2023 Adjudicators
SPEECH ADJUDICATOR - Arlene Irwin
A native of Northern Ireland, Arlene has been studying Speech Arts and Drama since the age of 14. Throughout the years, not only has she won numerous speech and drama awards, but she also continues to be an active theatre performer. Her most recent roles were as “Mother Superior” in Storybook Theatre’s musical production of “Sister Act” and in 2022, the role of “Irene Ruddock” in Alan Bennett’s “A Lady of Letters” for which she received the award of outstanding performer at the Calgary One Act Festival. Arlene holds an Associate & Licentiate Diploma in Speech Arts and Drama from Trinity College London and is currently an Instructor on the Mount Royal Conservatory Speech Arts Faculty where she teaches both private and group classes. She also holds the role of Calgary Centre Representative for RCM Examinations.
As well as instructing at The Conservatory, Arlene runs a private drama school and has adjudicated at numerous Speech Arts festivals including Kelowna Kiwanis, Medicine Hat, Airdrie, and Red Deer.
She is thrilled to have the opportunity to adjudicate at the Brooks Music Festival and
extremely excited to hear the work of all the talented students.
A native of Northern Ireland, Arlene has been studying Speech Arts and Drama since the age of 14. Throughout the years, not only has she won numerous speech and drama awards, but she also continues to be an active theatre performer. Her most recent roles were as “Mother Superior” in Storybook Theatre’s musical production of “Sister Act” and in 2022, the role of “Irene Ruddock” in Alan Bennett’s “A Lady of Letters” for which she received the award of outstanding performer at the Calgary One Act Festival. Arlene holds an Associate & Licentiate Diploma in Speech Arts and Drama from Trinity College London and is currently an Instructor on the Mount Royal Conservatory Speech Arts Faculty where she teaches both private and group classes. She also holds the role of Calgary Centre Representative for RCM Examinations.
As well as instructing at The Conservatory, Arlene runs a private drama school and has adjudicated at numerous Speech Arts festivals including Kelowna Kiwanis, Medicine Hat, Airdrie, and Red Deer.
She is thrilled to have the opportunity to adjudicate at the Brooks Music Festival and
extremely excited to hear the work of all the talented students.
PIANO ADJUDICATOR - Eric Nyland
Eric is a pianist (ARCT, LRCM) and actor (BFA, CAEA). For twenty years, Eric has worked professionally in theatre, film, voice over, music, and music pedagogy throughout Canada. He runs a private teaching studio in Calgary and is a member of the Canadian Music Festival Adjudicators’ Association.He serves as the piano program coordinator, vocal coach, and pianist at Cassa Musical Arts, as well as the provincial piano competition convenor for the Alberta Registered Music Teachers’ Association, and works as an active festival adjudicator at all levels.
Eric developed and taught two courses for Mount Royal University (Introductory Keyboard for Adults – Learn to Read, and Play by Ear/Improvisation), and served as the musical director for the long-form theatre improvisation duo One Lions (winner, Best Show at Vancouver International Improv Festival, 2016). In 2015, Eric appeared as soloist in Beethoven’s First Piano Concerto for the inaugural concert of the Calgary Arts Orchestra, and in 2016 he served as composer, music director, and lead actor in Armin Wiebe’s The Moonlight Sonata of Beethoven Blatz for the Station Arts Centre.
He is the winner of the 2013 Jack Friedenberg Memorial Scholarship for pianists and was nominated for the 2015 Outstanding Actor in a Play by the Calgary Theatre Critics’ Awards for his work in the world premiere of Nicholas Billon’s Butcher. He has studied with Linda Kundert, Dr. Lillian Upright, and Dr. Irena Kofman, and has taken masterclasses from Dr. Jennifer Snow, Dr. Jacques Despres, and Dr. Ludmilla Lazar.
Eric is writing a musical with Derek Stoll as a commission by Cassa Musical Arts to debut August of 2023.
Eric is a pianist (ARCT, LRCM) and actor (BFA, CAEA). For twenty years, Eric has worked professionally in theatre, film, voice over, music, and music pedagogy throughout Canada. He runs a private teaching studio in Calgary and is a member of the Canadian Music Festival Adjudicators’ Association.He serves as the piano program coordinator, vocal coach, and pianist at Cassa Musical Arts, as well as the provincial piano competition convenor for the Alberta Registered Music Teachers’ Association, and works as an active festival adjudicator at all levels.
Eric developed and taught two courses for Mount Royal University (Introductory Keyboard for Adults – Learn to Read, and Play by Ear/Improvisation), and served as the musical director for the long-form theatre improvisation duo One Lions (winner, Best Show at Vancouver International Improv Festival, 2016). In 2015, Eric appeared as soloist in Beethoven’s First Piano Concerto for the inaugural concert of the Calgary Arts Orchestra, and in 2016 he served as composer, music director, and lead actor in Armin Wiebe’s The Moonlight Sonata of Beethoven Blatz for the Station Arts Centre.
