Adjudicators

We are excited to introduce our 2026 Adjudicators to you. They include Judith Oatway (Vocal), Holly Harris (Piano), and Karen Barg (Instrumental) , as well as locals Kim Anderson (French Drama and Speech Arts), Robin Taylor Wright (English Drama and Speech Arts) and Roy Tom (Anishinaabemowin Drama and Speech).

Holly Harris has worn many creative hats throughout her career, including pianist, composer, playwright, and teacher. She has also served as the classical music/opera/dance/theatre reviewer for the Winnipeg Free Press since 2004, and has written regularly for Opera Canada, The Dance Current, Dance International, La Scena Musicale, Symphony and The Strad. She worked extensively as a freelance theatre and dance composer for 15 years, with her original scores heard in theatres in Winnipeg, as well as across Canada. She has received many commissions over the years with her choral music recorded on The Winnipeg Singers’ “Prairie Voices” CD.   Holly graduated from the University of Manitoba (then) School of Music with a major in music composition in 1988, and also holds a Master of Education degree as well as Bachelor degrees in education and theatre. She received her Associate of the Royal Conservatory of Toronto (ARCT) diploma in Piano Performance with First Class Honours in 1984, and received a Certificate of Higher Education Teaching (CHET) in 2004.   As a highly dedicated educator, Holly taught composition and drama at Concord College and the Canadian Mennonite University between 1994-2004, and choral music, drama and band in the public school system during the early 2000s. As a clinician, Holly has given master classes in intermediate and advanced piano through the University of Manitoba’s Division of Preparatory Studies, and also adjudicated for the Canadian Federation of Music Teachers’ Associations Canada Music Week Composer Competition (Manitoba).   Holly continues to maintain a lively home teaching studio, as well as taught for 10 years with the St. John’s- Ravenscourt Private Music Program; sharing her love and passion for music with students of all ages while helping nurture their own creativity.

Winnipeg soprano Judith Oatway, has a passion for singing displayed in her commitment to performance and instruction. Recent performances include La Ciesca in Gianni Schicchi and Gertrude in Hansel & Gretel. She has performed with Kitchener Opera, Little Opera Company, Opera NUOVA, and Halifax Summer Opera. Judith is an adjunct voice instructor at the Canadian Mennonite University and University of Manitoba. She is the co-founder of the Summer Music Academy at the Community School of Music and Arts, a summer camp for young singers and pianists.   Judith holds a Bachelor of Music from Brandon University, an Artist Diploma from University of Manitoba, and a Master of Music in Literature and Performance from the University of Western Ontario. She is a past president of the Manitoba Chapter of the NATS (National Association of Teachers of Singing) and has served on the boards of the Associated Manitoba Arts Festivals and Rockwood Festival of the Arts. Judith is the Co- Artistic Director of Flipside Opera & Art Song Collective.

Karen Barg began violin instruction at the age of four through Suzuki Music Winnipeg Inc. with Joanne Martin, and continued her studies at the U of M as well as McGill University with teachers Jack Glazter, Gwen Hoebig (Concert Master of the WSO) and, Madame Gho. Karen held the position of Program Coordinator for Suzuki Music Winnipeg Inc. from 2012-2017, and has performed numerous solo recitals in addition to various professional ensembles in the city most notably her own Luminous String Quartet. She has enjoyed performing with various touring acts like Disturbed, The Eagles, Michael Bublé, Il Divo, Jann Arden, Steve Bell, Don Amero along with Canadian Rockers Honeymoon Suite, Prism, The Headpins, Lee Aaron and Chilliwack. Karen has also performed in the Winnipeg and Thunder Bay symphonies and has expanded her musical expression and knowledge through singing and electric 5-string violin improvisation with various local bands in Winnipeg, Fred Penner and his “Cat’s Meow Band” since 2010, and received a Juno nomination with the Winnipeg based Indigenous band Indian City in 2023.   Making her home in Winnipeg, Karen keeps busy teaching violin and viola, performing as a professional freelance musician and maintaining her Luminous String Quartet business as Artistic Director, music arranger, and 1st Violinist. She has also begun a new venture for the string quartet creating the LUMINOUS GALAXY CONCERT SERIES.   Karen is honoured to be adjudicating at the Rainy River District Festival and sends out best wishes to all the performers.

Born in London, ON and raised in Timmins, ON, Kim is a graduate of the first French Immersion class at Timmins High & Vocational School. She holds a B.A. (Humanités) and a Baccalauréat en Éducation from Laurentian University. Additional qualification courses include a Reading Specialist  and a French as a Second Language Specialist. Kim also holds a Master of Education (Educational Leadership) from Yorkville University as well as Supervisory Officer qualifications.    Kim taught for 2 years with the French Catholic school board in Timmins before moving to Fort Frances in 1995. During her time with the Northwest Catholic School Board and its predecessor board, she has been both an English and French Immersion teacher (JK-Grade 8), Curriculum Coordinator, Principal, Assistant Superintendent and most recently a Superintendent of Education. Her current portfolios include Special Education, the Early Years, Mental Health as well as FSL and ELL/MLL.   Kim has always been passionate about the French language and believes that being bilingual affords students opportunities they would not have had without being able to write and speak a second language. Some of Kim’s most memorable moments from her 32+ years in education include seeing her former students become French Immersion teachers themselves.   Kim is excited to once again be part of the French drama portion of the Festival. She wants to wish those participating ‘Bonne chance!’ but more importantly she wants the students to remember to have fun and enjoy the experience.

Robin Taylor Wright–director, producer, and playwright–has authored many notable works, including:  Home for Boys (Brighton Fringe Festival; UC Follies Theatre, Toronto; Refinery Theatre, Saskatoon); The Maidenwar (Theatre Double Take, Toronto); Fireproof (Pink Parasol, Fort Frances; Whelan’s Gate, Toronto); and Don’t You Dare Run Away (The Bunker Performance Lounge, Stratford). Among his inspirations, Robin cites playwrights Sarah Polley and David Young, director Norio Deguchi, author John Steinbeck, and the bands Fugazi and The Minutemen–and he credits The Legend of Zelda with encouraging his fascination in the building and bridging of worlds and multiple universes.   Embracing a DIY ethos, Robin’s company–Laughing Cactus Productions–focuses on the creation of new works in unconventional spaces. Robin’s scripts do not occupy these spaces as much as they transform them. Like a literary alchemist, he mixes uniquely specific experiences with echoes of our universal one to reveal situations that resonate with his audience long after the final act. Whether set in a natural or a mythical space, Robin’s tender, and often comical, treatment of character and relationships invites his audience to imagine and participate in curating the worlds he presents.   Robin’s Home for Boys will see a four-show run at the Fort Frances Knox United Church during the first week of November, 2026.

Roy Tom is a fluent Anishinaabemowin speaker. He is a 60’s Scoop and Residential School Survivor. Roy is deeply committed to defending the land and protecting the water. Since 2018, he has been dedicated to sharing Anishinaabemowin.   Currently, Roy is an educator at Pegamigaabo Elementary School in his home community of Mishkosiminiziibiing, where he teaches land-based practices and Anishinaabemowin. He is also recognized for his efforts in speaking for the water and manoomin and traveling across Canada and the US to share his knowledge and preserve Indigenous traditions and rights.