Program
The program will be available sometime in February.
Thank you to ALL performers, teachers and accompanists who have given so much of their time to make this evening possible.
We would also like to express our appreciation to all of our sponsors for their generous donations.
Syllabus
“Promoting excellence in music and speech through competitions, performance, and educational opportunities for all of the people of Saskatchewan”
“This syllabus will serve as a guide for the unique learning opportunity that builds a community of confident students, engages audiences and connects passionate volunteers.”
Saskatchewan Music Festival Assoc.
Scholarships
‘Promoting excellence in music and
Saskatchewan Music Festival Assoc.
speech through competitions, performance, and
educational opportunities for all of the people of
Saskatchewan’.
2026 Adjudicator Biographies:
Piano – Nancy Nowosad
Nancy Nowosad received her musical training in Saskatchewan, and holds an Associateship Diploma in Piano Performance from the Royal Conservatory of Music and a Bachelor of Music in Piano Performance from the University of Regina. Her teachers have included Dorothy Bee and Dr. Lyell Gustin. She also studied both saxophone and flute, and has been involved in a wide variety of bands and ensembles as a performer, clinician, and conductor.
Nancy has had a diverse musical career while living in various Canadian centres as well as in Germany and England, including private teaching, performing as a soloist and collaborative pianist, playing in and/or conducting pit orchestras, and church organist and choir director positions. Since moving to Winnipeg in 1991, she has been an active teacher of piano, saxophone and theory, as well as a workshop/masterclass clinician, an adjudicator for music festivals and competitions in Canada, and an examiner for the Royal Conservatory of Music in Canada and the US, working both remotely and in person. After many years of maintaining a regular church organist position and working as an accompanist for numerous soloists and choirs, she has moved to freelance work in both. She also continues to play keyboard and provide music leadership in a 15 piece ‘big band’.
Nancy has been the main facilitator of Associated Manitoba Arts Festivals’ Adjudicator Training for many years, sharing her knowledge and experience with numerous participants who have become active and well respected adjudicators. She also serves as a
Presiding Examiner for RCM’s Adjudicator Certification Program, and provides mentorship to new teachers, adjudicators and examiners. She is a member of the Manitoba Registered Music Teachers’ Association where she has held various Executive positions, as well as a member of the Canadian Music Festival Adjudicators’ Association.
Vocal – Alyssa Woolhether
Based in Regina, Saskatchewan, soprano Alyssa Woolhether has established a dynamic and multifaceted career as a voice teacher, adjudicator, workshop facilitator, choir director, and performer. She maintains a thriving private studio at the University of Regina’s Conservatory of Performing Arts and serves as Artistic Director of the Sisters in Song Women’s Choir of Regina. Alyssa holds a Master of
Music in Performance and Literature from Western University and a Bachelor of Music in Performance
from the University of Regina. She is certified in Levels I, Il, and III of Somatic Voicework™ – The LoVetri
Method, and her work is grounded in functional voice training, vocal empowerment, and the practical application of these techniques
across musical styles. Recognized for her expressive lyric voice, Alyssa has performed with arts organizations across Ontario and has trained at respected programs in Canada and Europe. With over 20 years of stage experience, she is known for her musical storytelling, thoughtful interpretation, and strong connection to text.
Beyond classical music, Alyssa is also the bandleader and songwriter for Lyssa & the Try-Tones, a soul/pop band that has earned multiple SaskMusic Award nominations, released three EPs, and performed at notable festivals throughout Saskatchewan. At the
heart of her work is a belief that cultivating trust in one’s instrument builds confidence, unlocks creativity, and fosters a deeper connection between voice, body, and self.
Band – Mark Ward
Wind bands have been a part of Mark Ward’s life since his high school band days in Montreal and included memberships in the Black Watch Association Band and the Lakeshore
Concert Band. He started his post secondary studies at the University of Lethbridge, completed bachelor’s degrees at the University of Lethbridge and Western University, and a Masters in Music at the University of Victoria.
Mark’s music background spans over 42 years having spent his career as a band teacher in Abbotsford, BC and in Lethbridge and Medicine Hat. He has served on the board of directors of the British Columbia Band Association and the Alberta Band Association including a term as president. He was recognized by the ABA with an Honorary Lifetime
Member Award. Mark is also a member of Phi Beta Mu, an international honorary organization of band directors.
Mark is the brass instructor at the Medicine Hat College Conservatory and conducts the Andante Community Band in Medicine Hat and the Gold Band in Lethbridge. Last year he and three colleagues created Medicine Hat Sings, a new 75 voice community choir. He believes that community and school music are a critical part of Canadian heritage and culture.
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