Our 2024 Festival Adjudicators
Band & Instrumental - Wendy Freeman
Wendy J. Freeman received a Master of Music in Conducting Performance at the University of Calgary. She has a Doctor of Philosophy in Interdisciplinary Studies and is a three year recipient of the Joseph Armand Bombardier SSHRC Doctoral Canada Graduate Scholarship. Her motion capture technology conducting research in the FourMs (Music, Mind, Motion & Machines) laboratory at the University of Oslo, received support from the SSHRC Michael Smith Foreign Study Supplement. Currently, she is the music director at Westmount Charter School and is an adjunct professor for the Werklund School of Education. Maestro Freeman is an associate musical director of the Calgary Wind Symphony. Visit http://musicmindmotion.weebly.com<http://musicmindmotion.weebly.com/ to learn more about Dr. Freeman's research and teaching philosophy.
Junior Piano - Helve Sastok
Helve Sastok is a creative, innovative, published and performed composer, educator, adjudicator and multi-instrumentalist. Her many musical interests and abilities have resulted in a diverse career. Helve has used her varied skills in her positions as teacher, church music director, conductor, piano soloist and accompanist, pipe organist, violinist and guitarist. As a composition or a piano adjudicator, Helve is comfortable working with all levels of students. She has a positive and energetic adjudication style that draws in the participant as well as the audience. She is able to quickly solve musical problems and make all ages of students experience the joy of music. Helve has a Master of Music degree in composition and a Bachelor of Music degree (With Distinction) in composition/performance from the University of Alberta. As well, she has earned two piano performance diplomas. Her professional memberships include Associate Composer of the Canadian Music Centre as well as the Canadian Federation of Music Teachers’ Association, Alberta Registered Music Teachers’ Association and the Alberta Piano Teachers’ Association. Helve's compositions have been performed across Canada and in Europe. Her compositions have been released on CD: her electroacoustic piece ‘Shooting Stars’ on Beat (2019), a performance of her graphic score 'Southwest Soundscapes' on Agglomeration (2016), her electro-acoustic composition 'Sailing the High 'C'' on Cult Figures (Centrediscs/Centredisques - 2008), her piano solo ‘Elegy' on Glossa (1999), and 'Duologue' for cello and piano on Brief Confessions (1997). For further information, please visit her website at helvesastok.wixsite.com/home
Senior Piano - Linda Kundert
Linda Kundert holds a Master of Music in Piano Performance from the University of Calgary and a Bachelor of Music from the University of Southern California. She has an Associate Teacher’s Diploma from Mount Royal University and an ARCT Teacher’s Diploma from the Royal Conservatory of Music in Toronto (RCM). Her major teachers were: Willard Schultz, Charles Foreman, Priscilla King, Peter Turner, James Bonn, Adam Wibrowski, Donald Bell, Dr. Marienne Uszler and Dr. Jean Barr. Ms. Kundert is a successful independent studio teacher, RCM senior examiner, Frederick Harris editor & reviewer, festival adjudicator, collaborative artist, and she is a master class and workshop clinician. She is the Co-Founder and Creative Director of Cassa Musical Arts, which celebrated its 30th Anniversary in 2023. Ms. Kundert was honoured with the Alberta Registered Music Teachers’ Association (ARMTA) Recognition Award in 2006, was Chair of the Canadian Federation of Music Teachers’ Association (CFMTA) “Peak Performance” Conference and Celebration held in Calgary in 2005, and in 2011 was presented with the CFMTA Hugheen Ferguson Distinguished Teacher Award. Ms. Kundert was also honoured with the City of Calgary 2015 Community Achievement in the Arts Award, and was awarded Teacher of Distinction by the RCM in 2016. She is currently a piano instructor at Mount Royal University and teaches from her home studio in Okotoks, in-person and online. Her students continue to receive many awards and scholarships in both performance and composition. Ms. Kundert loves to teach; she has nurtured many students of all ages and levels. With her guidance, more than 40 students have achieved their ARCT and Licentiate diplomas. For fun, she enjoys riding her horses, Leo and Caity, and she plays competitive softball.
