Speech

Adjudicator: Anita Liu

Anita began her Speech Arts and Drama studies at the Mount Royal University Conservatory at the age of seven.  She completed her Speech and Drama Performer’s ARCT through the Royal Conservatory of Music in 1999 and went on to receive her Bachelor of Arts in Linguistics.  Her love of learning and for teaching children spurred her to continue her studies.  In 2005, she received her Bachelor of Education, specializing in Elementary Education.  Anita has been a part of the Speech Arts and Drama faculty at Mount Royal University Conservatory since 2007.  Anita has been a regular adjudicator for many festivals.

Anita enjoys spending time with her husband and two children, often watching soccer and ice hockey practices.  She has recently learned to use the pottery wheel, which means making many new teacups for enjoying tea.

Piano

Adjudicator: Joseph fridman

Joseph Fridman has earned two Master’s Degrees – as a pianist and opera director – both from the world-renowned St. Petersburg State Conservatory (Russia). Prior to this he received a bachelor from the Kyiv (Ukraine) Music College.

Joseph is a concert pianist, teacher, vocal coach, Opera director and accompanist. He performs in solo and chamber recitals and has been broadcast frequently on CBC Radio.

Joseph taught at the Schools for Musically Gifted Children ofSt. Petersburg and Kiev and the Pskov Music College, and performed with the St. Petersburg and Pskov Philharmonic Orchestras.

Mr. Fridman served on the faculty of the Alberta College Conservatory of Music and the University of Alberta. He also worked as a repetiteur and diction coach at the Edmonton Opera and Opera Nuova. He and his wife Tanya were producers, performers, and stage directors for "Musical Encounters", a series of concerts for children combining instrumental and vocal music, theatre, puppetry and paintings.

Joseph lectures and gives masterclasses and workshops throughout Canada, Ukraine, Russia and the USA. He has taught at various summer schools such as: “Strings and Keys” (Bergen), Alberta College International Music Academy (Edmonton), “Vivo!” (Edmonton) and was a clinician at the CASSA (Calgary) Summer School. He has adjudicated a number of festivals and competitions, including the prestigious Canadian Music Competition (CMC) and Seattle Young Artists Music Festival (SYAMFA). Mr. Fridman currently teaches at the Alberta Music Academy, which he and his wife Tanya founded in 2002.

Joseph's piano students have received first class honors and medals in RCM and Conservatory Canada Exams, first and second prizes in the Kiwanis Festival, Fall Festival and Northern Alberta Concerto Competition. Many of his students have continued their studies at prestigious institutions such as McGill University, University of Toronto and Juilliard School.

Vocal

Adjudicator: Kathleen Morrison

Kathleen Morrison is an internationally acclaimed operatic soprano, praised as “riveting” by Opera Canada. She is the Founder and Artistic and Executive Director of Alberta Vocal Arts Association, a nonprofit dedicated to promoting and preserving the classical vocal arts through opera for the people, bringing high-quality vocal performance to new audiences through accessible, educational, and community-driven programming.

A 2025 nominee for Best Live Performer at the YYC Music Awards and a finalist in the RBC Concerto Competition, Kathleen is currently pursuing her Master of Music at the University of Calgary. Her work combines performance with research focused on trauma-informed vocal pedagogy and examines how embodied practice and storytelling can expand access and sustainability in classical singing.

Alongside her performance career, Kathleen serves as Director of Solo Voice Studies at the Renert School and is the owner of Voice by Kathleen, an award-winning vocal studio recognized for cultivating healthy, sustainable technique across multiple genres. She is also an in-demand adjudicator, clinician, and presenter.

Born and raised in Calgary, Kathleen enjoys time with her Samoyeds, Alfie and Rosie. She is a Certified Trick Dog Instructor, a 2022 All-Star Trainer of the Year, and Vice-President of the Samoyed Association of Canada.

instrumental/band

Adjudicator: don robb

Junior and senior concert and jazz bands were Don’s primary focus during his teaching career.  His teaching career began in Moosomin, SK in 1976.  He moved to southern Alberta and taught in various schools. From 1989 - 2010, he was the band teacher at Catholic Central High School in Lethbridge, was heavily involved in the school’s musical theatre productions, and help found the Music Academy program.

In his 35 years of teaching, Don taught several subjects other than music.  These include Grade 10 English, Junior High Science and Math, Information Processing (computer basics), Knowledge and Employability Social Studies (a special education class). From 1998 - 2007 Don conducted the award-winning Lethbridge Community Gold Band.

Other aspects of his career include directing the University of Lethbridge Jazz Ensemble (11 years), and teaching Jazz History, Popular Music History, and Jazz Improvisation.  Don also did Field Supervision for the Faculty of Education on several occasions.

Don is busy as a trumpet player with the Bridge Brass Quintet, the Lethbridge Big Band, Hippodrome, Standard Time Jazz Combo, the Lethbridge Symphony, and many musical theatre productions.

Don is a founding board member and past - president of the Lethbridge Jazz Society. He has also served on the board of the Alberta Band Association (ABA) for several years and was President of the ABA for 2 years.

Don is a graduate of the University of Regina (B. MusEd 1976).