🎹 Meet the Adjudicator 🎹

Dr. Christine Vanderkooy

Praised for her “sensitive and passionate artistic interpretation”, Christine Vanderkooy has performed as a soloist across Canada, and in the USA and Europe, including a European recital tour funded by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada. Her CD release, Schubert and Schumann, was recorded at the Banff Centre for the Arts with successful grant funding from the University of Regina, and promoted by Toronto publicist, Jane Harbury, with additional grant funding from Creative Saskatchewan. This recording, featuring Schubert’s Sonata in B-flat major, D. 960, and Schumann’s Davidsbündlertänze, op. 6, has enjoyed critical acclaim including a cover story for Tempo magazine, as well as radio play on CBC Radio and stations across the continent. Christine had the pleasure of partnering with pianist Greg Butler to perform Mozart’s Concerto for Two Pianos in E-flat major, K. 375 with the Windsor Symphony Orchestra, and most recently appeared with the Windsor Symphony performing Samuel Coleridge-Taylor’s Nonet and Bach’s Keyboard Concerto No. 5 in F minor, BWV 1056.

Christine’s national reputation as a piano pedagogue is reflected in frequent invitations to adjudicate festivals and competitions, including the Ontario, B.C., Manitoba, Saskatchewan, and Quebec Provincials, the National Piano Competition for the CFMTA (Canadian Federation of Music Teacher’s Associations in 2011 and 2019), and has twice been invited to judge the Canadian JUNO Awards. Christine travels as a Senior Examiner for the Royal Conservatory of Music, and has been invited to give masterclasses at the University of Lethbridge, Regina Conservatory, McMaster University, Bishop’s University, the Alberta and Ontario Registered Music Teachers’ Association, and the CFMTA national convention. An enthusiastic supporter of amateur musicians, Christine has taught and performed for many years at CAMMAC’s summer festival (Canadian Amateur Musicians Musiciens Amateur Canadiens) in Laurentides, QC.

Christine’s major teachers include David McIntyre, Boyd McDonald, Tom Plaunt, Sara Laimon, and Marc Durand. Having studied and taught at McGill University where she earned a Doctor of Music degree in Piano Performance, Christine has since held positions at the University of Prince Edward Island, University of Windsor, Lakehead University, and the University of Regina, and is pleased to have joined the University of Windsor in 2017 as Associate Professor of Music and Education.

🎹 Meet the Adjudicator 🎹

Dr. Shoshana Telner

Canadian pianist Shoshana Telner has performed across Canada and abroad.

Described as an “authentic musician with a sparkling technique” (Le Droit) and “full of fire and warmth” (the New York Times), Shoshana has a passion for engaging audiences with exciting performances. She made her solo orchestral début with the National Arts Centre Orchestra at the age of 16 and has since performed as soloist with several orchestras including the Québec Symphony Orchestra, the Boston Classical Orchestra, and the National Academy Orchestra.

Shoshana received a Bachelor’s degree on full scholarship from Boston University, a Master’s degree from the Juilliard School in New York, and a Doctorate in performance from McGill University. She has taught piano and coached ensembles at McGill University, the University of Ottawa, Wilfrid Laurier University, and currently teaches piano at McMaster University. She frequently gives masterclasses, adjudicates competitions, and examines for the Royal Conservatory of Music.



Shoshana has performed at numerous summer festivals including the Ottawa International Chamber Music Festival, the Elora Festival, the Kincardine Summer Music Festival, the Brott Music Festival, and the Blueridge Chamber Music Festival. She has been awarded honors at the International Stepping Stone Competition, the Esther Honens International Piano Competition and the Canadian Concerto Competition. Shoshana’s recordings include solo works of Canadian composer Colin Mack (CanSona), the Grieg violin/piano sonatas with Jeremy Bell (Chestnut Hall Music), Mozart Sonatas and Sonatinas (The Mozart Effect) and the six Bach Keyboard Partitas (Centaur Records).