Adjudicator Biographies
Please find the biographies for the 2026 Provost Music Festival Below.
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.
Strings
Adjudicator: christine williams
Based in Calgary, Alberta, Christine Williams is a passionate cellist and dedicated teacher who loves helping students discover both confidence and joy in their music-making. She holds a Bachelor of Music in Cello Performance from the University of Victoria, where she studied with Pam Highbaugh Aloni of the Lafayette String Quartet. Her university training, combined with decades of hands-on teaching experience, shapes her practical, encouraging approach to working with young musicians.
A fully trained Suzuki educator (Levels 1–10), she studied Suzuki pedagogy under Carey Cheney, deepening her understanding of child development, technical sequencing, and positive learning environments. She further expanded her pedagogical training at the National Cello Institute, where she attended as a teacher observer, spending significant time in the studios of Phyllis Young and Rick Mooney, publisher of the Position Pieces technique series. These experiences continue to inform her thoughtful and structured approach to developing strong, healthy technique.
She teaches cello from beginner through advanced levels, as well as beginner piano. In 2002, she founded the Lydian Studio of Music following a two-year teaching contract with STES in Calgary. She also serves on the board and faculty of the Calgary Music Academy. Her community work has included Calgary’s El Sistema afterschool program, guest clinics with the Calgary Board of Education, and collaborations with Wild Rose Strings in Okotoks.
As a performer, she has freelanced with L’istesso group and the John Cameron Orchestra. She is also the creator of two online cello education platforms — The Cello Girl (www.thecellogirl.com) and I Luv Cello (www.iluvcello.com) — both fully developed and operated by her.
She is delighted to be adjudicating in Northern Alberta and looks forward to celebrating the hard work, courage, and musical growth of each performer.
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).