VAYA Online INTERNATIONAL MUSIC FESTIVAL: Spring 2026

Adjudicators

	Anthony Brackett, Amherst, MA, USA (Woodwinds) Tony Brackett has had an exciting performing and teaching career in the music industry. Formerly the bass clarinetist with the New Orleans Symphony, Mr. Brackett has performed with the New York City Opera, American Symphony, New Jersey Symphony, New York City Ballet, American Ballet Theater, Brooklyn Philharmonic, Mostly Mozart, Orchestra of St. Luke’s, Martha Graham Dance Company, Dance Theater of Harlem, New York Pops, Goldman Band, and Singapore Symphony. Chamber music appearances include concerts with the Emerson String Quartet, Shanghai String Quartet, Borealis Wind Quintet, Dorian Quintet, Blue Door and VentiCordi. Music Festivals include the National Repertory Orchestra, Waterloo Festival, Yale’s Norfolk Chamber Music Festival and the Pierre Monteux School in Hancock. In addition to having taught a large private studio of clarinetists in Greenwich, CT, Tony teaches at The Juilliard School’s Pre-College Program, is a former faculty member of Juilliard’s Music Advancement Program and Amherst College, performed for Young Audiences of New York and New Jersey and has been consultant to The Morgan Library and Museum’s Family Concert Series. Tony has been an adjudicator and clinician for the Vaya International Music Festival, Connecticut Music Educators Association, served as President, Orchestra Manager and adjudicator for the New England Music Festival Association, and Manager of NAfME’s National Honors Orchestra. Tony has accompanied many legendary entertainers including Mel Torme, Ray Charles, Phil Collins, Patti Lupone, Donny and Marie Osmond, Bob McGrath, the Three Irish Tenors, The Moody Blues, Maureen McGovern, Andrea Bocelli, Midori, Placido Domingo, Andre Watts, Tatiana Troyanos, and Bugs Bunny. He has recorded on the Sony, Sarabande, QRecords and Telarc labels as well as for television, radio and films. Anthony’s Broadway credits include Rodgers and Hammerstein’s The King & I, Matthew Bourne’s Swan Lake, Meredith Willson’s The Music Man, Cole Porter’s Cancan and Disney’s Beauty and the Beast. Tony and his family live in Amherst, MA where he teaches private students and writes arrangements for woodwind ensembles available at www.AMBClarinet.com.
	Katherine Siochi, San Francisco, USA (Harp) Praised by the New York Times as “excellent,” Katherine Siochi is an internationally award-winning soloist and one of the leading orchestral harpists of her generation. She joined the San Francisco Symphony as Principal Harp in the 2023-24 season, appointed by Esa-Pekka Salonen. Having won an impressive number of auditions, Katherine previously held positions as Principal Harp of the Minnesota Orchestra, Kansas City Symphony, and Sarasota Orchestra. Katherine is the Gold Medalist of the 10th USA International Harp Competition, one of the world's most prestigious harp contests. Audiences worldwide have commended Katherine for her virtuosity as well as her poetic interpretations and innate sense of timing. As an orchestral musician Katherine has appeared as guest Principal Harp with Chicago Symphony Orchestra and the New York Philharmonic. Her sensitivity and finesse has captured the attention of numerous critics across the country. In a concert of Tchaikovsky ballet suites with CSO, her performance was lauded as “graceful and transporting” (Chicago Sun-Times), “subtly adding to tutti textures and contributing graceful cadenzas” (Chicago Classical Review), and “exquisitely played” (WTTW). Katherine has performed as a concerto soloist with the San Francisco Symphony, Kansas City Symphony, Sarasota Orchestra, Louisiana Philharmonic, and the Juilliard Orchestra. She has performed at multiple summer festivals including Colorado Music Festival, Classical Tahoe, Tanglewood Music Center, and Aspen Music Festival. Katherine holds faculty positions at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music and at the Aspen Music Festival and School. Additionally, she is the harp coach for the San Francisco Symphony Youth Orchestra. She is frequently sought-after by both professionals and students as an orchestral audition coach. In her teaching Katherine strives to create an encouraging and positive environment, while also motivating students to reach their full potential through her