2026 Adjudicators
Strings - Eduardo Solá
Eduardo Solá is Chair and Associate Professor of Music at Burman University (AB, Canada). He holds a Ph.D.
from Andrews University (USA), an M.A. from the University of Toronto (Canada), and B.Mus. degrees from
the Koninklijk Conservatorium Den Haag (The Netherlands) and Paraná State University (Brazil). Dr. Solá's
research focuses on music education, systematic musicology, music theory, and curriculum theory. He
publishes extensively, holding scholarly articles and books on various music topics.
Working as a concert violinist, Dr. Solá performs extensively throughout Europe, Asia, and the Americas in
concerts, recitals, and recordings. He is also passionate about music education and has worked as a music
instructor within the K-12 school setting. Before joining the BU faculty, Dr. Solá taught choir and music
theory at College Park Elementary School and Kingsway College (ON, Canada). He was also faculty with El
Sistema Toronto (ON), teaching violin and choir at St. Martin de Porres Catholic School and Military Trail
Public School. He has taught strings for over two decades and holds a vibrant private studio in Lacombe (AB,
Canada), serving as adjudicator and clinician for various music programs throughout the province. Dr. Solá
lives in Central Alberta with his beautiful wife, a librarian by trade and training, and their two very cute cats—Oliver and Pistachio.
from Andrews University (USA), an M.A. from the University of Toronto (Canada), and B.Mus. degrees from
the Koninklijk Conservatorium Den Haag (The Netherlands) and Paraná State University (Brazil). Dr. Solá's
research focuses on music education, systematic musicology, music theory, and curriculum theory. He
publishes extensively, holding scholarly articles and books on various music topics.
Working as a concert violinist, Dr. Solá performs extensively throughout Europe, Asia, and the Americas in
concerts, recitals, and recordings. He is also passionate about music education and has worked as a music
instructor within the K-12 school setting. Before joining the BU faculty, Dr. Solá taught choir and music
theory at College Park Elementary School and Kingsway College (ON, Canada). He was also faculty with El
Sistema Toronto (ON), teaching violin and choir at St. Martin de Porres Catholic School and Military Trail
Public School. He has taught strings for over two decades and holds a vibrant private studio in Lacombe (AB,
Canada), serving as adjudicator and clinician for various music programs throughout the province. Dr. Solá
lives in Central Alberta with his beautiful wife, a librarian by trade and training, and their two very cute cats—Oliver and Pistachio.
Vocal / Choral - Angela Siemens
Angela Siemens holds both a Bachelor of Arts in Music and a Bachelor of Music from Augustana University College. She continued her training at the Victoria Conservatory of Music, where she performed leading roles in the Opera Studio’s productions of Brother XII and Romeo and Juliet. Angela also holds a Voice Teacher’s ARCT from the Royal Conservatory of Music and a Student Certificate in Yodelology.
Most recently, she was delighted to perform as Coco’s sister in the world premiere of It’s Coco!, a musical fusion opera by Cheryl Cooney and Anna Maria Kaufmann. She has also enjoyed serving as vocal director for high school musical productions such as Sister Act, Into the Woods, and Grease.
Mrs. Siemens is passionate about performing, adjudicating, and teaching. She loves exploring new ideas with her students and in her own singing, and she has a strong interest in the science of vocal pedagogy and its practical applications. Her students have received numerous scholarships and awards, but more importantly, they have developed a lasting love of singing and a deep appreciation for music.
Angela believes music is an essential part of life and strives to share her joy of it with everyone she works with. She currently teaches from her private studio in Red Deer.
Most recently, she was delighted to perform as Coco’s sister in the world premiere of It’s Coco!, a musical fusion opera by Cheryl Cooney and Anna Maria Kaufmann. She has also enjoyed serving as vocal director for high school musical productions such as Sister Act, Into the Woods, and Grease.
Mrs. Siemens is passionate about performing, adjudicating, and teaching. She loves exploring new ideas with her students and in her own singing, and she has a strong interest in the science of vocal pedagogy and its practical applications. Her students have received numerous scholarships and awards, but more importantly, they have developed a lasting love of singing and a deep appreciation for music.
Angela believes music is an essential part of life and strives to share her joy of it with everyone she works with. She currently teaches from her private studio in Red Deer.
Piano - LaDona Ahenda
LaDona Ahenda holds a B.Mus. from UBC and an ARCT Diploma in Piano Performance. She studied
the piano with Dale Jackson and Kum-Sing Lee and the pipe organ with John Searchfield. She was the
recipient of numerous scholarships and medals, including the Louise McKinney Scholarship and the
National Teachers’ Travel & Study Scholarship (Conservatory Canada, 2006).
LaDona moved back to Calgary after her studies in Vancouver and worked as an accompanist in the
Academy for Gifted Youth program at Mount Royal Conservatory. This gave her the opportunity to learn
from many world-class musicians in a masterclass setting. She also free-lanced as an accompanist for
other instrumentalists, choirs, and vocalists, while building a successful private studio as a piano teacher.
