Adjudicators | wendybrook

Band/Instruments: Bob Bailey

Robert (Bob) Bailey has taught band for forty years, working with students from grade five through twelve. The last thirty five years were spent building and maintaining his thriving music program in Camrose. Bob's bands have consistently earned Superior Awards at the provincial level, and have received other high accolades over the years. In addition to concert bands at each grade level, his music program also includes choral, jazz and chamber ensembles.

He has acted as guest conductor and clinician at Sifton Summerfest, Grande Prairie Regional College Summer Band Camp, Adventures in Summer Music at Red Deer College, and MusicCamp Alberta and is in demand as a clinician, as well as an adjudicator in music festivals throughout Alberta. Bob was invited by the Alberta Band Association to conduct the 2007 Southern Alberta Junior High Honour Band. In 2009 he was a recipient of the inaugural University of Alberta Fine Arts Achievement Award (Augustana Campus) for contributions to the fine arts. He has also received an Excellence in Teaching Award. Bob was awarded the Alberta Band Association (Elkhorn) Band Director of the Year Award in 2015. He recently received the David Peterkin Memorial Award in recognition of outstanding contribution to Band and Band Music from the International Bandmasters Fraternity, Phi Beta Mu (Alberta Chapter), and an Award of Merit from the Royal Canadian Legion Branch #57. He is a member of the Alberta Choral Federation, the International Bandmasters' Fraternity Phi Beta Mu, and the Alberta Band Association for which he served on the Board of Directors for several terms.

Bob plays trumpet in various ensembles in his free time - the Camrose & District Community Band, the Battle River Big Band, and the Simply Brass Quintet. He has served on the executive of the Camrose and District Music Festival Association as well as the Camrose & District Community Band, as President and in other capacities. Bob believes that music is necessary to a well-rounded education, and that participation in music changes lives, promotes community, and
benefits students intellectually, socially, and emotionally.

Piano: Jan Janovsky

Mix one part pianist with one part oddball sense of humor and you get the quirky musical antics of Jan Janovsky. Jan spent over a decade playing, touring, and directing music on some of the world’s major cruise lines including Holland America and Celebrity, Oceania and Princess Cruise lines.

He holds a master’s of jazz studies from the University of Arkansas. Winner of numerous classical awards in his youth and having a Jazz Diploma from Humber College and a piano performance degree with distinction from the University of Saskatchewan, Jan’s musical sensibility is quite sought after in any musical setting. He
teaches private and group lessons.

His students have gotten into institutions like Julliard, McGill, University of Leads, University of Toronto, MacEwan University and many more. His students are provincial and national festival winners and candidates. His student Liam Royer was featured on CBC as one of the first Albertan blind pianists to complete the grade 8 RCM exam.

Jan is a dynamic musician, and currently owns and operates Classic Studios in Sherwood Park, Alberta. Jan’s strengths are his openness to learning new concepts in music, and collaboration with students, supporting them to bring out their talent and
unique voices.

His new album “Hey, Knuckles.” comes out in spring. More info can be found at janjanovsky.com and classicstudios.ca.

Speech Arts: Crystal Hanson

Crystal holds a Masters in Vocal Pedagogy through the University of Wales, Trinity St. David, in addition to a Bachelor of Music Degree in Voice Performance.

She teaches private vocal out of her home studio in St. Albert. She is certified in all 3 levels in CCM (Contemporary Commercial Music), Somatic Voicework, the LoVetri Method ®, through Shenandoah University in Winchester, Virginia. She also completed Levels 1 and 2 of the One Voice Program in New York under the tutelage of Dr. Joan Melton.

Crystal has been teaching musical theatre at the Foote Theatre School, Citadel Theatre in Edmonton for over 20 years. She has toured throughout Western Canada in various musical productions and one production based out of Prague, Czech Republic. She toured with the Alberta Opera for 4 seasons and played a large role in creating and directing the Alberta Opera’s Artist in Residency Program.

A freelance vocal coach, she is proud to have worked on many musical productions with Eastglen High School; Austin O’Brien High School and Avalon Junior High School in Edmonton.

A busy entertainer, Crystal is a member of the local Edmonton tribute and show band ‘Crystal Blue & the Persuasions’ and ‘Dash Rip Rock’.

Most recently, Crystal has been busy with the launch of Voice Body Works, which offers somatic voice work and coaching to singers, actors, and voice professionals.

Ukrainian Adjudicator: Irena Tarnawsky

Irena Tarnawsky, AMus, BEd, is an accomplished educator, collaborative pianist, conductor, and vocal coach. Irena retired from Elk Island Catholic Schools, where she spent most of her 33 years teaching in the Ukrainian Bilingual Program in Sherwood Park.

* Since 1996, she has been the founding conductor of the choir at St. George the Victorious Ukrainian Catholic Church. This choir rates among Edmonton’s best church choirs.
* She has been the Collaborative Pianist for the Dnipro Choir since 1976.
* In the spring of 2015, she was appointed the Assistant Conductor for the Edmonton Swiss Men’s Choir.
* In 2011, the Alberta Council for the Ukrainian Arts selected her as one of 25 artists who are making a significant contribution to Ukrainian art and culture in Alberta.
*She has been recognized as an outstanding Ukrainian Volunteer Leader, receiving the Hetman Award in 2003 from the Ukrainian Canadian Congress, Alberta Provincial Council. Irena operates the Tarnawsky Music Studio, where she shares her love
and passion for the piano with her students. She regularly performs in community concerts with choirs and many vocalists throughout the Edmonton area.

She is honoured and excited to be returning as an adjudicator for the Wendy Brook Music Festival this year.

Voice Adjudicator: Jennifer O'Donnell

Jennifer holds a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Winnipeg and a Bachelor of Music in vocal performance from the University of Alberta. She is also an alumna of the Center for Operatic Studies in Italy. Jennifer is certified in Levels 1-3 of Somatic Voicework: The
LoVetri Method and is currently working towards her Alexander Technique certification under Candace Cox's guidance.

Jennifer is a voice teacher at the Edmonton Academy of Music and also maintains a private voice studio at home. She has a broad teaching repertoire, covering classical, jazz, pop, and musical theatre. Jennifer is passionate about teaching students of all ages and skill levels, emphasizing a fun, supportive learning atmosphere that fosters confidence, vocal technique, and vital music skills.

Jennifer is a versatile performer whose acting credits include playing Mollie Ralston in "The Mouse Trap" with the Peninsula Players in Sidney, BC, and performing with the Spilt Milk Comedy improv troupe in Victoria, BC. She has also performed several operatic roles
including La Natura in "La Calisto" in Italy and The First Tourière in "Suor Angelica" in Edmonton, AB.

She is a member of the Alberta Registered Music Teachers Association and is currently serving as president of the Edmonton branch of the National Association of Teachers of Singing.