Voice, Choir, Classroom Music, Speech - Dave Mikuliak
Dave has 150 performing/directing/adjudicating credits spanning 50 years. An award-winning public educator, Dave is a retired Arts Educator who taught Music, Music Theatre and Drama in Lethbridge and area schools for three decades. Dave has an eclectic background in performance work - some highlights include, for NEW WEST THEATRE: Shakin’ All Over; Godspell (Jesus); Forever Plaid (Smudge); Beethoven Lives Upstairs; Puttin’ On The Ritz and most recently, Elf. Other highlights, for LETHBRIDGE MUSICAL THEATRE: Man of La Mancha (Don Quixote); Oliver (Fagan). For CENTRESTAGE PRODUCTIONS: Jesus Christ, Superstar (Pilate); Sweeney Todd (Anthony). For THEATREWORKS: Joseph, and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat (Joseph). For LETHBRIDGE SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA: Sweeney Todd (Sweeney); Les Miserables (Javert). Directorial Highlights include: 1996 Alberta Winter Games Opening Ceremonies, Les Miserables, Newsies. Also, Compact Disc album releases of Sing To The Child (2007); My Favourite Christmas Song (2010) with Classical Guitarist, Sheldon Arvay. Dave currently works (super part time) as an adjunct professor in the Faculty of Education at the University of Lethbridge and picks up many and varied performing/workshopping/adjudicating contracts as they appear! He would truly tell you that he is an incredibly fortunate human being. Dave encourages the people he gets to work with to work on three fundamentals: 1) Know their “why”; 2) Take responsibility for their creative process and reflect on it constantly; and to 3) Aim For Growth!
This is our work, to discover what we can give. Isn’t this the purpose of education, to learn the nature of your own gifts and how to use them for good in the world? (Robin Wall Kimmerer - from Braiding Sweetgrass)
Musical Theatre - Deborah Buck
Saskatoon’s Deborah Buck (she/her) is thrilled to be invited to adjudicate Music Theatre at the Strathmore Performing Arts Festival—an opportunity to join with your community to celebrate and encourage aspiring performers, wherever you may be on your artistic path. Deborah’s credits for music direction include Mary Poppins, Elf, Urinetown, Buddy! The Buddy Holly Story, Little Women, and Beauty and the Beast and many other productions for Persephone Theatre; Assassins, Into the Woods, Cabaret (University of Saskatchewan Department of Drama); The Haunted Man, A Christmas Carol (Dancing Sky Theatre); Just So, Cinderella (Globe Theatre); The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, Billy Bishop Goes to War (Souris Valley Theatre); Jasper Station, Anne of Green Gables (Station Arts Centre); Tent Meeting, The Sound of Music (Rosebud Theatre) and numerous independent shows. She is the recipient of Saskatoon and Area Theatre Awards (SATA’s) and nominations for music direction and acting, including the award for Outstanding Contribution to Theatre. Deborah conducts the Saskatoon Men’s Chorus and her parish choir, teaches voice privately, and is collaborative pianist for University of Saskatchewan Greystone Singers, University Chorus, and many soloists. As an alto in the Juno-nominated Canadian Chamber Choir she has performed and participated in educational workshops in every Canadian province (and Northwest Territories). She adjudicates for the Saskatchewan Music Festival Association and the Federation of Canadian Music Festivals.
Strings - John Thompson
After forty three seasons as Principal viola of the CPO John retired in 2014 having enjoyed a fulfilling career in the musical life of Calgary. In addition to his orchestral responsibilities, he was a featured soloist with the orchestra on many occasions, participated in numerous chamber music ensembles, both locally and internationally, while actively pursuing educational activities with students and youth orchestras. In addition to his musical in the CPO he was Chair of the Orchestra Committee for several years, the CPO’s representative to the Organization of Canadian Symphony Musicians for many years and fulfilled the roll of Treasurer on its executive board for five years. As an instructor at the Mount Royal University Conservatory he taught viola, coordinated the Academy program’s Chamber Music, and conducted various ensembles, including the Calgary Youth Orchestra and the Conservatory Strings. He has adjudicated across the country at local, provincial and national levels and is frequently asked to sit as a jury member for competitions. He has been recognized for his services to music in Alberta with an Alberta Achievement Award from the Province and a Distinguished Faculty Award from Mount Royal College.Though he would like to spend more time bird watching, he still enjoys playing with various ensembles when asked.
