ADJUDICATORS 2025

Patsy Andrews-Vert, originally from Souris, MB, received a Bachelor of Music Education from Brandon University (Brandon MB). She also holds an Associate in Flute Performance from the Western Board of Music. Patsy has taught students of all instrumental music levels in both Saskatchewan and Manitoba and continues to maintain a small private studio. She is an active clinician, adjudicator and conductor in handbells, band, and speech arts. Patsy is the Past-Chair of the Handbell Musicians of Canada, and President of the Manitoba Guild of English Handbell Ringers. Patsy retired from teaching in 2016 but continues to stay active in the education system. Patsy is the coordinator of the Meridian Arts Festival in Starbuck, MB. She has conducted and adjudicated handbells across Western Canada. She has presented the Canadian Folk Songs workshop in Cairns, Australia 2018, Nashville, Tennessee 2022, and Hamamatsu, Japan 2024 at the International Handbell Symposium and has been the Canadian Representative during those events as well. Patsy believes that music and the arts are lifelong skills, and she tries to exemplify that in her life, in her community and beyond. In her spare time, Patsy enjoys conducting the Trinity Lutheran Church Choir and Handbell Choir as well as playing in Ring Out! Handbell quartet based in Winnipeg MB. She plays trombone and piccolo in the Westwood Community Band in Winnipeg and is a regular community volunteer.

Maureen Baird (Piano, Woodwinds and Band) is a private piano, theory and woodwinds teacher living in Melita MB. Following her first job teaching elementary music and band in Deloraine MB, Maureen pursued her master’s degree in music education at the University of Northern Colorado. Subsequently, she taught band in Winnipeg’s Assiniboine South School Division followed by a return to Melita in SW MB. Maureen and her husband Bill Bambridge raised three children while Maureen continued to teach private piano, theory and voice as well aspublic school music and band. Although now retired from school music, Maureen teaches privately from her home and one day a week at Brandon University’s Eckhardt Gramatté Conservatory. Maureen’s private students have competed in several SW Manitoba festivals and her school groups at the Brandon Jazz Festival, Brandon Level 1 Band Festival, Winnipeg Concert Band Festival and Edmonton Cantando Band Festival. Maureen plays saxophone with the Mark Humphries Big Band, is a member of the Brandon Conservatory Bel Canto Chorale and plays piano for her local church. Ms. Baird has been a member of the RCM Board of Examiners since 2009 and continues to exam piano for the RCM across the country and online. She is past president of the Manitoba Registered Music Teachers’ Association and Secretary of the Brandon and SW Branch. When not coaching students, Maureen is happily spending time with her family.

Alex Conway joined the WSO playing second flute and piccolo in September 2018. Previously she played third flute and piccolo with the Bangor (Maine) Symphony Orchestra. While studying in Boston, she has also had the pleasure of playing as a substitute with the Boston Pops and Pops Esplanade Orchestras and Boston Lyric Opera, as well as the Atlantic Symphony, Cape Cod Symphony, East Coast Scoring, Tanglewood Music Center, Orlando Symphony, and Chicago Civic Orchestra among others. She was selected as a finalist in the 33rd and 34th annual James Pappoutsakis Flute Competition, winning the Bill Grass Memorial Prize in 2014. Alex has participated in many music festivals, including Aspen, Kent/Blossom, Bowdoin, Domaine Forget, and the International Festival in Nice, France. As Co-Founder and Executive Director of New England Chamber Players, she dedicated herself to bringing classical chamber music into New England communities and fostering an appreciation for classical chamber music for over ten years. She has been honoured to study with such esteemed performers and pedagogues as Michel Debost, Kathleen Chastain, Martha Aarons, Elizabeth Ostling, Cindy Meyers, and Linda Toote. As a dedicated teacher, she works with students from the beginning level through college and beyond and is currently building a studio in Winnipeg. Alex is privileged to lead a local flute ensemble entitled Sweet Silver Winds. Dr. Conway completed her masters and Doctor of Musical Arts degrees at Boston University, where she held the graduate assistantship for woodwind chamber music. Her undergraduate study was at Oberlin Conservatory.

