Festival

Adjudicators

Meet this year’s Adjudicators & Masterclass Instructors for COPA Festival 2024!

Dance

Ballet, Modern & Contemporary

•Julia Cosentino

Adjudicated by Julia Cosentino

Julia Cosentino – a dance artist, educator, collaborator, choreographer and performer, received her BFA Honours Degree in Dance from York University in 2012. Since graduating, Julia has had the pleasure of working with companies/artists including TranscenDance Project, Jasmyn Fyffe Dance, Rodney Diverlus, Guillaume Cote, Rock Bottom Movement, Frog In Hand, Decidedly Jazz Danceworks and On the Rocks Films, to name a few. Julia’s vision is to marry all of the things she loves most about dance: music, rhythm, physical prowess, artistry, expression, healing and human connection. This is at the heart of her practice, and she is grateful to be deepening her work and voice through research, conversation, play and discovery.

Julia has been teaching dance for many years, with many students, and across many borders. Julia deeply believes that her experiences in teaching have been equally educational for her. Each class and each student comes to her with a lesson to be learned. Additionally, having collaborated with an array of artists throughout her career, it has given her the opportunity to study leadership and the creative process from different angles.

As an educator, it is Julia’s ultimate goal that students can leave with a deeper understanding of dance, a deeper connection to their personal voice, and a set of useful tools that they can continue to cultivate and utilize in their training and performance for years to come. She hopes to inspire them to experience MUSIC, passion, freedom, joy, vulnerability, individuality, community and success through dance.Type your paragraph here.

Jazz & Lyrical, Tap, Hip Hop, Acro, Musical Theatre

•Shayne Johnson

Adjudicated by Shayne Johnson

Shayne Johnson began his dance training at the age of 5 in Vancouver, BC and by age 12, launched his professional career as a guest tap dancer on the “Super Dave Osborne” TV show. Career highlights include being a member of the Canadian National Tap Team, Grizzlies Extreme Dance Team for the NBA and working as a dancer, dance captain and choreographer for Norwegian Cruise Lines from 2003-2008. Shayne spent 13 years (2008-2022) dancing, choreographing and touring as a professional company member with Canada’s Decidedly Jazz Danceworks (DJD). In May 2022, Shayne returned to Norwegian Cruise Lines Creative Studios as Associate Choreographer and Director for the award winning shows “Noise Boys” and “Choir of Man”. Shayne is an established performing artist, choreographer and teacher throughout Canada.

Instrumental

Piano

•Han Ding

Adjudicated by Han Ding

Han Ding is a pianist, harpsichordist, composer, and arranger. A musician of twenty-five years, he has performed as a soloist and with ensembles, composed numerous new works, created a range of classical and jazz arrangements, and accompanied instrumental, choral, and vocal music.

Han’s repertoire comprises major works of all eras, from Bach’s Goldberg Variations on both piano and harpsichord to Prokofiev’s Sixth Piano Sonata. He has performed in concerts for Symphony of the Kootenays (soloist, Rachmaninoff’s Piano Concerto No. 1), Calgary’s Timepoint Ensemble, Calgary ProArts, and Rosetown Music Festival. He participated in the CMC finals for piano and harpsichord, the CMC Stepping Stone, and the RBC Concerto Competition. Han has written numerous works for various settings of piano, strings, and wind instruments. For Canada’s 150th he was one of eight Alberta composers commissioned to write pieces for students based on folk songs, with the works published by Palliser. Recently Han has focused on exploring classical music recording and videography.

With two decades of teaching experience, Han is currently an instructor and chamber coach for MRU Conservatory and Academy, and he has adjudicated at music festivals across western Canada. He received a Bachelor of Music in piano performance and a Bachelor of Arts in English literature from the University of Calgary, as well as Licentiate and Associate diplomas from the Royal Conservatory of Music.

