Adjudicators

Mary Ann Fratia earned her B.Mus.Ed. and B.Ed degrees from the University of Toronto and her M.Sc in Mus.Ed. from the University of Illinois, Champaign-Urbana. She has studied trumpet with Stephen Chenette, Ronald Romm, Fred Mills of the Canadian Brass, and Mel Broiles, Metropolitan Opera as well as conducting with Dr. Harry Begian. Mary Ann has served as Head of Music and taught instrumental (concert band, strings, percussion, guitar), choral, instrumental and vocal jazz courses, served as the Arts/Music Coordinator for the Peel DSB and has taught and authored many music education (P/J, J/I and I/S) , assessment and integrated arts courses for pre-service educators at York University, OISE/UT (Masters of Teaching program), Toronto Metropolitan University and Ontario Tech University over the last 11 years. She has worked as a TVO Kids Music Education Consultant and has taught numerous Music AQ/ABQ courses at York U, OISE/UT and more recently, at the Royal Conservatory of Music (Oscar Peterson School). She has been the recipient of numerous awards: OMEA Honorary Life Membership Award, Outstanding Teaching/Conducting Awards (OBA), Awards of Excellence (PDSB), Teacher Recognition Award (OSSTF), Outstanding Contribution to Jazz Education Award (IAJE) and has been a nominee for the Undergraduate Teaching Award (York U). She has conducted numerous award-winning instrumental, choral and jazz ensembles, served as an adjudicator at many music festivals, as well as been a regular contributor to many provincial and national music education journals while also serving on many committees such as numerous OMEA Conference committees, Canadian Band Association: Time to Share and the Coalition for Music for Music Education in Canada. 

Guitarist Shawn Pickup has been praised for “a technique of the highest level,” and “masterful interpretation” (Lippische Landeszeitung). A multiple national and international prizewinner, Shawn’s recent performance highlights include recitals in Sauble Beach, Hamilton, Iserlohn, Wolfville, Toronto, Brantford, and a live broadcast performance from Cologne, Germany for Radio WDR3. Born in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Shawn completed his Bachelor of Music Degree at Acadia University with Eugene Cormier. After winning 1st Prize in guitar and the Grand Award at the FCMF Canadian Nationals, Shawn travelled to Germany and completed his diploma with Prof. Dale Kavanagh in Detmold. He then earned the Master of Music Degree under Prof. Gerhard Reichenbach from the Hochschule für Musik Köln, Wuppertal. Shawn was a prizewinner in several international guitar competitions in Germany and the Netherlands, as well as 1st prize winner in the Solistenauswahl Concerto Competition, Wuppertal. Shawn recently completed the Doctor of Musical Arts at the University of Toronto under the guidance of Dr. Jeffrey McFadden. 

Natalie Pratt has been praised for her “effervescent voice”, and has distinguished herself as a soprano with an extensive and diverse repertoire. A Canadian born soprano, Ms. Pratt is a graduate of Western University’s faculty of music, where she received her Masters of Music- Vocal Literature and Performance degree. While there, she gained prestige for such roles as Lauretta in Puccini‘s Gianni Schicchi, and Aline in Gilbert and Sullivan’s The Sorcerer.

Professional engagements, across Canada and Europe, have included Pamina in Mozart’s Die Zuberflote, Zerlina in Mozart’s Don Giovanni, Susanna in Mozart’s Le Nozze Di Figaro, Despina in Mozart’s Cosi fan Tutte, Musetta in Puccini’s La Boheme, Tosca in Puccini’s Tosca, Cio-Cio San in Puccini’s Madama Butterfly, Adele in Strauss’s Die Fledermaus, Marguerite in Gounod’s Faust, Laetitia in Menotti’s The Old Maid And The Thief, Cunegonde in Bernstein’s Candide, and Maria in Bernstein’s West Side Story.

As an engaging and seasoned concert singer, her repertoire includes Bach’s St. John Passion; Handel’s Messiah; Mozart’s Requiem, Mass in C+, Exsultate Jubilate; Mendelssohn’s Hear My Prayer; Orff’s Carmina Burana; Canteloube’s Chants d’Auvergne; lieder of Schubert and Schumann; songs of Faure, Hahn, and Obradors.

Natalie is an adjudicator across Canada, and also an examiner of voice and piano for Conservatory Canada. She enjoys teaching privately in her thriving voice and piano studio.