Adjudicators
T
SENIOR PIANO
Mary Jo Carrabré, B Mus, M Mus
Mary Jo Carrabré is known for her quiet demeanor and dedication to work as a musician, performer, teacher and administrator. As an educator, Ms Carrabré has a distinct approach in her teaching style that is both engaging and empowering.
As the Brandon Centre Representative for the Royal Conservatory of Music Examinations, Mary Jo has become a recognizable and calming influence for the young exam candidates. She is also sought after as an adjudicator at music festivals throughout Canada, most recently for the Tiger Hills and Carberry Festivals. These roles bring Mary Jo into contact with thousands of young musicians each year. “Music can play a vital role in how they mature and develop.”
Mary Jo is in her 13th year as the Director of the Eckhardt-Gramatté Conservatory of Music at Brandon University. “I feel very privileged to serve in this position and I’m thankful to my colleagues for their encouragement and expertise. We are all proud of the quality of music instruction we provide”.
Mary Jo holds a Bachelor of Music degree from the University of Manitoba where she studied with the late Marek Jablonski and a Master of Music degree from the University of Western Ontario.
Mary Jo is also active on a number of boards, including the Eckhardt-Gramatté National Music Competition. “This great organization brings our young Canadian artists to the national stage.”
Ms Carrabré enjoys her active musical life, loves entertaining her friends and colleagues and looks forward to meeting new challenges that lie ahead.
MUSICAL THEATRE
Arline Collins, ARCT Voice Performance, B Mus
I am a retired Schoolteacher, Music Specialist(Orff), performer and choral conductor. I teach Voice, Piano, Accordion and Theory privately. As well as my Bachelor of Music degree at the University of British Columbia, I have studied Accordion at the Toronto University Summer Music Program, Voice/Opera at the Banff School of Fine Arts, Victoria Royal Conservatory, Courtenay Youth Music Camp, Shawnigan School of Music and Edmonds Jazz Camp.
I achieved my ARCT during my years of Public School teaching which began in 1974 and continue to this day (as I sometimes substitute for the Evergreen School District). I have taught Music Education for the University of Victoria at the College of the Rockies.
I have been a member of the Vancouver Opera Chorus and have had lead roles in opera, operetta, music theatre and in plays, some of which are listed here; as: Elizir d’amore, Abracadabra, Pirates of Penzance, My Fair Lady, A little Night Music, Sound of Music, Desert Song, Ten Little Indians, Table Manners , and Crimes of the Heart.
As a choral conductor, I have produced school productions, conducted choirs on the Sunshine Coast in B.C. as well as in Kimberley, B.C. and in the Lutheran Church in Cranbrook, B.C., where I served as Music Director and organist. In this area, known as the Kootenays, I was the street musician every summer in Kimberley for nine years playing Accordion and singing for the tourists. I still perform at community events from time to time and love teaching privately.
I am presently President of the Evergreen Festival of the Arts and sometimes write music summaries for the Manitoba Music Teachers Association’s quarterly edition of “Take Note”.
It’s a wonderful life I lead with my husband, Ken and chickens, dogs, cats, Muscovy ducks, wild turkeys, goats and Silver, the horse. We are very grateful to have found such a beautiful place in the Manitoba Interlake region.
DANCE
Sofia Costantini, Actra/Equity
Over the past 25 years Sofia Costantini has taught dance and choreographed for professional dance companies, film/TV companies, theatre companies, high schools, individual training programs, and body fitness facilities. Her experiences have provided her with many resources and she uses this knowledge to teach others the skills she has mastered.
Following years of dance training, she began teaching at the prestigious Royal Winnipeg Ballet. She was the jazz department head and developed the jazz curriculum for the RWB teacher’s course. She worked extensively with the school’s professional division program and also created choreography for the RWB Company. Her jazz choreography entitled Fiesta! was later performed at the Pan American Games.
Sofia has been hired by Hollywood producers to choreograph dance works for television specials and movies such as: “Inside The Osmond’s”, “Todd and The Book of Pure Evil”, “Less Than Kind”, “The Hessen Affair”, “The Stone Angel”, “The Saddest Music In The World”, “Hell On Wheels, The Battle Of Mary Kay”.
She was also personally requested by Patrick Swatzsy to jam in a studio together during the filming of the movie “One Last Dance”, which was shot in Winnipeg in 2003. As well, she has danced in movies with celebrities such as Richard Gere, Jennifer Lopez and Mary Elizabeth Winstead.
