, the Vancouver Metropolitan Orchestra, the Vancouver Academy of Music Symphony Orchestra, the Sea to Sky Symphony, the Okanagan Symphony Orchestra, Orchestra Toronto, the West Coast Symphony Orchestra, and the UBC Symphony Orchestra, and as a recitalist throughout British Columbia, Alberta, and Ontario.
To find out more about Leah go to www.LeahGiselleField.com.
We welcome Leah and she is looking forward to adjudicating our entries and working with the Vocal Division, Own Composition, and our Festival Committee.
BRASS, WOODWINDS & PERCUSION
Brent Ghiglione
Raised in Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan, Brent Ghiglione started his musical career with the Moose Jaw Lions Jr. Band. He continued his musical education at the University of Regina where he graduated with a B.Mus. Ed. degree. He also completed a Diploma of Fine Arts from the University of Calgary in Wind Band Conducting and Repertoire and finished his Masters of Education from the University of Victoria. He has made four recordings with the University of Regina Wind Ensemble.
After teaching at Campbell Collegiate for 17 years Brent moved to the University of Regina where he is director of bands responsible for the Wind Ensemble and Concert Band. Mr. ‘G’ as he is affectionately known, is recognized for setting high expectations for his students. As a trumpet player, he is a member of the Regina Symphony Orchestra and currently leads The Bob Moyer Big Band and the Regina Jazz Orchestra (RJO). Brent started the Regina Jazz Orchestra (RJO) a professional big band and the Regina Winds a semiprofessional wind band. Mr. Ghiglione has played with the likes of Wayne Bergeron, PJ Perry, Tommy Banks, Red Skeleton, Bob McGrath, Ice Capades, and Frank Mills.
Brent is also an active clinician and adjudicator and is a Yamaha Performing Artist. He is responsible for initiating and coordinating the Prairieland Jazz Camp which moves to their 28th year. Mr. Ghiglione is a member of the Saskatchewan Band Association, Saskatchewan Music Educators Association, Canadian Music Educators Association, Canadian Band Association, American Federation of Musicians (Local 446), International Trumpet Guild, and the College Band Directors National Association.
Steven Capaldo
Dr. Steven Capaldo has distinguished himself as one of the most respected music educators, wind conductors and conductor educators in Australia, earning academic and musical recognition internationally.
Currently, he is an Associate Professor of Music Education & Conducting, Wind Symphony Conductor and Co-Head of Music Education at the University of Victoria, Canada. Dr. Capaldo has previously held positions in Music Education at the University of Wollongong (Australia) and the University of Victoria, and was the Conductor of the Sydney University Wind Orchestra and the UNSW Wind Symphony.
Completing a DMA in Wind Conducting at UNLV, a Master of Performance (Orchestral and Choral Conducting) at the University of Sydney, a Bachelor of Music Education at the University of Melbourne, and an AMusA on Saxophone (with Distinction), he has extensive experience working with symphony orchestras, wind orchestras, and chamber ensembles.
An active writer, Dr. Capaldo composes, arranges, and transcribes music for large ensembles, festivals and concerts. His works have been performed by groups in Australia, Canada, Japan, and the United States, recorded on Klavier records (US), and published with Brolga Music and Murphy Music Press. He has been listed as a composer in the book The Band Down Under and has been a finalist in several international composition competitions. An Assistant Producer for eight Klavier Records CD, Dr. Capaldo became a full voting member for the US Grammy Awards in 2010 and was Chair of the Australian Jury Panel for the 2017 International Eurovision Song Contest.
In-demand as a conductor, clinician and adjudicator, Dr. Capaldo has worked at local, state/provincial, national and international levels (including Canada’s MusicFest), and as Conductor of the British Columbia Honor Wind Ensemble and a Queensland State Honours Wind Ensemble. Committed to providing professional learning opportunities for music educators and conductors, Dr. Capaldo has been a conducting clinician and conducting instructor for the Canadian Armed Forces, the 2017 Australian National Band and Orchestra Conference (ANBOC), the Chief Conducting Clinician for the 2017 Qld ABODA Conducting Camp, and an Associate Conducting Instructor for the 2016, 2017 & 2018 NSW ABODA Conducting Camps. More recently, Dr. Capaldo has also presented at ANBOC (2018) the BCMEA Conference (2019).