Meet our 2025 Adjudicators
Shirantha Beddage
Shirantha Beddage is a baritone saxophonist, composer and educator from Toronto, Canada. His original music combines hard bop and modern jazz to create a sound that is both accessible and sophisticated. He has released three critically-acclaimed albums as a leader: Roots and Branches, Identity (2013 JUNO nominee) and Momentum (2017 JUNO nominee). As a side musician, he is featured on recordings with the Order of Canada Band, Suzie Arioli, Laila Biali, Nancy Walker, Mike Downes and many others. His compositional skills have won him accolades such as the Montreal Jazz Festival Galaxie Rising Star Award, recognitions at the Canadian Songwriting Competition, and placements in the Emmy-winning TV series “Fargo”.
Dr. Beddage is Assistant Professor of Jazz at the University of Toronto Faculty of Music. He previously held faculty appointments as Professor of Music at Humber College, and Director of Jazz Studies at the Columbus State University Schwob School of Music (Columbus, Georgia, USA). He also adjudicates regularly at festivals throughout the country including MusicFest Canada, where he serves as Vice-Chairman of Instrumental Jazz.
He holds a Doctor of Musical Arts degree in Jazz Studies from the Eastman School of Music (New York, USA), a Master of Music degree in Jazz Studies from William Paterson University (New Jersey, USA), and a Bachelor of Music degree from Humber College. Shirantha Beddage is a Yamaha saxophone artist and performs on the YBS-62. For more information, please visit https://shiranthabeddage.com
William J Earvin
Dr. William J. Earvin is currently an Educational Support Manager for Conn-Selmer, Inc. He also coordinates the Conn Selmer HBCU Collective Community that engages music educators and arts supporters associated with Historically Black Colleges and Universities. He is a graduate of Clark Atlanta University where he earned a Bachelor of Arts in Music and performed with the Clark Atlanta University Jazz Orchestra. Dr. Earvin graduated from Mississippi Valley State University, earning a Master of Arts Degree in Education. His Doctor of Education degree from North Central University specializes in Higher Education Leadership and his Doctor of Arts in Music Education degree was earned at William Carey University. Wind band and jazz ensembles under his leadership have consistently earned Superior and Excellent ratings and have performed at regional and national festivals. Dr. Earvin has been honored as an “Outstanding Music Educator” by the Berklee College of Music and a “Distinguished Music Educator” by the Yale University School of Music. Dr. Earvin has presented numerous professional development sessions and in-services. He has facilitated workshops in school districts throughout the country. Notably, he presented sessions at the Conn Selmer Institute, the Louisiana Association for Student Assistance Programs (LASAP) Conference, LMEA Conference, The Midwest Clinic, the Music for All Summer Symposium, the ASBDA National Convention, and the NAfME Summit. Dr. Earvin is actively involved in numerous civic and professional organizations; LASAP, LMEA, the National Association for Music Education, Kappa Kappa Psi Honorary Band Fraternity, Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia Music Fraternity, the National Band Association, Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc., a charter member of the Louisiana Music Adjudicators Association, and is a member of the Music for All Advocacy in Action Advisory Committee. He is also a founding member of the Minority Band Directors National Association
Mark Godfrey
Mark Godfrey is one of the most in-demand bass players on the Toronto jazz and creative music scene. Known for his strong sound and rhythmic presence on the instrument, Mark’s accolades include the 2019 Emerging Jazz Artist of the Year Award (Toronto Jazz Festival), the 2021 JUNO Award for Vocal Jazz Album (Sammy Jackson/With You), and the 2014 Grand Prix de Jazz (Pram Trio/Montreal Jazz Festival). As a composer, Mark’s music is “sophisticated, yet accessible” (Ted Parkinson, WholeNote Magazine) and his most recent album has been described as “a highly persuasive mix of forward-thinking original music” (Peter Hum, Ottawa Citizen).
