Est. 1988
Port Colborne, Ontario
L3K 5X7
Adjudicators
Dance Adjudicator – Samantha Brooks
Samantha is a professional teacher with an extensive dance background. She has been teaching dance in the GTA for over 10 years. Sam is thrilled to have opened her own studio, to share her passion and knowledge of dance with her students. She is an award-winning choreographer, and member of the Professional Adjudicators Alliance.
Samantha graduated with honours from York University’s BFA dance program in 2011. She studied and excelled in ballet and modern techniques including Limon, Graham and Cunningham. Under the direction of Donna Krasnow, Elizabeth Lleyds-Holmes, Megan Andrews , Jennifer Bolt, Carol Anderson, Terrill Maguire and Julia Sasso. Samantha was chosen to perform extensively throughout her time at York University appearing on their stages countless times.
After graduation Samantha continued performing, her presence and talents have been seen across the GTA including the Air Canada Centre. Samantha has also performed at the Mod Club in Toronto, at the Annual Greek Fashion Show, Hearts of Durham Charity Ball at Deer Creek Golf Club and Bazaar held at the Opera House in Toronto. She also holds a certificate to teach Prenatal Yoga, along with her additional certificates: ADAPT Year 1, and Alixa Flexibility Module 1.
Samantha’s teaching focuses on the fundamentals of movement, strong technique, etiquette, and inspiring performance qualities. She believes all these combined are what creates beautiful, intelligent and confident dancers.
The Port Colborne Festival of the Arts welcomes Samantha to the 2023 Dance competition.
Dance Adjudicator – Caitlin Russell
Caitlin’s passion for dance began over 30 years ago. Throughout her years of training, she has studied and competed in all forms of dance. She has trained in various methods such as B.A.T.D, RAD, and ADAPT, to name a few. Caitlin has appeared in the Opening Ceremonies for the Ontario Summer Games and in Serendipity’s production of Anne of Green Gables. She has taught for various studios across the Durham Region and she hopes to inspire her students to continue to grow and express themselves through dance as well as discover their true passion in life.
Caitlin is a graduate from Lakehead University where she received her Bachelor of Arts and Science and Bachelor of Education degrees as well as Durham College where she received her Early Childhood Education diploma. Caitlin is also a fully certified ADAPT teacher in jazz and tap and heads-up the dance program and curriculum at a private school in Brooklin where she also teaches their Elementary program. She has recently received her Level 1 mUvmethod certification and is excited to incorporate it into her classes. Caitlin has been awarded numerous awards for her choreography, such as Young Dancer of the Year and Mini Miss Candance Ottawa. She continues to share and explore her passion with dancers of all ages and is always looking for inspirational ways to evolve her craft and further her love for dance. Caitlin is very excited for a great weekend of dance and wants to wish all the dancers the best of luck!
The PCFA Board of Directors is pleased to welcome Caitlin to this year’s Dance competition.
Vocal Adjudicator - Dr. Charlene Pauls
Dr. Charlene Pauls has appeared as a Soprano soloist on concert stages across Canada and internationally in Germany, England, France and Spain, under the baton of conductors such as Robert Shaw,BramwellTovey, and HelmuthRilling. She has taught Voice at universities in Manitoba and Ontario, and currently maintains an active home studio working with students of all ages. Academic studies include undergraduate degrees from the Universities of Winnipeg and Manitoba in theology, piano and voice, a Master’s from McGill, specializing in Early Music, and a Doctorate from the University of Toronto in Vocal Performance, with a dissertation on Bach’s Cantata 210.
Dr. Pauls is also active as a choral conductor. Drawing from extensive experience as a vocal pedagogue, Dr. Pauls’ approach focuses on developing a beautiful choral sound through a deep understanding of healthy vocal technique. Over the course of her career, she has directed adult, university and youth choirs. This is her first season as Artistic Director of the Guelph Chamber Choir, a community choir of over 40 singers with a subscription series of four concerts. She is also Associate Artistic Director of the 250+ strong Oakville Choir for Children and Youth where she directs “Raise Her Voice - Chamber”, an all-female, ambassadorial ensemble selected from within the organization’s senior singers. Dr. Pauls has led this group in award-winning performances at various national and international competitions, most recently winning first place in the national Amateur Choral Competition sponsored by the CBC. Dr. Pauls was thrilled to be awarded the 2018 Leslie Bell Prize for Choral Conducting from the Ontario Arts Council.