Strings & Chamber Orchestra

•Alexandra Lee

Adjudicated by Alexandra Lee

Alexandra Lee is a graduate of the University of Toronto’s Music Performance program, and trained as a Royal Conservatory artist-educator and certified Suzuki teacher, Alexandra Lee has a love of performing and teaching. As cellist of the Juno-nominate Silver Birch String Quartet for over a decade she collaborated with many top Canadian artists, such as Scott St John, Peter Longworth, and Tanya Tagaq. She held the position of Principal Cello of the Sudbury Symphony Orchestra for many years, until she moved to Nanaimo, BC. She is currently the Associate Principal Cello of Vancouver Island Symphony, and teaches cello at the Nanaimo Conservatory of Music.
www.alexandralee.ca

Voice

Voice

•Karyn Way

Adjudicated by Karyn Way

Karyn Way is very active in Vancouver as a singer, adjudicator, director and music instructor. Some of her favourite performances include Madame Giry in The Phantom of the Opera, Hansel in Hansel and Gretel, Eva Peron in Evita and the Second Lady in The Magic Flute. As a director, Karyn most recently staged and music directed productions of Frozen, Jr., Dear Edwina and Shrek, Jr. for the Kay Meek Youth Conservatory in West Vancouver. She has also directed Amahl and the Night Visitors for the Vancouver Academy of Music as well as several evenings of opera scenes. She was on faculty at Capilano University as a voice instructor for four years and was head of voice for Stagecraft Theatre School for eight years. Karyn currently teaches voice, piano and music theory at her home studio, Vocalis Music and also teaches singing for Lights Up Theatre School and the Richmond Academy of Dance. Karyn continues to adjudicate and give masterclasses in voice and musical theatre at festivals across Canada. At the University of British Columbia, Karyn earned a Bachelor of Music Degree in Voice Performance and a Master of Music in Opera. She also earned Diplomas in Musical Theatre from Grant MacEwan College and the Banff School of Fine Arts. Karyn is a proud member of the National Association of Teachers of Singing (NATS). She also has advanced certification as a voice teacher for the Royal Conservatory of Music and is a member of the RCM College of Examiners.

Hotel

Hotel Zed Kelowna is generously offering a 20% discount to our festival participants. Use the promo code “KIWANIS20” for bookings between February 24th and April 30th, 2024. Please note that room availability is subject to change, and guests are responsible for their own booking and payment.

To Book Online:

  1. Visit the direct booking link here
  2. Select your room and complete the booking process.

To Book by Phone:

  1. Call 1-800-663-0298
  2. Mention you are booking at Hotel Zed Kelowna with the “KIWANIS20” rate.
  3. Choose your room and provide booking dates.
  4. Provide your details to complete the booking.

To Book via Email:

  1. Email matt@hotelzed.com 
  2. Mention you are booking at Hotel Zed Kelowna with the “KIWANIS20” rate.
  3. Include your first and last name, check-in and check-out dates, phone number, and email address.

Location: 1627 Abbott St, Kelowna, BC V1Y 1A9

Hotel Zed is conveniently located in downtown Kelowna, one block from Okanagan Lake.

For more details, please visit Hotel Zed Website

ASPIRE
Gala & Reception

The Central Okanagan Performing Arts Festival warmly invites you to ASPIRE: Gala & Reception.
A vibrant evening, recognizing the exceptional talents of our region’s top performing artists. Experience the joy of achievement with young performing artists from the festival in the first half of the show, and local professional performing artists in the second half, demonstrating what our youth can ASPIRE to become!

Event Date:
Friday, May 10th, 2024

Location:
Mary Irwin Theatre & Reception Area
Rotary Centre for the Arts
Tickets Available Here

Dress Code:
Semi-Formal Attire is preferred

Schedule

 
5:00pm – Doors
Enjoy performing arts vendors, photo booth, cash bar & light refreshments, and pianist!

6:00pm – Show begins
Festival Highlights in Dance, Music, and Voice
7:00 – Intermission

7:15 – Scholarships & Medals announced

7:30pm –  Special Guest Performances
Professional performances in Dance, Music, and Voice
Hype Dance – Professional Dance Troupe
Sophie Armstrong – Award winning Violinist & Composer
Okanagan Festival Singers – Professional Choir

8:30pm – Show concludes

 
We extend a heartfelt thank you to everyone who attended our 2023 Gala. A special acknowledgment goes out to the sponsors, performing artists, teachers, and parents for their invaluable contribution.