VAYA Online INTERNATIONAL MUSIC FESTIVAL: Spring 2024

Adjudicators

	Steve Maddock, Vancouver, Canada (Musical Theatre/Contemporary Voice) Over the past two decades, Steve Maddock has been steadily establishing himself as one of Canada’s most versatile vocal talents. Whether sharing a concert stage with a 65-piece symphony orchestra, performing with a 10-piece show band on a cruise ship, or fronting a jazz trio in a local club, he’s able to change gears effortlessly and present the music in a way that’s honest and fresh. He’s been a soloist with The Vancouver Symphony Orchestra, The Vancouver Chamber Choir, The Pacific Baroque Orchestra and The Dal Richards Jazz Orchestra, as well as being a featured artist on CBC Radio (Hot Air, Tonic, The Homestretch, Choral Concert, Disc Drive, The Early Edition and Sounds Like Canada). Steve’s first love is jazz, a passion that began in earnest while playing trumpet in his high school big band. Since that time, he’s immersed himself in the study of the jazz language, performing with (and learning so much from) some of Canada’s most gifted and accomplished musicians. He released a self-titled debut album back in 1999, and in 2009 released Memory Cafe, a mix of standards and original jazz compositions by Canadian songwriter Craig Salkeld. This album features a veritable who’s who of west coast jazz talent, with a core group of pianist Miles Black, guitarist Bill Coon, bassist Jodi Proznick and drummer Craig Scott. Special guests on the recording include the late Ross Taggart on tenor sax, Campbell Ryga on alto and baritone saxes, trombonist Rod Murray, and trumpeters Brad Turner and Kent Wallace. Steve studied acting at the University of Windsor, Ontario, and remains active as a stage performer. Some recent roles include George Kittredge in High Society (Arts Club Theatre Co.), El Gallo in The Fantasticks (Vancouver Playhouse), Captain von Trapp in The Sound of Music (Footlight Theatre Co.), Pilate in Jesus Christ Superstar (Stage West Calgary), Billy Bigelow in Carousel (Royal City Musical Theatre Company), and The Beast in Disney’s Beauty and The Beast (Arts Club). Other stage credits include Cats, Oklahoma, Fiddler on the Roof, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Songs for A New World, Tomfoolery, Dads: The Musical, My Fair Lady, Annie, South Pacific, Guys and Dolls, Annie get Your Gun, The Mikado, West Side Story, and Oliver Twist. Steve is currently on the Jazz Faculty of Capilano University (formerly Capilano College). His association with Capilano goes back almost twenty-five years, when he first enrolled as a vocal performance major in what was then the Commercial Music Program. The current Jazz Studies Program was introduced in 1993, and Steve was hired as an instructor in 1996. Since that time, he’s taught private voice, vocal jazz masterclass, studio performance, vocal improvisation and ear training. As an adjudicator and clinician, he’s worked at Musicfest Canada, The Envision Jazz Festival, The Rocky Mountain Jazz Festival, Powell River’s Jazz Summit, The Kiwanis Festival, The Mission Jazz Festival, The Whistler Music Festival, The Sun Peaks Music Festival, and The South Delta Jazz Workshop. Steve lives in Burnaby, BC with his wife, singer and pianist Siri Olesen, and his two children, Aubrey and Kai.
	Ivan Scott, Buckinghamshire, UK (Classical Guitar) Ivan's training included guitar performing with Oliver Hunt, Professor of Guitar at the London College of Music and attending master classes in Spain with Emilio Pujol, a student of the legendary Francisco Tarrega. Since 1967 he has travelled to all parts of the UK giving recitals and workshops in addition to presenting programmes of guitar music and songs to schoolchildren of all ages. He has regularly adjudicated for the Federation since 1982 and he is listed in the Private Teacher and Adjudicator sections of the ISM. Ivan's recent engagements include the Leicester, Taunton and Edinburgh Festivals.