Winnipeg-based Heitha Forsyth is the Executive Director of the Manitoba Conservatory of Music & Arts, a certified Music Therapist, educator and professional vocalist. At home in multiple contemporary styles including jazz, soul, blues, country and folk, Heitha has used the last decade to perform, tour, support other artists, teach, and release recordings of her own original music (under the moniker 'Sol James'). A firm believer in the power of music and singing as a tool for wellness and self-expression, Heitha works to uplift and empower her community through her work.

As an Assistant Professor of Music at Brandon University, Sarah Hall teaches voice, diction, chamber music, vocal pedagogy, and performance and analysis. She is an original member of Winnipeg’s Polycoro, a chamber ensemble comprised of 8+ adventuresome vocalists dedicated to performing seldom heard contemporary works and rediscovered early music in unique venues. Sarah has been privileged to work with many distinguished musicians throughout her career, including Julianne Baird, Paolo Carignani, John Harbison, Ellen Hargis, David Hoose, Gian Carlo Menotti, Stephen Mercurio, Meredith Monk, Donald Nally, Paul O’Dette, Alice Parker, Daniel Pinkham, and Jean-Yves Thibeaudet, to name a few. An active researcher, Sarah’s interests include performance-analysis explorations in post-tonal French music, as well as ongoing work on the impact of yoga, mindfulness, and meditation on vocal wellness. She is a Registered YogaVoice® Teacher and a member of the National Association of Teachers of Singing, the Canadian Network for Musicians’ Health and Wellness, Choral Canada, and Music Theory Midwest. Sarah holds master’s Degrees in Vocal Pedagogy and Musicology from the New England Conservatory of Music (Boston).

As a young boy growing up in rural Kansas, Loren Hiebert already felt a close connection to music. The folks in church always sang in four-part harmony, and there was southern gospel music on the record player. A significant part of Loren's musical development was his uncle and piano teacher, Glenn Loewen. Since 1980, Loren has been sharing that rich musical relationship with 60-70 piano students a year. Drawing on his active professional life as a performer, recording artist, collaborator, and adjudicator, he has been eager to bring his students into that world of vibrant creative experience. In addition to a university music degree, he holds RCM diplomas in performance and teaching. For ten years he served on the piano faculty at the International Music Camp. In 2012 Loren received the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee medal for his work with youth choirs, music within the community, and private music instruction. In 2018 he was recognized as a Teacher of Distinction by the Royal Conservatory of Music. Loren and his wife Lori live in Altona

Dr. Madeline Hildebrand is a versatile pianist, soloist, and collaborator across Canada and the US. She has appeared in concert with Philip Glass (Winnipeg New Music Festival), the Kronos Quartet (Mass MoCA), with Yarn/Wire (DiMenna Center, New York), and as a soloist for the Music Toronto series. Whether cooperating with a singer or a sine wave, Madeline’s collaborative virtuosity leads much of her work. Recent highlights include cross Canada tours with her duo partner, oboist Caitlin Broms-Jacobs. Their debut album has been met with critical acclaim topping Spotify and Apple Music’s classical lists. Recent concert highlights include Winnipeg’s Cluster Festival, Vancouver’s Music on Main, and performances with Trio Joya in the Netherlands, Ireland, Armenia, and Georgia. Maddy is a vigorous advocate for bringing classical music to rural communities and homes as evidenced by her solo tours with Home Routes, GroupMuse (NYC), and Living Room Live. Madeline founded the Young Artists Program for Winnipeg’s Virtuosi Concert Series, where she served on the board for seven years. As an educator, Madeline as taught at Brandon University, Canadian Mennonite University, the University of Manitoba, and Stony Brook University. She has appeared at Music at Port Milford (Ontario), Rosamunde Festival (Manitoba), and as an adjudicator and master class clinician across Canada. Madeline Hildebrand recently completed her Doctor of Musical Arts in Piano Performance at Stony Brook University, NY. Madeline is grateful for the support of the Winnipeg and Manitoba Arts Councils.