meticulous attention to detail and unwavering high standards. In addition to her international win, Katherine has received first prize in numerous other competitions, including the American String Teachers Association, Aspen Music Festival Harp Competition, Anne Adams Awards, and both the Advanced Division and Young Professional Division of the American Harp Society National Competition. While holding the position of American Harp Society Concert Artist from 2015-2017, Katherine embarked on a tour of 23 U.S. cities to present solo recitals and masterclasses. Appearances have also included solo concerts in Hong Kong, China, Israel, and at Lyon & Healy Hall in Chicago. In 2021 she released her debut solo album Nocturne on Lyon & Healy Records, in which she “displays an intuitive sense of musical line and phrase that takes the harp beyond its limits and more toward the world of piano and a wider realm of artistry and expression” (Harp Column Magazine). Katherine began her musical studies with the piano when she was 5 years old, and began learning the harp at age 9. She holds her Bachelor's and Master's degrees in harp performance from The Juilliard School, where she studied with New York Philharmonic Principal Harp Nancy Allen. While earning her master's, Katherine was a recipient of the distinguished Kovner Fellowship. Aside from the harp, Katherine studied secondary piano at Juilliard during her undergraduate years. Her background as a pianist contributes to her interest in transcribing piano works for the harp, as well as her unique approach to facility and voicing on the harp. Katherine’s transcriptions of Debussy and Chopin are available for purchase through Lyon & Healy Publications. Katherine grew up in Iowa City, Iowa, where she studied with Pamela Weest-Carrasco.
	Dr. Kevin Zakresky, Vancouver, BC (Voice) Dr. Kevin Zakresky is a vocalist, choir director and orchestral conductor from Vancouver. He teaches singing at the Vancouver Symphony School of Music and tours the world as a conductor for the National Geographic Symphony, Zelda Symphony of the Goddesses, Heroes Symphony and others. In Vancouver he is Conductor of Pacific Spirit Choir and Maddalena’s Descant. Past jobs have included teaching positions at SFU, Capilano University, Douglas College, Assistant Conductor of Chor Leoni Men’s Choir, Director of the Pacifica Singers, and Conductor of the Prince George Symphony Orchestra. He received his Doctorate from Yale University in 2012.
	Kirtley Leigh Walker-Halstead, Sydney, AU (Strings) Violinist Kirtley Leigh has a career that has taken her across the globe, as soloist, and in chamber concerts, recitals, orchestras and pedagogy positions worldwide. Her performances have been celebrated in over 20 countries. A Dual Citizen of Australia and America, she was born and educated in the USA. Kirtley has performed for dignitaries, royalty, prime ministers and legendary stars of screen and stage in a multi- faceted career. A student of the legendary virtuoso Josef Gingold, she holds a Bachelor of Music (honours) from Indiana University. The US honoured her with the prestigious American Federation of Music Prize/Recitalist in New York. She also studied with Dorothy De Lay and in Masterclasses with Joseph Silverstein, Nathan Milstein, Isaac Stern, Itzhak Perlman, Henryk Szering, and Stephane Grappelli. Kirtley was appointed Associate Leader of the Hong Kong Philharmonic in 1983, launching her international career. As a chamber musician and recitalist, Kirtley has appeared in the Australian Festival of Chamber Music, and festivals including Aspen, Point-Counterpoint, Chautauqua, and Sedona (USA), St. Endellion, Prussia Cove, and Classics Live (UK), Klassik Aften, Bergen Festspille, and Oslo (Norway), Amsterdam, Vienna, Pollensa (Spain), and Hong Kong. In Europe she was Leader in Amsterdam (Kleine Komedie), and in Norway with the Stavanger Symphony Orchestra, performing as soloist and recording for Norwegian radio. Kirtley was in leading positions with the UK's finest chamber and symphony orchestras, including the London Chamber Symphony, Midlands Philharmonic, Academy of London, Oxford and European Union Chamber Orchestras. Recently she returned to hold masterclasses in Cardiff for BBC Conductor Mark Eager. European engagements include performing for Queen Sophia of Spain as Leader of the Pollensa