She has also choreographed for local professional theatre companies such as the Royal Manitoba Theatre Centre, Prairie Theatre Exchange and Rainbow Stage with credits that include: “White Christmas”, “Producers”, “Altar Boyz”, “Hair”, “I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change” and “Fiddler on the Roof”.
You may have also seen her as a dancer/actor in film, television or commercials such as “The Toy Castle”, “Shall We Dance”, “Make It Happen”, “You Kill Me”, or her famous silhouette in the Manitoba Lotteries commercial.
One of her other proud accomplishments was creating an amazing program entitled, “Motivating Teens Through Dance”. This program is designed to bring out the best in students and educate individuals to reach beyond their potential. Using her proven teaching methods, she trains teachers to become top dance educators.
Sofia’s dance manuals: Motivating Teens Through Dance, Book 1: Getting Started, Book 2: The Jazz Dance Guide, Book 3: Theories for Grade 9 – 12 Dance and Elite Performance Dance
A teacher at Tec Voc High School, ‘Ms. Sofia’ teaches dance education and leads Dance Tec Company.
In the mid-1990’s, she pioneered an all-boys dance class at Sisler High school, where she also created Sisler’s Most Wanted, an all- male dance troupe that has been featured by CBC National and Winnipeg Women Magazine. She also helped implement dance programs all across Winnipeg. Today there are over 400 males in dance programs in schools throughout Manitoba.
She is currently on the 9-12 Arts Education Development committee to have dance accredited as part of the Performing Arts umbrella in the Manitoba school systems.
She has entered students in festivals and competitions over the past 25 years, and has had a 90% success rate of scoring gold or higher. In fact, one of her students made top 20 for season 3 of “So You Think You Can Dance Canada”.
She was the teacher training and curriculum coordinator for Shelley Shearer School of Dance. Her responsibilities included teaching, evaluating and insuring the staff followed curriculum guidelines.
Her passion and love for the arts permeates through her teaching, and sets her apart as a role model for her students. Her goal is to always provide the most exhilarating atmosphere in which the talented can thrive and prosper!
Dance because you love it.
Dance to inspire others
Dance because you can!
JUNIOR PIANO
Eleanore McLeod, Piano, Theory, Piano Pedagogy
Eleanore is a teacher who has many years of experience teaching piano to students of all ages. A graduate of the University of Manitoba, she holds a Bachelor of Music in Piano Performance, as well as both the Piano Teacher and Performance Diplomas of the Royal Conservatory of Music of Toronto. Recently, she completed her Master’s Degree in Piano Pedagogy.
She has taught early childhood music, including the Kindermusik program. In addition to teaching, she enjoys performing in chamber ensembles and accompanying other musicians. Baroque keyboard music is of special interest. She believes music Festivals are very important in the life of a community and thus she enjoys the challenge of adjudicating the classes. Eleanore enjoys reading, travel, and playing with her little grandson when he visits!
DANCE
Claire Marshall
Ms Marshall began her performing career in her hometown of Toronto with the Canadian Children’s Dance Theatre. Throughout her nine seasons with the company, she performed works by some of Canada’s leading choreographers, such as David Earle, Danny Grossman, Carol Anderson, Bill Coleman and Rachel Browne, and participated in many national tours. It was Ms Browne who encouraged Ms Marshall to continue with her training and teaching, which in effect lead her to the wonderful dance community in Winnipeg. Since her graduation from the Senior Professional Program at the School of Contemporary Dancers in 2001, she has performed with local choreographers Casimiro Nhussi, Coral Aiken, Adesola Akinleye, Paula Blair, Lesandra Dodson and Josée Garant.
Since completing a residency with Delfos Danza Contemporenea in Mazatlan Mexico in 2009, Ms. Marshall has performed several full length works with Gearshifting Performance Works under the direction of Jolene Bailie. She has also performed works by several choreographers with the Young Lungs Dance Exchange. Ms. Marshall is also thrilled to be part of Nina Patel’s new contemporary dance company, The Lime Project, who will present their first performance in January 2012.
Not only an active performer, “Ms.Claire” is a member of the Artistic Staff of the Royal Winnipeg Ballet School in both the Professional Division and Recreational Division, as well as the School of Contemporary Dancers. She has presented workshops nationally in Modern Technique, Creative Movement, and Movement Improvisation. Most recently, Ms.Claire has been working with the Immigrant and Refugee Community Organization of Manitoba teaching classes weekly classes to a dynamic group of young people.
