Adjudicators

Dr. Yoana Kyurkchieva - Senior Piano 

A native of Bulgaria and also a Canadian citizen, Yoana Kyurkchieva has enjoyed a dynamic musical career as a concert pianist, pedagogue, and adjudicator. Her solo and chamber music appearances include performances throughout Bulgaria, Romania, Austria, Germany, Holland, Greece, Russia, the United States and Canada. She has participated in masterclasses under renowned pedagogues such as Tamara Poddubnaya, Lazar Berman, Boris Bloch, and Menahem Pressler. 

Yoana holds a Master of Music in Piano Performance, Chamber Music, Collaboration, and Pedagogy from the National Music Academy in Bulgaria (2007). She won a merit scholarship to attend the University of North Carolina School of the Arts in the United States, and earned her second Master of Music degree and the Postgraduate Professional Artist Certificate in Piano Performance (2010). Yoana has also won F.S. Chia Doctoral scholarship to attend the University of Alberta in Canada and earned a Doctor of Music degree in Piano Performance (2015). Her principal teachers include Professor Atanas Kurtev, Professor Eric Larsen, and Professor Jacques Després.

Yoana is the recipient of prestigious piano competitions and scholarships worldwide including First Prize and the Edmonton Chamber Music Society in Edmonton; First Prize at the MTNA State Steinway Competition in Young Artist Piano, NC; First Prize at the Academy Chamber Music Competition in Bulgaria; Second Prize at the Long Island Conservatory in NYC; Third Prize at “The Seiler,” Competition in Bulgaria; First Prize at the Competition for French Music in Bulgaria; and Second Prize at the International Competition “Carl Filtch,” in Romania.

Dr. Kyurkchieva is a certified teacher, advanced specialist, and piano examiner from (RCM) The Royal Conservatory of Music. She is also a member of ARMTA (Alberta Registered Music Teachers’ Association), and CMFAA (Canadian Music Festival Adjudicator’ Association). Yoana’s mission as a pedagogue is to prepare students to exceed their creative and artistic talent in cultivating a musical way of playing with sensitive tone quality. She is maintaining a full private teaching studio in Edmonton. Her students have received first-class honours and medals in RCM exams, and have been globally recognized through top awards and scholarships locally, nationally, and internationally in music festivals, competitions, and master classes. 






Michael Faulkner - Junior & Intermediate Piano 

An active member of the Ontario Registered Music Teachers’ Association (ORMTA) Kingston Branch, Canadian Federation of Music Teachers Associations (CFMTA) and National Association of Teachers of Singing (NATS) Michael Faulkner holds a Bachelor of Music Degree from Queen’s University, Kingston and is also a graduate of the Royal Conservatory of Music A.R.C.T. (Piano Performer and Teacher, Vocal Performer and Teacher). Michael is also a member of the Canadian Music Festivals Adjudicators Association (CMFAA) and has adjudicated numerous music festivals locally, provincially and nationally, competitions as well as giving Masterclasses and performances within these communities across Canada. 

Known for his musical insight, beautiful tone and technical command, Michael began his music studies at age four, participating in numerous music festivals and competitions receiving many top awards and distinctions. 

Michael enjoys a rewarding career as teacher of more than 60 weekly students of all ages and levels in piano, voice, pedagogy and theory. He teaches in person and online to students from across the country. Many of his students have received top honours, distinctions and awards throughout Canada and a large number have pursued careers in music as well. He also actively performs in his own community and across Canada and is well versed in Opera, Oratorio and Music Theatre repertoire. As an accompanist Michael is in high demand working with singers and instrumentalists of all ages and abilities from beginner to professional level. Michael has also enjoyed working for a number of years with Conservatory Canada as an examiner in piano and voice. He is a member teacher with Music for Young Children (MYC) and believes the start of music education at an early age is very important. For more than 35 years Michael has worked as a Church musician and frequently is asked to provide musical service and guidance to many Worship denominations.  Michael’s community choir, Let’s Make a Choir in the Quinte region has more than 50 voices singing for various charities. Even virtually the community choir has remained strong rehearsing regularly.  Michael believes that music is a lifelong passion and is always looking for new musical challenges and enrichment. Michael is an avid animal lover and enjoys skiing, hiking, attending music concerts and theatre. 





Sarah Dommasch - Speech Arts

Sarah Dommasch is an experienced and passionate educator with over a decade of expertise in voice performance, drama, and speech arts. Known for her upbeat and encouraging teaching style, she has a unique gift for connecting with learners and meeting them where they are in their journey. Her diverse background in arts education enables her to share the joy of the arts in her private studio, online platforms, and in her music classroom at Langley Christian School.

Sarah is thrilled to join the CDMF as an adjudicator, a role that feels especially meaningful to her. As someone who has fond memories of participating in the festival as a child, she is delighted to be apart of an event that played a formative role in her personal and artistic journey.