Chamber Orchestra, King Olaf of Norway with the Bergen Philharmonic, as well as a world tour with Pavarotti and the Oporto Orchestra, Portugal, and with Soprano Kiri te Kanawa. She has given Command Performances for the Prime Ministers of Papua New Guinea and Malaysia’s Tun Mahathir Mohamad and Madame Siti. She has given World Premiers in New Zealand of a Violin Concerto written for her and in Australia of a concerto for didgeridoo and violin with the brilliant William Barton. Kirtley has collaborated in recital with international artists including pianists Pascal Roge , Melvyn Tan, Clemens Leske, James Brawn, Jenni Flemming, Benjamin Martin and Elyane Laussade. She has shared the stage with such diverse artists as Pavarotti, Dame Kiri te Kanawa, Jessye Norman, Herb Armstrong, Lorna Luft, David Bowie, Tony Bennett, John Travolta, and INXS. In Australia Kirtley has continued her career as soloist and chamber musician, performing with orchestras nationwide and recitals with The Serendipity Trio, Paradise Concerts, and Strings of the North. She was leader of the Australian Symphony on tour in 2022. Her Strings of the North quartet is regularly featured in the renowned Candlelight Concerts. Kirtley recently held the position of Tutor in Violin, Viola and Chamber Music, and Orchestral Conductor with the prestigious The King’s School, Sydney. She is Artistic Director of Paradise Concerts International Chamber Music Series and the Australian Strings Academy teaching studio. Kirtley has adjudicated at Eisteddfods and Festivals in Australia and abroad, most recently in 2025 for Bathurst Eisteddfod and VAYA International Festival later this year. Last year, Kirtley performed a recital tour of Japan with pianist Ami Hakuno and gave 3 solo concerts in Singapore at the invitation of iconic Raffles Hotel. She then joined the prestigious AUSTA International String Orchestra in their 2023 European tour as associate leader.
	Pasquale Bianculli, New York City (Classical Guitar) Pat is a member of the College of Examiners of the Royal Conservatory Certificate Program. He is on the faculty of Lake Tahoe Community College and the College of Marin Community Education Program in California. He has been on the faculty at the United Nations International School in NY, the Edna Manley College of the Visual and Performing Arts (formerly The Jamaica School of Music) in Kingston, Jamaica, as well and the Rocky Ridge Music Center in Colorado. He began playing the guitar at the age of 13 in Brooklyn NY, inspired by his father, Philip, an accomplished woodwind player and jazz musician. Following in his footsteps, he played popular music in dance and club bands throughout the city. In 1972, he began intensive study in classical guitar with Jerry Willard and Edgard Dana, at the Guitar Workshop in Oyster Bay, NY. Other teachers and coaches have included Alexandre Lagoya, Angel Romero and Timothy Walker, and jazz guitar with Billy Bauer. After receiving his M. Mus. degree in Guitar Performance from Stony Brook University in 1981, he had the honor of performing for the legendary guitarist, Andres Segovia. He made his New York solo debut at Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall in 1983. Tim Page, of the New York Times, in describing Mr. Bianculli's performance of J.S. Bach, said, “...a sensitive musician...he juxtaposed workmanlike playing with passages of real inspiration”. And of his Nocturnal by Benjamin Britten ..."{Mr. Bianculli} was true to the works improvisatory quality, calling up some ominous, shimmering overtones from the instrument". In 1999, Pat released his first CD with guitarist Harris Becker entitled "Catgut Flambo". The Atlanta Audio Society Journal wrote about the CD, "The stylish, elegant playing of these artists is bound to win friends for this music wherever there are listeners who relish the rare and beautiful." He later released “Hill of Slane-Psalms, Sonatas & Sojourns”, with his wife, the flutist, Kathleen McDonald. A reviewer for classical.net writes: “They are dedicated, polished musicians, with a will to communicate, not just with their listeners, but with each other. In its own modest way, this is a "feel good” CD – perfect at the end of a trying day”. Pat continues to perform, record and publish. His arrangements are available through Bergmann Edition and Sheet Music Direct.