To date, Mark has released two albums under his own name: Prologue (2018) and Square Peg (2020). Featuring a quartet and quintet respectively, the albums showcase Mark on bass and compositions, Allison Au and Matt Woroshyl on saxophones, Chris Pruden on piano, and Nick Fraser on drums.
As a supporting musician, Mark can regularly be found performing alongside fellow Toronto artists Barbra Lica, Sammy Jackson, Matt Dusk, and Teri Parker. Versatility on both electric and double bass has given Mark the opportunity to record and perform with a variety of other Canadian jazz artists over the last decade including Kellylee Evans, Joanna Majoko, Jesse Ryan, Jake Koffman, and the Toronto Jazz Orchestra among others. As an educator, Mark teaches private lessons at Wilfrid Laurier University in Waterloo, Mayfield Secondary School for the Arts in Brampton, and privately out of his home studio in Toronto.
Jocelyn Gould
2021 JUNO Award winner Jocelyn Gould has been called “a leader in the next generation of great mainstream jazz guitarists” by Howard Paul, CEO of Benedetto Guitars. Her joyful energy has captivated audiences around the world and her passion for music is as infectious as her unique ability to connect with audiences. Jocelyn has absorbed the influences of the jazz guitar greats and has woven them into an exciting personal sound, citing Wes Montgomery, Grant Green, Joe Pass and Kenny Burrell as primary influences on the guitar.
Jocelyn has performed and recorded internationally as a leader and with GRAMMY-nominated vocalist Freddy Cole, JUNO-winning trumpeter and vocalist Bria Skonberg, DownBeat Trombonist of the Year Michael Dease, Etienne Charles, Jon Gordon, Rodney Whitaker, Randy Napoleon and Diego Rivera.
Jocelyn’s debut album, Elegant Traveler, won the 2021 JUNO Award for Jazz Album of the Year: Solo. Golden Hour, her sophomore album, received international critical acclaim and reached #1 on Canadian and #9 on North American college radio jazz charts. Her Golden Hour Tour in summer 2022 showcased her music at 11 Canadian Jazz Festivals.
In 2023-2024 Jocelyn toured extensively, including a two-month North American tour with Bria Skonberg and Benny Bennack III and performances throughout Europe and the Middle East.
Jocelyn is thrilled to be releasing her new album Portrait of Right Now this fall, featuring 8 brand new compositions, a burning rendition of Wes Montgomery’s “Jingles,” and her stunning vocals on “Bewitched, Bothered and Bewildered.”
Jocelyn Gould is a Benedetto-endorsed artist.
Gregory Groover Jr
New York-born and Boston-bred, emerging saxophonist, composer, and educator Gregory Groover Jr has already left an indelible mark in the jazz world, in a short period. Saxophonist Walter Smith III describes him as a “thematic musician, who’s playing very much relates to the
song. He plays with a lot of energy, and he leads with that. The heart is the most important thing – the direction and motion of what he plays is where he really feels.” Groover’s artistry seamlessly marries genres as he continues to push the boundaries of jazz while honoring its
deep legacy.
Raised with a devotion for music, Groover’s journey in music began at a young age. His passion for jazz flourished as he honed his craft, eventually earning him a full tuition scholarship to pursue his Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Music Performance Studies at Berklee College of Music. Under the guidance of esteemed mentors like Terri Lyne Carrington, John Patitucci, Miguel Zenon, and Dave Liebman, he thrived within the acclaimed Berklee Global Jazz Institute, helmed by the renowned pianist and UNESCO Artist for Peace, Danilo Perez.
Groover’s continued dedication to his craft and unwavering commitment to excellence have solidified his position as a prominent figure in the contemporary jazz scene. As a bandleader, Groover has released two albums (Negro Spiritual Songbook, Vol 1 & 2) and will be making his Criss Cross Records debut in April 2024 with his record, Lovabye. In addition to being a bandleader, Groover is a highly sought-after collaborator having performed in music festivals in the United States, Latin America, Europe, and Africa with some of the world’s leading voices in contemporary music.