In addition to her active performing and teaching career, Dr. Pauls frequently presents academic work at conferences, most recently at the National Association of Teachers of Singing (NATS) Conference in Las Vegas and at the Canadian National Choral Conference “Podium” in St. John’s, Newfoundland. Dr. Pauls is in demand as an adjudicator for Voice and Choral festivals across the country, and is pleased to be in Port Colborne to hear the wonderful singers in this festival.
We welcome Dr. Pauls to Port Colborne and to this year’s Festival of the Arts.
Band/Instrumental Adjudicator - Jeffrey Reynolds
Dr. Jeffrey Reynolds is Associate Professor, Teaching Stream, in trumpet and conducting at the University of Toronto. Formerly Coordinator of the Performance Division and presently Brass Area Head, he has taught at the Faculty of Music for over 30 years, teaching undergraduate courses in instrumental education, chamber music, jazz education and jazz history, and conducting the Wind Ensemble and Wind Symphony. He maintains a trumpet studio and has appeared as a trumpet player with various orchestras and chamber ensembles, performing with, among others, the Victoria Symphony, the Calgary Philharmonic, the Orchestra of the Royal Winnipeg Ballet and the Hamilton Philharmonic. His trumpet studies were with Arnold Jacobs, Vincent Cichovicz, Boyd Hood and Ward Cole. Reynolds adjudicates at festivals across Canada and appears as a guest conductor and clinician. His articles appear in such journals as Canadian Winds, The Recorder and the Journal of Aesthetic Education; he is also the author of the pedagogy book Trumpet for Dummies. After degrees in philosophy and music he received his doctorate from the University of Toronto in the philosophy of music education, with a focus on creativity in performance and pedagogy.
The Board of Directors welcomes Dr. Reynolds to the Port Colborne Festival of the Arts.
Piano Adjudicator - Peteris Zarins
Peteris Zarins is a pianist, collaborative artist, recording artist, teacher, author, and composer/arranger. He is a graduate of the Royal Conservatory of Music, University of Toronto and The University of Michigan.
Mr. Zarins is a member of the faculty of both the Royal Conservatory Oscar Peterson School and Phil and Eli Taylor Academy of the Glenn Gould School, teaching piano, history, and pedagogy. He is a senior member of the College of Examiners for the Royal Conservatory Certificate Program, practical and theoretical subjects. He holds the designation of Chief Examiner Emeritus, Royal Conservatory of Music Examinations. With Dr. Janet Lopinski and Joe Ringhofer, was one of the original authors of the Explorations in Music History Series.
He has performed as a soloist and collaborative artist in with members of the Toronto Symphony Orchestra, National Ballet Orchestra, and soloists of the Canadian Opera Company, Riga Philharmonic, Latvian National Opera, Stockholm, Vienna, Santa Fe and Houston Operas, among others. Over his career, has performed at venues including the Parliament Buildings in Ottawa, Ontario Place, Massey Hall, the Glenn Gould Theatre, Weill Auditorium in New York City, Chicago Symphony Hall, Place des Arts in Montreal, the Orford Centre, and toured Eastern Canada for Jeunesses Musicales. With Ruta Vaivade is a member of the piano duo VirZiens (Direction).
Mr. Zarins has been an active adjudicator and clinician throughout Canada, the United States, Latvia, Korea and Bermuda, as well as presenting workshops and lectures at many CFMTA and MTNA conventions, including for ORMTA, the Alberta Music Teachers, Calgary Arts and the BCRMTA.
He was one of the compilers for the 2022 Royal Conservatory Piano Repertoire Celebration Series and Piano Syllabus. Mr. Zarins is the principal compiler of the Popular Selections Syllabus. Most recently, was one of the judges for the Royal Conservatory's Music Lights the Way Festival.
After many years, Peteris is returning to Port Colborne as our Piano adjudicator. Welcome back!
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