	Peteris Zarins, Toronto, ON, Canada (Intermediate & Senior Piano) Peteris Zarins is a distinguished pianist, collaborative artist, teacher, and composer. A graduate of the Royal Conservatory of Music, University of Toronto, and University of Michigan, Mr. Zarins is a highly respected faculty member at the Royal Conservatory Oscar Peterson School and Phil and Eli Taylor Academy of the Glenn Gould School, teaching piano, history, and pedagogy. He has shaped generations of musicians as a Chief Examiner Emeritus for the RCM and co-author of Explorations in Music History. As a performer, he has played alongside members of the Toronto Symphony Orchestra, National Ballet Orchestra, and Canadian Opera Company, appearing on renowned stages like Massey Hall, Glenn Gould Theatre, Weill Auditorium (NYC), and Place des Arts (Montreal). His passion for music extends internationally, from Latvia to Korea and Bermuda, where he has worked as an adjudicator and clinician. Mr. Zarins has also played a key role in shaping piano education, serving as a compiler for the RCM’s 2022 Piano Repertoire Series and Syllabus, as well as the Popular Selections Syllabus.
	Rudin Lengo, Toronto, CA (Junior Piano) An experienced and dedicated teacher, Rudin welcomes students of all ages and abilities. He believes in instilling a love and appreciation for music in all of his students and strives in guiding them towards a successful completion of their goals and ambitions while preserving their enthusiasm. The lessons will be tailored to the student’s individual needs and objectives, and periodical goals will be set to keep them motivated. Rudin Lengo’s piano playing has been described as “profound, imaginative and exceptionally communicative”. Winner of the 2017 DMA Competition at the University of Toronto, the 2012 Glenn Gould School Concerto Competition, the 5th Knigge Music Competition and the 2010 TD Elora Competition, he was also the 2nd prize winner at the 40th William C. Byrd International Competition and winner of the Mary Winston Smail Memorial Award for Best Pianist at the 2011 WAMSO Minnesota Competition. A recipient of a Performance Grant from the Canada Council for the Arts, the Simmonds Graduate Fellowship, and the John and Barbara Vivash Scholarship in Piano Performance, Mr. Lengo is currently pursuing doctoral studies at the University of Toronto with Enrico Elisi and Jamie Parker.
	Dominique Bernath, Vancouver, Canada (Percussion & Mixed Ensembles) Dominique Bernath has been the Principal Timpanist of the Okanagan Symphony Orchestra since 1997 after attending the University of British Columbia where she studied Orchestral Percussion. She began performing with the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra in 1995, and also performs with the Surrey City Orchestra, Vancouver Island Symphony, Fraser Valley Wind Ensembles, and numerous orchestras throughout the province. Dominique has shared the stage with such Canadian talents as Jann Arden, Natalie MacMaster, Anne Murray, Dee Daniels, The Rankins and Holly Cole. Dominique performed three auditioned sessions with the National Youth Orchestra of Canada and has also been featured as a concerto soloist on timpani. She frequently teaches percussion clinics and masterclasses and has been a pianist since 1981. Dominique has been the stage manager/percussion coach for the Kiwanis Concert Band Festival since 2004 and proudly works as an Educational Representative for Tapestry Music. Ms. Bernath is a Yamaha and Zildjian Artist.