LaDona has served on the Executive of the Alberta Registered Music Teachers’ Association (Calgary),
and is active in the Alberta Piano Teachers’ Association and the Music Coterie in Calgary, which gives her
a chance to perform regularly. She is in demand as a teacher and adjudicator, and has experience as an
examiner, writer, and workshop presenter.
Her primary focus is her private studio in Calgary where she teaches all levels of piano to students of
all ages. Her students have won numerous awards and scholarships over the years for excellence in piano performance and theory exams. Some students have continued to pursue a career in music. Others end up pursuing other career options, but continue to enjoy a life-long appreciation of good music and the ability to express themselves by making music.
LaDona lives in Calgary with her husband. They enjoy being with their three adult children and their first grandchild. In their spare time they can be seen on the Calgary pathways with their binoculars, watching the birds.
the piano with Dale Jackson and Kum-Sing Lee and the pipe organ with John Searchfield. She was the
recipient of numerous scholarships and medals, including the Louise McKinney Scholarship and the
National Teachers’ Travel & Study Scholarship (Conservatory Canada, 2006).
LaDona moved back to Calgary after her studies in Vancouver and worked as an accompanist in the
Academy for Gifted Youth program at Mount Royal Conservatory. This gave her the opportunity to learn
from many world-class musicians in a masterclass setting. She also free-lanced as an accompanist for
other instrumentalists, choirs, and vocalists, while building a successful private studio as a piano teacher.
LaDona has served on the Executive of the Alberta Registered Music Teachers’ Association (Calgary),
and is active in the Alberta Piano Teachers’ Association and the Music Coterie in Calgary, which gives her
a chance to perform regularly. She is in demand as a teacher and adjudicator, and has experience as an
examiner, writer, and workshop presenter.
Her primary focus is her private studio in Calgary where she teaches all levels of piano to students of
all ages. Her students have won numerous awards and scholarships over the years for excellence in piano performance and theory exams. Some students have continued to pursue a career in music. Others end up pursuing other career options, but continue to enjoy a life-long appreciation of good music and the ability to express themselves by making music.
LaDona lives in Calgary with her husband. They enjoy being with their three adult children and their first grandchild. In their spare time they can be seen on the Calgary pathways with their binoculars, watching the birds.
Speech - Cheryl Abma
Cheryl Abma holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Alberta and is an alumnus
of the Speech Arts and Drama program at Mount Royal University’s Conservatory. She has
taught for homeschool programs, led workshops for volunteer organizations that support
vulnerable populations, and adjudicated for festivals throughout Alberta. Alongside teaching,
acting and improvising, her scripts have been produced for the New Works Festival and the
Collaborative Faculty Development Conference at the U of A. In 2016 she was awarded the
Frank Bueckert Prize for playwriting.
Returning as an instructor after her time spent in Edmonton, Cheryl now teaches a full roster of
private students and group classes at MRU’s Conservatory. As a speech and drama teacher, she
believes in fostering imagination, developing finesse, and celebrating success at every milestone.
of the Speech Arts and Drama program at Mount Royal University’s Conservatory. She has
taught for homeschool programs, led workshops for volunteer organizations that support
vulnerable populations, and adjudicated for festivals throughout Alberta. Alongside teaching,
acting and improvising, her scripts have been produced for the New Works Festival and the
Collaborative Faculty Development Conference at the U of A. In 2016 she was awarded the
Frank Bueckert Prize for playwriting.
Returning as an instructor after her time spent in Edmonton, Cheryl now teaches a full roster of
private students and group classes at MRU’s Conservatory. As a speech and drama teacher, she
believes in fostering imagination, developing finesse, and celebrating success at every milestone.
Band/Classroom Music - Rob Hutchinson
Rob Hutchinson MMus, BMusEd Rob began his musical education in Regina, Saskatchewan. He attended the University of Regina as a trumpet player in the Music Education program. Rob began his teaching career in 1998 soon after graduating. This is where he also began his formal studies on double bass, eventually playing with the Regina Symphony orchestra for two seasons before being accepted to the Guildhall School of Music and Drama in London,UK on the Master of Music Performance (Orchestral Training) Program. During Rob’s 12 years in London, he performed with a range of musicals in London’s West End as well as symphony and chamber orchestras in the UK and Spain.
Rob played Orchestral, Pop and Jazz recording sessions at Abbey Road and Angel Studios for film, and television. Clients included Origin Pictures, BBC films, BBC Television, Nike and various Canadian, American and European television networks.
In Calgary, Rob enjoys an active career as a teacher and band director at MidSun School with the Calgary Board of Education and bassist, playing with theatre productions, chamber musicians and Jazz groups.
Rob played Orchestral, Pop and Jazz recording sessions at Abbey Road and Angel Studios for film, and television. Clients included Origin Pictures, BBC films, BBC Television, Nike and various Canadian, American and European television networks.
In Calgary, Rob enjoys an active career as a teacher and band director at MidSun School with the Calgary Board of Education and bassist, playing with theatre productions, chamber musicians and Jazz groups.
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