Two-time Juno nominee and Dora Mavor Moore winner, Miriam Khalil has established herself as one of Canada’s most versatile and expressive performers. She has become increasingly known for her nontraditional performances of opera, art song and concert repertoire. Miriam has sung on numerous opera stages across North America, South America and the UK, including several seasons at the renowned Glyndebourne Festival Opera in the United Kingdom. She has sung leading roles at companies across Canada and the United States; acclaimed for her interpretations of Mimì in La bohème; Elvira in Don Giovanni; Susanna in Le Nozze di Figaro; Mélisande in Pelléas et Mélisande; the Governess in The Turn of the Screw; Cleopatra in Giulio Cesare; and the title role in Handel’s Alcina. She is a proud co-founder of the Dora Mavor Moore Award-winning opera company Against the Grain Theatre (AtG). With AtG, she produced and was nominated for a Juno Award for Classical Album of the Year for her debut album Ayre: Live, a song cycle by Argentinian composer Osvaldo Golijov. With this song cycle, she made her South American debut, and premiered Ayre in Buenos Aires at the Kirchner Cultural Centre. She has sung Ayre to critical acclaim across Canada, opened the prestigious Rockport Music Festival in the USA, and the 21c Music Festival at Toronto’s acclaimed Koerner Hall, making this Song Cycle her signature piece. She was also a soloist in the groundbreaking and award-winning film Messiah/Complex, an internationally acclaimed AtG/Toronto Symphony Orchestra realization of Handel’s Messiah captured against iconic Canadian landscapes. With AtG, she made her directorial film debut with Gustav Holst’s opera Sāvitri, a film that was nominated in the Artistic Creation category in Opera America’s digital excellence in opera awards. Miriam is a graduate of the prestigious Canadian Opera Company Ensemble Studio, the Steans Institute for Young Artists (Ravinia) and the Britten-Pears Young Artist Programme in the UK. She is also an Alumni of The Glenn Gould School of the Royal Conservatory of Music and The University of Ottawa. She also teaches voice at the University of Alberta and is excited to be working with the next generation of artistic voices.

Paul Madryga holds a Master's degree in Guitar Performance from the Queensland Conservatorium; in 2012, he became the first teacher in Canada to complete all levels of Suzuki Guitar teacher-training. He strives to help every child in his studio fulfil their potential of being the best guitarist and noblest person possible. Paul's work at Brandon University includes one-on-one teaching in the Suzuki and traditional environments, Suzuki Guitar group class instruction, the Eckhardt-Gramatté Conservatory of Music - Guitar Ensemble Program, and professorial duties as Applied Instructor for Classical Guitar at the BU School of Music. He has two CD's and several self-published works to his credit.

Debbie Maslowsky is honoured to be part of the 2025 WMF, having been overwhelmed by the talent and commitment she witnessed adjudicating musical theatre/GS virtually in 2022. Having worked for Associated Manitoba Arts Festivals over 40 years ago, adjacent to the WMF office, Debbie would never have imagined she’d be adjudicating at this revered celebration of music. A theatre graduate of the University of Winnipeg, Debbie is no stranger to local audiences, especially within the musical theatre realm. Her career kicked off with over 40 shows at the Hollow Mug Dinner Theatre. Since then, she has been inducted into the Rainbow Stage Wall of Fame having performed in 17 shows with them and has been featured in productions with: Royal MTC, Theatre Calgary, Manitoba Theatre for Young People, Winnipeg Jewish Theatre, Dry Cold Productions, and Pizza Party Productions. She co-developed/wrote/ hosted three musical pilots for CTV and has been featured on several recordings, commercial spots, and other made-for-television productions. She has managed/ produced over 100 special events and stage productions and has shared her time and talents as a musical theatre teacher and coach. Debbie sends a HUGE thank you to voice teacher Marjorie Koop, who was ahead of her time in providing classical vocal training while coaching and encouraging Debbie’s musical theatre career. Lastly, thank you to the Winnipeg Music Festival and volunteers for all you do and to all the students and teachers for your hard work and commitment…. Please remember to find joy in the experience. Let your joy be in your journey - not in some distant goal. - Tim Cook

