Adjudicators

Fiona Blackburn

Vocal & Choral Adjudicator

In the years since Fiona graduated from the University of British Columbia with a degree in voice performance, she has been a guest soloist with many of this country's leading ensembles, including the Vancouver Bach Choir, Symphony Nova Scotia, the CBC Radio Orchestra and Vancouver New Music, to name a few. Fiona sang with the internationally acclaimed Vancouver Chamber Choir for eleven seasons and toured with them throughout North America and the Orient. Fiona has had extensive experience on stage and performed numberous roles during five seasons with the Vancouver Opera; she also had lead roles in other local companies, including: Theatre in the Park, Northwest Opera and North Shore Light Opera. Fiona was a featured entertainer aboard an Alaskan cruise ship for five summers, performing operatic arias and show tunes from musical theatre. As a recording artist, Fiona's passion for Celtic music has led to two cds, which have received enthusiastic reviews and airplay in North America and Europe.

Fiona's passion to inspire young singers to improve their skills led her back to UBC for a Bachelor of Education in Secondary Music; for this work, she was awarded the Don Wright Scholarship for excellence in choral education. Fiona is now a sought-after vocal and choral adjudicator and clinician, both within British Columbia and beyond. Recently, she was chosen to participate in the National Conductors Symposium and worked intensively with master conductor, Jon Washburn. In the spring of 2010, Fiona received her Masters of Music in Choral Conducting from UBC. For this degree, her mentors were Bruce Pullan and Dr. Graeme Langager.

Fiona has been the artistic director of the British Columbia Girls Choir for ten years; she currently directs four of the five choir levels, with singers ages 6 to young adult. Fiona is excited to help many more young people "find their voices" in the years to come.