	Daniel Tones, Vancouver, Canada (Percussion) Daniel Tones is an award-winning percussionist who has given concerts across Canada, the United States, Asia, and the United Kingdom. He has performed with internationally recognized artists Bob Becker, Russell Hartenberger, Aiyun Huang, Morris Palter, and Steve Schick, and has been broadcast nationally on radio and television. Daniel studied with Salvador Ferreras, Russell Hartenberger, and John Rudolph, and was the first person to receive a doctorate in percussion performance from a Canadian university. Daniel is widely recognized for his work as a contemporary percussionist in the fields of solo and chamber-ensemble performance. Recent highlights include tours in Canada, the United Kingdom, and the United States; performances at Birmingham’s BEAST FEaST, the Vancouver New Music Festival, the Ojai Festival, and the Banff Summer Arts Festival; recitals in major international venues, such as the Barbican’s Milton Court Concert Hall in London, England; and guest appearances with the TorQ percussion quartet. For more than 20 years Daniel was a first-call percussionist in Vancouver, Canada and performed with a wide array of ensembles and organizations, including Vancouver New Music, the Turning Point Ensemble, Music on Main, and Redshift. He was a founding member of Fringe Percussion and a driving force behind the ensemble’s artistic vision, programming, and musical collaborations. Daniel has premiered music by dozens of local and international composers, including John Luther Adams, Mark Applebaum, Bob Becker, John Cage, Jocelyn Morlock, Jordan Nobles, and Owen Underhill, and remains committed to advancing the art of percussion. Now a resident of Sooke, BC on Vancouver Island’s rugged and dramatic west coast, he continues to create, explore, and perform new and innovative music. Global drumming traditions first drew Daniel to percussion. He studied frame drumming, West African drumming and dance, Balinese gamelan, and Cuban percussion with master musicians, and performed professionally in salsa ensembles for over 10 years. For ten seasons he was the Principal Percussionist of the Kamloops Symphony Orchestra, and he has also performed with the Toronto, Vancouver, and Victoria symphonies, the former CBC Vancouver Radio Orchestra, and the Vancouver Opera. Daniel is a successful leader and administrator dedicated to the development of the performing arts in Canada and abroad. He served for six years on the Board of Directors for the National Youth Orchestra of Canada, and for five years was the Chair of the Percussive Arts Society’s International Committee. Some of his most significant contributions to the performing arts locally and regionally came through his work as a Program Coordinator for the District of West Vancouver. In this role he designed and implemented private and group music lessons, summer camps, drama, and musical theatre classes. Under Daniel’s leadership from 2009 to 2017, enrollment in these programs grew from 70 students to 270 and his instructional team expanded from three to 18. In 2023, Daniel accepted a position as Director, Career and Skill Development, with BC’s Ministry of Education and Child Care. From 2007 to 2023, Daniel taught at Kwantlen Polytechnic University, served as Chair of the Music Department from 2019-2023, and was an Associate Dean pro tem. At various times throughout his career, he also taught as a contract instructor at Douglas College, Simon Fraser University, and Vancouver Community College. Daniel has collaborated with students through workshops and residencies in Canada, the United States, and the United Kingdom, and in past years was the Percussion Coach for the Canadian Wind Orchestra, the National Youth Band of Canada, and the Prairie Music Residency. As a Yamaha artist-educator and Sabian endorser, he continues to receive support for his educational activities. Dr. Tones is the recipient of fellowships from the University of Toronto, the Government of Ontario, and the University of British Columbia, and individual grants or awards from the British Columbia Arts Council, the Canada Council for the Arts, the Vancouver Foundation, the Fund for the Arts on the North Shore, and the SOCAN Foundation.