Nancy Nowosad received her musical training in Saskatchewan, obtaining a Bachelor of Music in Piano Performance from the University of Regina and an Associateship Diploma in Piano Performance from the Royal Conservatory of Music. She also studied both saxophone and flute and has been involved in a wide variety of bands and ensembles as a performer, clinician, and conductor. She has enjoyed a diverse musical career, combining private teaching with performing, accompanying, adjudicating, and various organist and choir director positions across Canada and while living in Germany and England. Nancy continues to teach piano, theory and saxophone in her home studio in Winnipeg, both in person and online. She also adjudicates music festivals and competitions in MB, SK, and ON, conducts workshops and masterclasses, and examines extensively for the Royal Conservatory of Music, all either in person or remotely. A versatile performer with many musical interests, she continues to do some accompanying and church organ work as well as play jazz keyboard in the 17-piece Executive Big Band. Nancy has been one of AMAF’s Adjudicator Training Program facilitators for many years, sharing her knowledge and experience with numerous fellow musicians who have gone on to become active and successful adjudicators. She is a member of the Canadian Music Festival Adjudicators' Association and the Manitoba Registered Music Teachers’ Association and served on the Winnipeg Music Festival Board of Directors for many years, including four years as president.

Winnipeg Soprano, Judith Oatway, has a passion for singing displayed in her commitment to performance and vocal education. Her performances have been described as '...polished and dramatic…' Opera Composer Blog. Judith serves as a sessional instructor at the Canadian Mennonite University and University of Manitoba Desautels Faculty of Music teaching voice and vocal pedagogy.  Judith co-founded the Summer Music Academy at the Community School of Music & the Arts at CMU, a summer program for young singers in Winnipeg.  She has served on the boards of the Associated Manitoba Arts Festivals and the MB Chapter of the National Association of Teachers of Singing. Judith holds a master’s degree in literature and music performance from the University of Western Ontario. Recent performance highlights include a Manitoba tour of the music of John Greer and La Ciesca (Gianni Schicchi).  Past performances include Zwei Dame (Die Zauberflöte, Magda Sorel (The Consul), Mother (Hansel & Gretel), Anne Maurrant (Street Scene) and Donna Elvira (Don Giovanni). She has performed with Manitoba Underground Opera, The Little Opera Company, Kitchener Opera, Halifax Summer Opera, among others. As a co-founder and Artistic Director of Flipside Opera & Art Song Collective, an independent vocal music organization, Judith believes the future of vocal arts is alive and well in Manitoba.

Vic Pankratz's love of singing, conducting and teaching led to a long career at Westgate Mennonite Collegiate, and on stages and concert halls across western Canada. Vic was artistic co-director of the Winnipeg Singers for five seasons and artistic director of Prairie Voices for five seasons. He has on numerous occasions conducted the Westman, Eastman and Central Manitoba Youth Choirs, the Manitoba Provincial Senior Honour Choir and the Louis Riel Senior Divisional Choir. He currently works with Dead of Winter as a member of the artistic team, leading and directing the WinterSing concert. In the fall of 2024, he received the Manitoba Choral Association’s Award of Distinction - Award for Artistic Excellence. Besides a life filled with music making, Vic enjoys riding his bike year-round and hanging out with his grandchildren, family, and friends.

Michael van der Sloot began his musical journey studying violin and viola under his brother William at Medicine Hat College. He earned his Bachelor and Master of Music degrees from the University of British Columbia, mentored by Gerald Stanick and other notable musicians like Martha Katz and Karen Tuttle. He furthered his studies in Austria at the Mozarteum in Salzburg with Thomas Riebl, supported by the Johann Strauss Foundation Scholarship. His career includes victories in solo and chamber competitions, touring across Western Canada as a soloist and chamber musician. He played in orchestras in Western Canada and Europe, including performances with the Salzburg Chamber Soloists at prestigious venues like Theatre Rue Champs Ellysee in Paris and Musikverein in Vienna. Alongside his performing career, van der Sloot is devoted to teaching. He served as Academy Director at Medicine Hat College and Artistic Director at the Victoria Conservatory of Music, where his students excelled in national and international competitions. He has taught and adjudicated across Canada, the US, Italy, and China, fostering talent in summer camps and festivals. Currently, he holds the position of Associate Professor of viola, violin, and chamber music at the University of Ottawa, also serving as Director of Performance and Chamber Music Coordinator. Many of his former students have gone on to excel in music schools, symphonies, and chamber groups across North America.