Festival Adjudicators 2019
VOCAL - Robin Norman, BMus (Opera)
Robin is an active teacher, performer and director. She has been teaching voice for over 25 years and has performed in or been the musical director of more than 50 different musical productions. She is an active member of the Prince George Arts community, often volunteering her performances and professional services.
Robin has served on several boards, including Performing Arts B.C., The Federation of Canadian Music Festivals, Theatre B.,C. and the Prince George Music Festival, as well as adjudicated on many occasions throughout the province.
Her choir Nove Voce has been recognized provincially and nationally in festival competitions. They were honored to be named best overall choir in B.C. in 2016 and to have placed second in the National Festival in 2018. She is exceptionally proud of her students, many of whom have gone on to professional careers in music, performance and teaching.
PIANO - Holly Duff, BMus
Holly received her Bachelor of Music in piano performance from the University of Western Ontario and an Associate of the Victoria Conservatory of Music in Piano Pedagogy. Her most inspiring musical mentors have been Dr. Robin Wood of Victoria and Robert Rogers of UBC. Established in 1993, Holly is a founding director, administrator and performing pianist with West Coast Chamber Music, one of the foremost classical concert series in Vancouver. Through the series, she has enjoyed promoting and performing the work of woman composers. She has also had a lifelong passion for storytelling which she has combined with music on stage in children's concerts performed across the lower mainland.
With a wealth of teaching experience, Holly is a sought after piano and Orff music teacher and piano adjudicator and teaches at the Jean Lyons School of Music in Vancouver, the Langley Community Music School and Arts Connection in Richmond. Her students regularly excel at exams and festivals. In teaching people to play piano at all ages and stages, her youngest beginners have been age 4, while her oldest beginner was age 86! She brings joyful energy to lessons, with particular strengths in encouraging a relaxed natural piano technique and tapping into each individual's creativity. When she's not playing eh piano, you might find her writing, knitting or hanging out in her garden or with her family and cat.
SPEECH ARTS - Debbie McGladdery
Debbie has been involved in Speech Arts since the age of seven when she began "elocution" lessons in Victoria, B.C. with Wilfrid Ord at the "Victoria School of Expression". She has an Education Certificate from UVIC, as Associate's Diploma in Speech and Drama from Mount Royal College, Calgary, and has been designated a Speech and Drama Specialist by Royal Conservatory.
Deborah taught public school for more than ten years before turning her attention to speech arts and drama as a private teacher. For 25 years, she ran a speech and drama studio in Prince George, coaching up to 100 students a year. She also enjoyed running a 'Production Camp' every summer where students presented fairy tale and Shakespeare plays to enthusiastic audiences.
Since relocating to Penticton, she has remained active, introducing a new group of young students to the joys of speech arts. Ms. McGladdery has adjudicated for many festivals in Canada, is a member of the Canadian Music Festival Adjudicators' Association and works as a Speech Arts examiner for Royal Conservatory.
INSTRUMENTAL - John White
John has served as President of the B. C. Music Educators' Association, the B.C. Choral Federation, the B. C. Administrators of Arts Education, the Pacific Coast Music Festivals Association and Art Starts in Schools. He is also a Past Chairman of MusicFest Canada: Canadian Concert Band Festival. Me. White served on the Board of Directors for the Canadian Music Educators' Association, the Western Canada Theatre Company, the B. C. Festival of the Arts, was Vice President of the B. C. Band Association and just recently finished seven years on the Board and a three year term as Vice Chair of the Coalition for Music Education in Canada.
Currently, John is Chair of the B. C. Choral Federation's Willan Council and Vice Chair of the Michael J. Fox Theatre Society. He also serves as Music Director for the New Westminster and District Band Society - now celebrating it's 83rd year of continuous operation.
Mr. White also served as a Director of the B.C. Music Educator's Association Provincial Honour Band on three separate occasions, The Saskatchewan Provincial Honour Band and has many years experience as a performing musician.
John has worked extensively as an adjudicator, clinician and guest conductor throughout B. C., Yukon, Alberta, Saskatchewan and Ontario. He also served as a judge for Canada's Juno Awards on several occasions.
During his career as an educator, John worked in Whitehorse, Yukon and in British Columbia's Langley, Coquitlam and Burnaby School Districts. Now retired, Mr. White finished his career after serving 21 years as a Director of Instruction for School District 41 Burnaby.