	Jena Pang, London, UK (Senior Piano) Jena Chun-Wah Pang is based in the United Kingdom and is celebrated for his exceptional teaching, judging competitions and scholarship awards internationally. His students based in the United Kingdom, Hong Kong, Beijing, Malaysia, Thailand, Geneva, Milan, Vienna, Spain, New York and Calgary, are first prizewinners and hold top honors at Amigdala International Piano Competition Italy 2019-2023; Feurich International Piano Competition 2018-2023 Vienna; Carles and Sofia International Piano Competition 2023 Spain; the VI International Liszt Ferenc Competition Hungary 2023; Carmel Arts International Piano Competition USA 2022; Monegro 88 Keys International Piano Competition Spain 2021; London Young Musician International Piano Competition 2020-2021; Harmonium Plus International Piano Competition Armenia 2020, Music and Stars International Piano Competition 2020; Costa Festa International Piano Competition 2019 Spain; Tadini International Piano Competition 2019 Italy, Canadian Music Competition 2019 (violin) Canada; Clavis International Piano Competition 2018 St Petersburg Russia; National EPTA-UK piano competition 2023, 2020. Several of his students have also won the Elena Cobb Star Prize Award and have performed at the Royal Albert Hall. Mr Pang was Chairman of the piano jury of the Amigdala International Piano Competition Italy 2019-2023 Italy, and has judged numerous international competitions notably Windsor International Piano Competition 2019-2022, BMTG Intercontinental Piano Competition New York USA 2021, the inaugural Carmel Klavier Europe International Piano Competition 2020, the Saint Petersburg International Piano Competition 2020, Osaka International Music Competition 2019 in Japan, Hong Kong and Taiwan; IMPACT Young Artists International Piano Competition USA 2019, Blackheath Music Festival, Dudley Music Festival, Maidenhead Music Festival, Maidstone Music Festival,Longwell Green and Kingswood Performing Arts Festival, and Horsham Performers Platform. Recognised for his pedagogical skills, Mr Pang has lectured on competition preparation and given masterclasses for the Alberta Piano Teachers Association, the Alberta Registered Music Teachers Association in Canada, Clavis International Piano Competition Bavaria and Maidenhead Music Festival. He annually adjudicates the Freda Parry Scholarship Fund Competition in Essex and previously the annual Jena Pang Piano Competition held at Milton Keynes Preparatory School. He has had invitations to teach and judge at Music Fest Perugia Italy, International Piano Festival Ambassador of Tarnow Poland, Tadini International Piano School in Lovere, Piano Talents International Piano Competition Milan, Tadini International Piano Competition Italy, Talent Music Summer Courses and Festival Brescia Italy, Dulwich Music Festival, Seven Oaks Three Arts Festival, Milton Keynes Music Festival, Bedfordshire Festival of Music Speech and Drama, Edinburgh Music Competition Festival, Mid Somerset Festival, and the 8th Singapore Performers’ Festival & Chamber Music Competition 2024. Mr Pang was awarded an instrumental scholarship to study Music at St Peter’s College, Oxford University and studied the violin with Lydia Mordkovitch and the piano with Lora Dimitrova and had lessons with Christopher Elton, Ruth Waterman, Keith Pascoe, Brenda Farrow, Shalinee Jayatilaka and Elsie Brown. He has been teaching the piano and violin for the last 31 years in addition to being a solicitor and partner in a law firm from 2004-2014. As a child he appeared on British and Hong Kong television playing both piano and violin, at the Purcell Room South Bank, and with English Orchestras for concertos. Recent concert engagements have been collaborations with Dennis Lee, Chee Hung Toh and Graeme Humphrey. He champions the British Music Festival movement and has seen all sides from child competitor, adjudicator and administration: he is currently the Piano Convenor and a trustee of the Southend Festival of Performing Arts and trustee of the Freda Parry Scholarship Fund Competition. His influence in the musical community continues to grow, making him a highly respected figure in the world of music education and performance. Jena Pang is an adjudicator for the British and International Federation of Festivals for Music, Dance and Speech and has adjudicated both live and online competitions.
	Malcolm Green, Bedfordshire, UK (Woodwinds) Malcolm studied clarinet at the Royal Academy of Music, where he won many prizes as well as a First Class degree and the Recital Diploma, the Academy’s highest performing award. In 2018 he relinquished his post as Head of Woodwind, Brass and Percussion at Bedford School in order to devote more time to performing and adjudicating. His performing experience includes recitals at the Purcell Room and Harrogate Festival. He has performed with the Ulster and English National Opera orchestras and is still active as a player. He has been principal clarinet in the Bedford Sinfonia for over thirty years and has performed the Finzi and Copland Concertos with the orchestra. He has been involved with the Bedfordshire Music Festival for over thirty five years and is currently a Vice President and Life Fellow. Many of his previous pupils have joined the music profession and previous pupils who have gone into other spheres include the former England test captain Alastair Cook and “Pub Landlord” Al Murray! Malcolm has already adjudicated at online Festivals and is happy to be involved with this new way of marking performances.
