2016 Tempo Festival Adjudicators

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 Thompson Festival of the Arts. 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 16^th 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.       

Dance - Kristin Sawatzky 

Kristen started dancing at the age of nine in Winnipeg, eventually graduating with honours from Ryerson University’s dance program.  She has performed as a dancer all over North America.  Her credits include Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines, The King and I (Rainbow Stage) Big Comfy Couch:Live and Inside the Osmands (ABC) She is  also an award winning choreographer. Her choreography credits include The Cradle Will Rock, and Music Man (NMC).  Kristen also works as an actor, puppeteer and stunt woman for stage and film.  She has worked on Amreeka, Capture of the Green River Killer, Tipi Tales, The Lookout, and The Messengers to name a few. 

Speech Arts and Vocal/Choral - Arline Collins, B Mus, RMT, ARCT, PB5

As well as a career in the Performing Arts, I have been involved in Public Education as Music/Orff Specialist since 1973. My academic credentials include the ARCT, BMus (UBC) and PDP (SFU), Accordion studies with Joe Macerollo (Toronto U.), Voice/Opera at the Banff School of Fine Arts, Victoria Royal Conservatory (Selena James), Courtenay Youth Music Camp, Shawnigan School of Music (Phyllis Mailing) and Edmonds Jazz Camp. 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 (Jazz Opera), 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 tourists.  I still perform for First Church of Christ, Scientist and at community events from time to time.

I have a private music studio where I teach singing, piano (accordion, guitar) and theory. I am Past President/Producer of the Evergreen Festival of the Arts and have previous experience as Vocal/choral Coordinator for the East Kootenay Festival of the Performing Arts.

I love teaching and sharing my expertise with students and teachers of all ages and always look forward to hearing the talented participants in all the Manitoba Festivals. Manitobans have much to be proud of and I am so blessed to be able to see and hear the excellent work that Manitoba teachers have done.