He is the winner of the 2013 Jack Friedenberg Memorial Scholarship for pianists and was nominated for the 2015 Outstanding Actor in a Play by the Calgary Theatre Critics’ Awards for his work in the world premiere of Nicholas Billon’s Butcher. He has studied with Linda Kundert, Dr. Lillian Upright, and Dr. Irena Kofman, and has taken masterclasses from Dr. Jennifer Snow, Dr. Jacques Despres, and Dr. Ludmilla Lazar.
Eric is writing a musical with Derek Stoll as a commission by Cassa Musical Arts to debut August of 2023.
STRINGS ADJUDICATOR - Robert Penner
There is no greater joy for Robert than when a student or musician has the “aha!” moment, when a technical or musical goal that was just out of reach suddenly works. His mission is to demystify string playing with compassion, insight, generosity, and his signature good humor. His professional career includes 30 years in the first violin section of the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra. Robert is also a baroque music specialist, having performed with internationally acclaimed Tafelmusik and Vancouver’s Pacific Baroque Orchestra. He also performs with String Theory in Calgary on baroque violin.
He was a founding member of the Kensington Sinfonia and the Zabaglione String Quartet, with which he performed throughout Alberta. Cellist Tom Megee is a frequent collaborator, and the duo have played innumerable concerts for seniors in Calgary and Red Deer over the last decade. Retired from orchestral performance since 2015, Robert has devoted himself to teaching and coaching violinists of all levels. He is a frequent adjudicator of music festivals throughout southern Alberta. From 2019-2022 he was the Music Director and Conductor of the Calgary String Collective, a string orchestra for adult amateur musicians.
In addition to his role as co-Director of Westwinds’ Green Strings, he has coached the violin sections of the Calgary Community String Orchestra since 2015. He holds a Bachelor of Music (Applied) with Distinction from Brandon University.
There is no greater joy for Robert than when a student or musician has the “aha!” moment, when a technical or musical goal that was just out of reach suddenly works. His mission is to demystify string playing with compassion, insight, generosity, and his signature good humor. His professional career includes 30 years in the first violin section of the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra. Robert is also a baroque music specialist, having performed with internationally acclaimed Tafelmusik and Vancouver’s Pacific Baroque Orchestra. He also performs with String Theory in Calgary on baroque violin.
He was a founding member of the Kensington Sinfonia and the Zabaglione String Quartet, with which he performed throughout Alberta. Cellist Tom Megee is a frequent collaborator, and the duo have played innumerable concerts for seniors in Calgary and Red Deer over the last decade. Retired from orchestral performance since 2015, Robert has devoted himself to teaching and coaching violinists of all levels. He is a frequent adjudicator of music festivals throughout southern Alberta. From 2019-2022 he was the Music Director and Conductor of the Calgary String Collective, a string orchestra for adult amateur musicians.
In addition to his role as co-Director of Westwinds’ Green Strings, he has coached the violin sections of the Calgary Community String Orchestra since 2015. He holds a Bachelor of Music (Applied) with Distinction from Brandon University.
BAND ADJUDICATOR - Kathie Van Lare
Kathie Van Lare, born and raised in Calgary, has been teaching music in the Calgary area for 35 years. Now retired from full-time teaching, Kathie continues to direct the Foothills Music Society Concert Band and the Westwinds Music Society Gold Jazz South Big Band. She is active as a guest conductor and adjudicator throughout much of Western Canada and has also served on faculty with MusiCamrose and the Calgary Regional Summer Band Workshop. Kathie is currently Co-President of Women Band Directors International – Alberta Chapter and is also Director of the newly formed Calgary Women’s Jazz Orchestra.
Bands under Kathie’s direction have been the recipients of several awards and she has been the recipient of various personal awards: Alberta Band Association’s “Elkhorn Award” as the Band Director of the Year; Alberta Band Association’s “Vondis Miller Legacy Award”; Laureate in John Philip Sousa Legion of Honor at the MidWest Band and Orchestra Conference in Chicago. Women Band Directors International, “Scroll of Excellence”; and an Honorary Lifetime Membership from the Alberta Band Association.
Kathie continues to be active as a free-lance musician (trumpet) and has performed with many groups including among others, the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra, the Rocky Mountain Symphony Orchestra, Prime Time Big Band, Calgary Jazz Orchestra, Alberta Winds and Altius Brass.
Besides music, Kathie enjoys woodworking, horseback riding and is an avid baseball fan. Go Cardinals!
Kathie Van Lare, born and raised in Calgary, has been teaching music in the Calgary area for 35 years. Now retired from full-time teaching, Kathie continues to direct the Foothills Music Society Concert Band and the Westwinds Music Society Gold Jazz South Big Band. She is active as a guest conductor and adjudicator throughout much of Western Canada and has also served on faculty with MusiCamrose and the Calgary Regional Summer Band Workshop. Kathie is currently Co-President of Women Band Directors International – Alberta Chapter and is also Director of the newly formed Calgary Women’s Jazz Orchestra.
Bands under Kathie’s direction have been the recipients of several awards and she has been the recipient of various personal awards: Alberta Band Association’s “Elkhorn Award” as the Band Director of the Year; Alberta Band Association’s “Vondis Miller Legacy Award”; Laureate in John Philip Sousa Legion of Honor at the MidWest Band and Orchestra Conference in Chicago. Women Band Directors International, “Scroll of Excellence”; and an Honorary Lifetime Membership from the Alberta Band Association.