As an educator, Gregory has served as the co-chair of music at his alma mater, the Boston Arts Academy, and currently serves as the Assistant Chair of Ensemble at the world-renowned Berklee College of Music. Through his teaching, he shares his passion for music with the younger generation, inspiring them to explore their creative potential. His dedication to uplifting the next generation of artists underscores his belief in the transformative power of music.
Sanah Kadoura
JUNO nominated Lebanese-Canadian drummer, composer, educator and producer Sanah Kadoura, has quickly risen to prominence after living in New York City for a decade. Her music traverses the modern jazz idiom with hints of neo-soul and a strong musical influence from her motherland of Lebanon. Her latest release, Duality, was chosen for Best Albums of 2023 by DownBeat Magazine. Sanah has produced, recorded or shared the stage with the legendary Kirk Lighstey (Dexter Gordon, Sonny Stitt, Chet Baker), Philip Harper (Art Blakey), Ed Cherry (Dizzy Gillespie) Mark Whitfield (Herbie Hancock), Jon Baptiste, Joe Locke, Nicholas Payton, Frank Lacy (The Jazz Messengers), Mike Stern, Pat Bianchi, Joel Frahm, Roy Hargrove, Jeremy Pelt, Johnny O’Neal, Marquis Hill, Jazzmeia Horn, Ronnie Foster, among many others.
Joanna Majoko
Toronto-based vocalist, composer, and bandleader has established a reputation as one of Canada’s most exciting young singers. Joanna Majoko has been a regular presence on the bandstand with some of the country’s top musicians, including Larnell Lewis, of Snarky Puppy, Grammy-nominated artist/drummer, Ulysess Owens Jr., multi-Juno award winner & Grammy[1]nominated jazz luminary, Jane Bunnett, Juno/Grammy-award winner & Canadian Hall of Fame inductee, David Clayton-Thomas. She has performed at some of the world’s biggest festivals & venues, such as New York City’s Birdland Jazz Club, Paris’ Le Duc Des Lombards, and Switzerland’s Internationales Jazz Festival Bern. Majoko has also been the recipient of a number of notable accolades, including Emerging Jazz Artist at the 2021 Toronto Arts Foundation Awards, Jazz Artist of the Year at the 2019 ByBlacks People’s Choice Awards, major grants from the Toronto Arts Council, the Ontario Arts Council, Canada Council, and FACTOR. In 2021, she added another important entry to her list of accomplishments: the release of her debut EP, No Holding Back.
Dean McNeill
Dean McNeill has been contributing to the Canadian music scene in a variety of capacities for decades as an award-winning musician/educator and arts administrator. As Professor of Brass & Jazz for 25 years at the University of Saskatchewan (9 of which also serving as Head of the Music Department) Dean is the recipient of the UofS’s Dwaine Nelson Teaching Award, USASK Student’s Union Teaching Excellence Award, the Saskatchewan Jazz Festival’s Special Recognition Award, Saskatchewan Choral Federation’s Outstanding Administrator’s Award, and the Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee Medal (Saskatchewan). Dean is honored to have shared the stage with the likes of Jon Ballantyne, Tommy Banks, David Braid, Dee Daniels, Phil Dwyer, Hugh Fraser, Mark Fewer, Guy Few, Wycliffe Gordon, Kelly Jefferson, Ingrid Jensen, Michael Kaeshammer, Alastair Kay, Bob Mintzer, PJ Perry, Maria Schneider, Denzal Sinclaire, and Brad Turner. Dean was a member of the Saskatoon Symphony for 23 seasons. He is currently the A.D. of the Saskatoon Jazz Orchestra which is in its 11th season. Dean has been involved in many interdisciplinary projects and CDs, most notably six USASK Jazz Ensemble ‘Bumper Crop’ CDs (as conductor), various Western Canadian Music Awards-nominated CDs (e.g. The Saskatchewan Suite: The Story of Us (performer), The Complete Rebirth Of The Cool (performer), and *O Music (performer)).*Won a Western Canadian Music Award for classical composition of the year.