Wendy J. Freeman received a Master of Music in Conducting Performance at the University of Calgary. She has a Doctor of Philosophy in Interdisciplinary Studies and is a three year recipient of the Joseph Armand Bombardier SSHRC Doctoral Canada Graduate Scholarship. Her motion capture technology conducting research in the FourMs (Music, Mind, Motion & Machines) laboratory at the University of Oslo, received support from the SSHRC Michael Smith Foreign Study Supplement. Currently, she is the music director at Westmount Charter School and is an adjunct professor for the Werklund School of Education. Maestro Freeman is an associate musical director of the Calgary Wind Symphony. Visit http://musicmindmotion.weebly.com<http://musicmindmotion.weebly.com/ to learn more about Dr. Freeman's research and teaching philosophy.
Junior Piano - Helve Sastok
Helve Sastok is a creative, innovative, published and performed composer, educator, adjudicator and multi-instrumentalist. Her many musical interests and abilities have resulted in a diverse career. Helve has used her varied skills in her positions as teacher, church music director, conductor, piano soloist and accompanist, pipe organist, violinist and guitarist. As a composition or a piano adjudicator, Helve is comfortable working with all levels of students. She has a positive and energetic adjudication style that draws in the participant as well as the audience. She is able to quickly solve musical problems and make all ages of students experience the joy of music. Helve has a Master of Music degree in composition and a Bachelor of Music degree (With Distinction) in composition/performance from the University of Alberta. As well, she has earned two piano performance diplomas. Her professional memberships include Associate Composer of the Canadian Music Centre as well as the Canadian Federation of Music Teachers’ Association, Alberta Registered Music Teachers’ Association and the Alberta Piano Teachers’ Association. Helve's compositions have been performed across Canada and in Europe. Her compositions have been released on CD: her electroacoustic piece ‘Shooting Stars’ on Beat (2019), a performance of her graphic score 'Southwest Soundscapes' on Agglomeration (2016), her electro-acoustic composition 'Sailing the High 'C'' on Cult Figures (Centrediscs/Centredisques - 2008), her piano solo ‘Elegy' on Glossa (1999), and 'Duologue' for cello and piano on Brief Confessions (1997). For further information, please visit her website at helvesastok.wixsite.com/home
Senior Piano - Linda Kundert
Linda Kundert holds a Master of Music in Piano Performance from the University of Calgary and a Bachelor of Music from the University of Southern California. She has an Associate Teacher’s Diploma from Mount Royal University and an ARCT Teacher’s Diploma from the Royal Conservatory of Music in Toronto (RCM). Her major teachers were: Willard Schultz, Charles Foreman, Priscilla King, Peter Turner, James Bonn, Adam Wibrowski, Donald Bell, Dr. Marienne Uszler and Dr. Jean Barr. Ms. Kundert is a successful independent studio teacher, RCM senior examiner, Frederick Harris editor & reviewer, festival adjudicator, collaborative artist, and she is a master class and workshop clinician. She is the Co-Founder and Creative Director of Cassa Musical Arts, which celebrated its 30th Anniversary in 2023. Ms. Kundert was honoured with the Alberta Registered Music Teachers’ Association (ARMTA) Recognition Award in 2006, was Chair of the Canadian Federation of Music Teachers’ Association (CFMTA) “Peak Performance” Conference and Celebration held in Calgary in 2005, and in 2011 was presented with the CFMTA Hugheen Ferguson Distinguished Teacher Award. Ms. Kundert was also honoured with the City of Calgary 2015 Community Achievement in the Arts Award, and was awarded Teacher of Distinction by the RCM in 2016. She is currently a piano instructor at Mount Royal University and teaches from her home studio in Okotoks, in-person and online. Her students continue to receive many awards and scholarships in both performance and composition. Ms. Kundert loves to teach; she has nurtured many students of all ages and levels. With her guidance, more than 40 students have achieved their ARCT and Licentiate diplomas. For fun, she enjoys riding her horses, Leo and Caity, and she plays competitive softball.