Kathie continues to be active as a free-lance musician (trumpet) and has performed with many groups including among others, the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra, the Rocky Mountain Symphony Orchestra, Prime Time Big Band, Calgary Jazz Orchestra, Alberta Winds and Altius Brass.
Besides music, Kathie enjoys woodworking, horseback riding and is an avid baseball fan. Go Cardinals!
Choir and Vocal Adjudicator - Rhonda Sylvester
Rhonda Sylvester has been a proud part of the arts community since an early age and over the years, her love and passion for
music, theatre and performance have continued to grow and blossom. Growing up in Stettler, AB, she was offered the wonderful opportunity to study voice with Elaine Pitt and her national winning award choir Pitt's Pets. It was through Mrs. Pitt that Ms.Sylvester first found that special spark of magic only music can give to your soul. With great nurturing and development, this gift of music became not only a passion for her, but also became her life career choice.
She has obtained degrees in both Teachers and Vocal Performance from the Royal Conservatory of Toronto (Distinction) and Conservatory Canada, a music Performance degree (Honours) from Red Deer College, and a Bachelor of Music Vocal Performance (Honours) from U of A Augustana Campus. After obtaining her degrees, Ms.Sylvester lived in Kassel Germany for 2 years where she had the privilege of teaching English, Choral and Orchestra in the German school system for grades five to
thirteen. She has been the recipient of numerous scholarships and awards of her own, but she is most proud of the awards that her own students have earned in world wide competitions, including the Heritage Festival series in New York, where her Gracenotes Choir placed at a Gold level and were also the recipients of the esteemed Spirit of New York Award. Ms.Sylvester has had several students also hold successful auditions to be a part of the Honour Choir at Carnegie Hall series in the past several years and well as having numerous choirs, solo vocal students and musical theatre students go on to win top marks and placements at the Alberta Provincial Choral and Music Festival.
In addition to teaching and conducting, Ms.Sylvester loves to perform. Some of her performance and musical directing credits include shows such as “Ready Steady Go”, “The Wizard of Oz”, “Oliver”, “Little Women”, “Bring Them Home”, “Pets”, “Fiddler On the Roof”, “The Music Man”, “My Fair Lady”, “Matilda”, “Moana Jr.” and her two most favourite roles as Sister Mary Amnesia and the Narrator in “Nunsense” and “Nunsense: the Second Coming” and “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat”.
Ms.Sylvester is a sought-after clinician and adjudicator in the disciplines of solo voice, choral and musical theatre. In addition to her busy teaching career, Mrs.Sylvester also holds a position with the Clearview School District as an Educational Assistant and Kindergarten music teacher.
She wishes all participants in this music festival the best of luck and encoureges them to, “Go forth
and shine!”
Rhonda Sylvester has been a proud part of the arts community since an early age and over the years, her love and passion for
music, theatre and performance have continued to grow and blossom. Growing up in Stettler, AB, she was offered the wonderful opportunity to study voice with Elaine Pitt and her national winning award choir Pitt's Pets. It was through Mrs. Pitt that Ms.Sylvester first found that special spark of magic only music can give to your soul. With great nurturing and development, this gift of music became not only a passion for her, but also became her life career choice.
She has obtained degrees in both Teachers and Vocal Performance from the Royal Conservatory of Toronto (Distinction) and Conservatory Canada, a music Performance degree (Honours) from Red Deer College, and a Bachelor of Music Vocal Performance (Honours) from U of A Augustana Campus. After obtaining her degrees, Ms.Sylvester lived in Kassel Germany for 2 years where she had the privilege of teaching English, Choral and Orchestra in the German school system for grades five to
thirteen. She has been the recipient of numerous scholarships and awards of her own, but she is most proud of the awards that her own students have earned in world wide competitions, including the Heritage Festival series in New York, where her Gracenotes Choir placed at a Gold level and were also the recipients of the esteemed Spirit of New York Award. Ms.Sylvester has had several students also hold successful auditions to be a part of the Honour Choir at Carnegie Hall series in the past several years and well as having numerous choirs, solo vocal students and musical theatre students go on to win top marks and placements at the Alberta Provincial Choral and Music Festival.
In addition to teaching and conducting, Ms.Sylvester loves to perform. Some of her performance and musical directing credits include shows such as “Ready Steady Go”, “The Wizard of Oz”, “Oliver”, “Little Women”, “Bring Them Home”, “Pets”, “Fiddler On the Roof”, “The Music Man”, “My Fair Lady”, “Matilda”, “Moana Jr.” and her two most favourite roles as Sister Mary Amnesia and the Narrator in “Nunsense” and “Nunsense: the Second Coming” and “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat”.
Ms.Sylvester is a sought-after clinician and adjudicator in the disciplines of solo voice, choral and musical theatre. In addition to her busy teaching career, Mrs.Sylvester also holds a position with the Clearview School District as an Educational Assistant and Kindergarten music teacher.
She wishes all participants in this music festival the best of luck and encoureges them to, “Go forth
and shine!”
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