Ms Marshall is also proud to sit on the Board of Directors for Dance Manitoba.
STRINGS/INSTRUMENTAL
Kristjanna Oleson
Kristjanna Oleson holds a Bachelors of Music Performance and a Bachelors of Education from the University of Manitoba. She Music Specialist for the Sistema Winnipeg Outreach Music Program in the Seven Oaks School Division in association with the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra. Kristjanna has taught privately for the Manitoba Conservatory of Music & Arts, Preperatory Studies and the University of Manitoba’s Suzuki Program. She regularly adjudicates for various music festivals and competitions and continues to teach Master Classes. She is a founding member of the Animata String Quartet. Kristjanna maintains an active performing and recording schedule with various classical, folk, pop and indie ensembles in Manitoba both in ensemble and as a soloist.
SPEECH/THEATRE ARTS
Talia Pura
As a playwright, Talia has had many performances, several publications and a C.B.C.radio commission. Her plays have been performed by theatre companies, high schools, and in fringe festivals in Canada and the USA. Her book, STAGES: Creative Ideas For Teaching Drama was published by J. Gordon Shillingford Publishing Inc. in 2002 and is now in its sixth printing.
Talia has written/produced/directed four short dramatic films: I Dream of You, Collections and The Strawberry Confession. Her video, Aerial Artistry, was commissioned by CODE (Cultural Olympiad Digital Edition) and was shown at the Vancouver Olympics, 2010. It features her performance in aerial dance, on silks.
Talia is a member of ACTRA and EQUITY and has appeared in many feature films, television shows and independent shorts. She has also performed on stage for such companies as the Manitoba Theatre Center, Shakespeare in the Ruins and in Fringe Festivals in Winnipeg, Toronto, Minneapolis and New York.
As well as teaching drama and theatre production at the University of Winnipeg, Talia is the Coordinator of a Youth Mentorship Program in the Arts, through ACI (Arts and Cultural Industries Association of Manitoba), and the chair of the Manitoba ACTRA council.
CHORAL
Catherine Robbins, MMus, PhDMusEd
Catherine Robbins is an instructor of undergraduate choral pedagogy at the University of Manitoba where she teaches conducting, choral techniques, vocal techniques, and choral repertoire. Her areas of expertise include vocology, and vocal hygeology. Her mission is to enhance choral pedagogy and choral rehearsal through a greater understanding of anatomy and vocal function, as well as an increased self-awareness from multiple perspectives.
Dr. Robbins has recently completed her doctoral studies in Music Education through the University of Toronto where her areas of research have included negotiating the solo voice in choral singing, the influence of music festival participation on music directors’ professional practice, self-study and teacher education, and the formation of the musical self of choral music educators.
Catherine is in demand as a clinician, guest conductor, and adjudicator at workshops and festivals both in the choral and vocal fields. She has taught at all levels of the public school system and was the Director of the Division of Preparatory Studies Youth Choir Program at the University of Manitoba for seven years.
Catherine loves to work with young singers and conductors alike, and is thrilled to be back in Steinbach to hear the wonderful work of choirs in Southeastern Manitoba.
VOCAL
Elizabeth Rotoff, mezzo-soprano
Elizabeth Rotoff has performed across Canada and in England in opera, musical theatre and recital. She has had leading roles in the operas Carmen, Amahl and the Night Visitors, The Tales of Hoffman, La Clemenza di Tito, Cosi fan tutte, Die Fledermaus, Hansel and Gretel, The Medium and many more. In Winnipeg, she has performed as a soloist with the Winnipeg Philharmonic Choir and Women of Note and has appeared in roles with the Little Opera Company.
The Edmonton Sun stated that her performance was riveting and that she has a haunting mezzo voice. The Bognor Regis Observer (England) reported, “The range of her powerful voice, coupled with an obvious deep understanding of the poetry made a memorable experience for the appreciative audience.” Opera Today said of her performance in Lennox Berkley’s A Dinner Engagement, “She was brilliantly haughty and convincingly statuesque”.
Elizabeth currently teaches voice from her home studio to the next generation of young singers who consistently perform well in exams, music festivals and other competitions. Many of her students have gone on to study voice at the university level in the disciplines of classical music, musical theatre and jazz. She is President of the Manitoba Chapter of the National Association of Teachers of Singing and an active adjudicator and clinician..