Voice, Choir, Classroom Music, Speech - Dave Mikuliak
Dave has 150 performing/directing/adjudicating credits spanning 50 years. An award-winning public educator, Dave is a retired Arts Educator who taught Music, Music Theatre and Drama in Lethbridge and area schools for three decades. Dave has an eclectic background in performance work - some highlights include, for NEW WEST THEATRE: Shakin’ All Over; Godspell (Jesus); Forever Plaid (Smudge); Beethoven Lives Upstairs; Puttin’ On The Ritz and most recently, Elf. Other highlights, for LETHBRIDGE MUSICAL THEATRE: Man of La Mancha (Don Quixote); Oliver (Fagan). For CENTRESTAGE PRODUCTIONS: Jesus Christ, Superstar (Pilate); Sweeney Todd (Anthony). For THEATREWORKS: Joseph, and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat (Joseph). For LETHBRIDGE SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA: Sweeney Todd (Sweeney); Les Miserables (Javert). Directorial Highlights include: 1996 Alberta Winter Games Opening Ceremonies, Les Miserables, Newsies. Also, Compact Disc album releases of Sing To The Child (2007); My Favourite Christmas Song (2010) with Classical Guitarist, Sheldon Arvay. Dave currently works (super part time) as an adjunct professor in the Faculty of Education at the University of Lethbridge and picks up many and varied performing/workshopping/adjudicating contracts as they appear! He would truly tell you that he is an incredibly fortunate human being. Dave encourages the people he gets to work with to work on three fundamentals: 1) Know their “why”; 2) Take responsibility for their creative process and reflect on it constantly; and to 3) Aim For Growth!
This is our work, to discover what we can give. Isn’t this the purpose of education, to learn the nature of your own gifts and how to use them for good in the world? (Robin Wall Kimmerer - from Braiding Sweetgrass)
Musical Theatre - Deborah Buck
Saskatoon’s Deborah Buck (she/her) is thrilled to be invited to adjudicate Music Theatre at the Strathmore Performing Arts Festival—an opportunity to join with your community to celebrate and encourage aspiring performers, wherever you may be on your artistic path. Deborah’s credits for music direction include Mary Poppins, Elf, Urinetown, Buddy! The Buddy Holly Story, Little Women, and Beauty and the Beast and many other productions for Persephone Theatre; Assassins, Into the Woods, Cabaret (University of Saskatchewan Department of Drama); The Haunted Man, A Christmas Carol (Dancing Sky Theatre); Just So, Cinderella (Globe Theatre); The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, Billy Bishop Goes to War (Souris Valley Theatre); Jasper Station, Anne of Green Gables (Station Arts Centre); Tent Meeting, The Sound of Music (Rosebud Theatre) and numerous independent shows. She is the recipient of Saskatoon and Area Theatre Awards (SATA’s) and nominations for music direction and acting, including the award for Outstanding Contribution to Theatre. Deborah conducts the Saskatoon Men’s Chorus and her parish choir, teaches voice privately, and is collaborative pianist for University of Saskatchewan Greystone Singers, University Chorus, and many soloists. As an alto in the Juno-nominated Canadian Chamber Choir she has performed and participated in educational workshops in every Canadian province (and Northwest Territories). She adjudicates for the Saskatchewan Music Festival Association and the Federation of Canadian Music Festivals.
Strings - John Thompson
After forty three seasons as Principal viola of the CPO John retired in 2014 having enjoyed a fulfilling career in the musical life of Calgary. In addition to his orchestral responsibilities, he was a featured soloist with the orchestra on many occasions, participated in numerous chamber music ensembles, both locally and internationally, while actively pursuing educational activities with students and youth orchestras. In addition to his musical in the CPO he was Chair of the Orchestra Committee for several years, the CPO’s representative to the Organization of Canadian Symphony Musicians for many years and fulfilled the roll of Treasurer on its executive board for five years. As an instructor at the Mount Royal University Conservatory he taught viola, coordinated the Academy program’s Chamber Music, and conducted various ensembles, including the Calgary Youth Orchestra and the Conservatory Strings. He has adjudicated across the country at local, provincial and national levels and is frequently asked to sit as a jury member for competitions. He has been recognized for his services to music in Alberta with an Alberta Achievement Award from the Province and a Distinguished Faculty Award from Mount Royal College.Though he would like to spend more time bird watching, he still enjoys playing with various ensembles when asked.