	Nadia Hinson, Nottingham, UK (Strings & Chamber Music) Nadia graduated from the Royal Academy of Music after having studied the violin with Manoug Parikian and the piano with Jean Harvey. She was awarded first prize for Aural studies and her quartet won the string chamber prize in her final year. Nadia was the featured soloist playing the Lark Ascending and Bach double violin concerto for the Benslow Trust at St. James’ Piccadilly having been awarded an instrument to continue her studies. Other concertos in her repertoire include performances of the Mendelssohn, Mozart no.3 and 4, Haydn in C, De Beriot, Viotti, and works by Beethoven and Finzi. She began her career as a freelance violinist playing in many London based orchestras. As an accompanist to singers and instrumentalists, she met her musician husband Nigel and together they founded the Veloce Ensemble (string quartet and clarinet quintet) touring throughout Britain performing specially commissioned works for that genre. Appearances at festivals and stately homes inspired a regular concert series at Belvoir Castle and Holmepierrepont Hall. As a recitalist on violin and piano throughout the East Midlands, Nadia has been highlighted in festivals and BBC features locally. She is also currently the owner and director of the Hinson School of Music in Nottingham, and is an international examiner for the ABRSM, a Jazz examiner for the ABRSM, an adjudicator for the British and International federation of Festivals, and a member of the Royal Society of Musicians. Nadia has been a senior consultant for the LEAD Academy trust, involved in developing music departments in schools in Nottinghamshire, and leading workshops to encourage and involve as many youngsters as possible in experiencing music and the arts in large scale productions and showcase concerts. She has set up composition workshops to inspire children to explore feelings and ideas through music and is a mentor for the Trust to develop self-confidence and communication through learning and performance.
	Maria Molinari, Toronto Canada (Composition) Trained as a classical guitarist, Maria Molinari began her composing career writing concert music for soloists, chamber groups, ballet and orchestras until her love of film, storytelling & collaboration drew her to film scoring. A melodically driven composer, Maria’s love of film scores began with the tuneful, soaring themes of John Williams and the haunting harmonies of Thomas Newman. She cites among her strongest influences the music of Prokofiev, Debussy, Stravinsky, Arvo Pärt, Jerry Goldsmith and Dario Marianelli. Maria recently composed the score for the bold critically acclaimed anthology film TO THE NEW GIRL. Based on playwright Samantha Macher's celebrated female-driven stage production of the same name the award-winning film features an all-female creative team & cast. Her music can be heard in the score for the feature film END OF DAYS, INC. starring Mark O'Brien (CITY ON A HILL) and the theme for the forensic series MOTIVES & MURDERS: CRACKING THE CASE. She has provided additional music for the MARVEL COMICS based sci-fi syndicated series MUTANT X and the retro musical comedy series GETTING ALONG FAMOUSLY. Maria’s screen projects have enjoyed international broadcast as well as winning awards and playing at celebrated festivals including TRIBECA, VANCOUVER INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL, MONTREAL WORLD FILM FESTIVAL, BLOOD IN THE SNOW FESTIVAL and the CANADIAN FILM CENTRE WORLDWIDE SHORT FILM FESTIVAL. Critically acclaimed violinist MOSHE HAMMER, the VICTORIA SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA and NATIONAL BALLET OF CANADA dancer/choreographer Stephanie Hutchison have premiered Maria’s concert works. Her prizewinning setting of ‘Willow Song’ from Shakespeare’s OTELLO in the STRATFORD FESTIVAL OF CANADA’S Composition Competition for Young Composers; an arrangement of the song for symphony orchestra and soprano soloist was subsequently commissioned and premiered by the GUELPH SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA. Maria’s virtuosic three movement violin and piano work TRE PEZZI PER VIOLINO E PIANOFORTE has been performed internationally; its exciting movement DANZA has been released by the piano and violin MATHIEU-CHUA DUO on the Centrediscs/Centredisques label. Occasionally the film and concert music worlds collide as they did in a commission to compose original scores for the classic silent films THE PAWN SHOP (Charlie Chaplin) and MIGHTY LIKE A MOOSE (Charley Chase). Performed live by the CHAMBER MUSIC SOCIETY OF MISSISSAUGA the scores were received enthusiastically at a live performance to screenings of the films at the MISSISSAUGA LIVING ARTS CENTRE. Maria studied composition at the UNIVERSITY OF TORONTO with Alexander Rapoport, and film scoring at the UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA, LOS ANGELES with iconic film composers ELMER BERNSTEIN, LEONARD ROSENMAN, DAVID RAKSIN & CHRISTOPER YOUNG. Maria is both a Canadian citizen and a citizen of the European Union.