Dean attended MacEwan University (M.dip.), McGill University (B.Mus.Jazz), and the University of North Texas (M.Mus.Jazz). He continues to study privately with a variety of teachers/mentors.
For more information visit: http://artsandscience.usask.ca/profile/DMcNeill#/profile
Audrey Ochoa
Winner of the 2018 Edmonton Music prize, the 2020 WCMA for jazz artist of the year, Audrey Ochoa has toured with the Tony Award winning musical “Hadestown” appearing on “the Late show with James Corden”, being described as a “crowd favourite” in the Boston Globe. Audrey was recently featured as a “Rising Star” in the Trombone category of the 2024 DownBeat Critics poll. The 2023 release of Audrey’s 4th album, “The Head of a Mouse” was met with excellent reviews, with her 5th album set to be released in 2025. Ochoa has shared stages with Hilario Duran, PJ Perry, and Tommy Banks; and with international greats Lew Tabackin, Marcus Miller, Chris Potter and the UNT One O’Clock Lab Band. Exhilarating and exuberant, Audrey exemplifies an artist who has dedicated herself to expertise while remaining relevant and light-hearted. With a magnificent and fresh-faced approach, she defies categorization and plants her flag firmly as a centerpiece of the Canadian music arena.
Cynthia Peyson Wahl
Born and raised in Saskatchewan, Cynthia Peyson Wahl holds a Bachelor of Music Education (University of Regina), a diploma in Contemporary Music, Jazz Voice (Grant MacEwan University), and a Master of Music Education (University of Toronto). For fourteen years she taught choir, vocal jazz, and musical theatre at Daniel McIntyre Collegiate Institute in Winnipeg, Manitoba, and directed the jazz choir at Canadian Mennonite University. She currently teaches for Regina Public schools, and Secondary Choral Education at the University of Regina in Regina, Saskatchewan.
At DMCI her choirs were featured performers at Choralfest Manitoba, the ChoralCanada Podium conference, and the Canadian Rocky Mountain Festival in Banff. In 2011 and 2012, her choirs won the Earl Grey Trophy for Outstanding performance by a choir at the Winnipeg Music Festival, and in 2011, her Chamber Choir won the Lieutenant Governor’s Trophy for most outstanding performance of the Winnipeg Music Festival.
Cynthia is the recipient of numerous scholarships and awards for choral excellence, and is published in two books – The Palgrave Handbook on Race and the Arts in Education, and Teaching Music Through Performance in Choir, vol. 5. Cynthia enjoys a busy schedule as a clinician/workshop presenter, regularly travelling across Canada and the US to work with choirs of all genres. She is currently completing her PhD in music education at the University of Toronto.
Kathie Van Lare
Kathie Van Lare, born and raised in Calgary, has been teaching music in the Calgary area for 35 years. Now retired from full-time teaching, Kathie continues to direct the Foothills Music Society Concert Band and the Westwinds Music Society Gold Jazz South Big Band.
She is active as a guest conductor and adjudicator throughout much of Western Canada and has also served on faculty with MusiCamrose and the Calgary Regional Summer Band Workshop. Kathie is currently Co-President of Women Band Directors International – Alberta Chapter and is also Director of the newly formed Calgary Women’s Jazz Orchestra.
Bands under Kathie’s direction have been the recipients of several awards and she has been the recipient of various personal awards: Alberta Band Association’s “Elkhorn Award” as the Band Director of the Year; Alberta Band Association’s “Vondis Miller Legacy Award”; Laureate in John Philip Sousa Legion of Honor at the MidWest Band and Orchestra Conference in Chicago. Women Band Directors International, “Scroll of Excellence”; and an Honorary Lifetime Membership from the Alberta Band Association.
Kathie continues to be active as a free-lance musician (trumpet) and has performed with many groups including among others, the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra, the Rocky Mountain Symphony Orchestra, Prime Time Big Band, Calgary Jazz Orchestra, Alberta Winds and Altius Brass.
Besides music, Kathie enjoys woodworking, horseback riding and is an avid baseball fan. Go Cardinals!