2026 Festival Dates

Dance: March 2nd – 7th

Voice: April 7th – 9th

Piano: April 15th – 17th

Strings: April 20th – 22nd

Gala: May 15th

About the Festival

Adjudicators

Each year, COPAF welcomes a panel of highly respected adjudicators from across Canada, bringing a wealth of professional experience and artistic insight to the festival. Their thoughtful feedback and encouragement help participants grow as performers and deepen their connection to their art.

Our 2026 adjudicators have now been selected! We’ll feature their photos here with links to their full bios on the discipline pages

DANCE – Nancy Pezzo

Nancy is an award-winning performer, choreographer, and dance educator known for her exceptional technical training and creative vision. A graduate of Toronto Metropolitan University, she has extensive experience in classical ballet, contemporary, jazz, and modern dance, as well as acting in television and commercial work. Her choreography has been featured by major brands including Hudson’s Bay, Lancôme, and Toyota, and she has taught and adjudicated across North America, including at Dance Worlds and the World Championships of Performing Arts. A Registered Teacher and Mentor with the Royal Academy of Dance, Nancy is widely respected as a leading ballet educator and industry professional.

Voice – Kiiri Mchelsen

Canadian-Norwegian mezzo-soprano Kiiri Michelsen is known for her warm, expressive voice and versatility across classical and contemporary styles. She has premiered works by Liova Bueno, David Loeb, and Anna Höstman, and performed with ensembles such as the Victoria Baroque Players and the Victoria Symphony. Notable roles include Carmen, Hermia, and Ottavia, along with creating Storytime Songs, a concert experience introducing children to classical music. A passionate advocate for Scandinavian art song and a dedicated educator, Kiiri holds a Master’s in Vocal Performance and is based in Victoria, B.C.

Piano – Dale Wheeler

Dr. Dale Wheeler is an independent musician based in Red Deer, Alberta, where he teaches part-time at Burman University and maintains a private studio. He holds a Doctorate in Piano Performance and Pedagogy from the University of Oklahoma, with additional degrees from the University of Saskatchewan and Trinity College of Music, London.

A long-standing member of The Royal Conservatory of Music College of Examiners, Dale has performed and presented across North America and Europe, contributed to the RCM Celebration Series, and published in Clavier, American Music Teacher, and The Journal of the American Liszt Society. A former president of both the Red Deer Symphony Orchestra and the Alberta Piano Teachers Association, he is also a recipient of the Mayor’s Recognition Award for contributions to the arts.

Strings – TBA

Festival Gala Celebration

The COPAF Gala is the grand finale of the festival season! A night dedicated to celebrating excellence, artistry, and community spirit. Featuring standout performances from across all disciplines, the Gala showcases the incredible talent and dedication of our young artists.

Scholarships and special awards are presented throughout the evening, recognizing outstanding achievement and growth. The Gala is open to the public, offering the community an opportunity to experience the magic of live performance and celebrate the next generation of performing artists.

Tickets will be available soon.