	Anaïs Gaudemard, Paris, Fr. (Harp) As an authentic ambassador for her instrument, Anaïs Gaudemard declared in her first album’s booklet featuring concertos by Boieldieu, Debussy and Ginastera on the Clavès records label: "I love the harp for all that is unknown about it, since for me it is limitless", and she wanted to "unveil its wide sound repertoire". It did not take long before the soloist's international fame was established, after being awarded the 1st Prize at the prestigious International Harp Contest in Israel 2012 as well as the 2nd and Prize of the Münchener Kammerorchester at the ARD Competition 2016 in Munich. Anaïs Gaudemard was also awarded the Thierry Scherz Prize at the Festival des Sommets Musicaux de Gstaad 2015 and nominated "ECHO Rising Star" 2018/19 by the Philharmonie de Paris and the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation of Lisbon. Since then, she has made debuts on the most prestigious international stages, such as the Wiener Konzerthaus, Elbphilharmonie (Hamburg), Barbican Centre (London) and Concertgebouw (Amsterdam), among others. After her Solo album for the Harmonia Mundi label, her wide-ranging discography soon includes Mozart's Concerto K299 for flute and harp with Julien Beaudiment and the Lyon National Opera Orchestra, two discs with Avi Avital and the Between World Ensemble for Deutsche Gramophon, as well as a repertoire of French Romantic music produced by the Palazzetto Bru Zane for Alpha. During the 2023/24 season, Anaïs will be performing the Harp Concerto op.74 by Glière, the Harp Concerto op.25, by Ginastera with Sinfonietta de Lausanne under the baton of Joseph Bastian, the premiere of the Nachstück composition written for her by David Coleman and will be touring Japan with Philippe Bernold. Anaïs will also play in recitals in the Czech Republic, Poland, Greece, France and Italy. The Institut de France recently awarded her the Tissier-Grandpierre Prize in recognition of her career. Anaïs Gaudemard plays with a Style 23 Gold Concert Grand harp, a gift from the Lyon & Healy harp makers that she received at the 18th International Harp Competition in Israel in 2012.
	Liz Parker, Toronto, Canada (Junior and Intermediate Piano) Liz loves working with her students to achieve great marks in the RCM exams. She combines a sense of fun and discipline for maximum results. Currently teaching from her home studio in downtown Toronto with FaceTime, Skype, and WhatsApp, she also holds Zoom recitals through the academic year. A veteran of Vancouver’s competition scene as a youth, Liz has served as an adjudicator of virtual music festivals since April of 2020. Liz has adjudicated music competitions such as the Toronto Kiwanis Music Festival, the Norfolk Music Festival, the Vancouver Area Youth Arts Festival, and the Canada Children’s International Music Festival. She has also examined piano performances for the prestigious Vancouver Academy of Music. Liz graduated from the Royal Conservatory of Music at 15 with a Gold Medal for the top mark in Canada. She also holds her Licentiate from England’s Trinity College of London and her Bachelor of Music from the University of British Columbia. Liz has been teaching since 1985. She also worked in public relations for the Vancouver and Toronto Symphonies, the Corporation of Roy Thomson & Massey Hall, and blogged for The New Classical FM. She side hustles as a stylist for musician photo shoots. Hobbies and interests include Asian fusion cooking, following trending topics on social media, and pop culture. Her cat Momo is named for the Tibetan dumpling.
	Geordie Roberts, North Vancouver, BC (Classical Voice) George “Geordie” Roberts is a graduate of the School of Music UBC and the Vancouver Academy of Music where he was privileged to study under Phyllis Mailing. A member of the Vancouver Chamber Choir, he is a frequent soloist in concert and on recordings. He has adjudicated music festivals from Victoria to Winnipeg and has facilitated choral workshops throughout BC. His solo career has included engagements with the Pacific Baroque Orchestra, Early Music Vancouver, Festival Vancouver, Trinity Western University, the Vancouver Symphony, and many community organizations in the Lower Mainland. For 28 summers, George has been the vocal instructor at the West Coast Family Music Festival, offering group instruction in vocal technique, song interpretation and diction for singers. He is an instructor in the School of Performing Arts at Capilano University and the Co-ordinator of Music at Highlands United Church, North Vancouver. He occasionally presents solo recitals and is highly regarded for his ease of production and expressive singing. Originally from Enderby, Geordie makes his home in North Vancouver with his wife, Frances.