Adjudicators

Charles Lin - Senior Piano 

In demand across the country as an educator, lecturer and adjudicator, pianist Charles Lin’s commitment of excellence in the field of piano pedagogy has led to local and international recognitions through his students’ performances. In addition to giving workshops and  masterclasses, he is an active member with The Royal Conservatory of Music’s College of Examiners, instructs Applied Music of Piano and Piano Pedagogy at the University of Toronto, and serves as the Director of the University of Toronto Piano Pedagogy Program (UTPPP). In his position at the UTPPP, Charles oversees the creation of a well-rounded musical experience for young beginners and provides graduate students with the opportunity to teach both group and private lessons. He maintains a successful studio in Toronto with students as young as four years old.

Charles holds his Bachelor's and Master's degrees in Piano Performance and Pedagogy from the University of Toronto, under the tutelage of Marietta Orlov and Midori Koga; further studies in children’s piano pedagogy with Irina Gorin through The Gorin Institute. His early years studies were with Alexandra Munn at the Alberta College Conservatory of Music, and Janet Scott-Hoyt at the University of Alberta. He has worked with world renowned pianists and educators including Lee Kum-Sing, Anton Kuerti, André Laplante, Krzysztof Jablonski, John Perry, Richard Raymond, Marc Durand, James Anagnoson, and Angela Cheng; chamber music with Steven Isserlis, Lydia Wong, Martin Beaver (Tokyo String Quartet), Gabriel Le Magadure (The Ébène Quartet), Annalee Patipatanakoon/Roman Borys/James Parker (Gryphon Trio), Geoff Nuttal/Scott St. John/Lesley Robertson/Christopher Costanza (St. Lawrence String Quartet), and Timothy Ying/Janet Ying/Phillip Ying/David Ying (Ying String Quartet). He is the recipient of The Alberta Foundation for the Arts Grant, The University of Toronto Fellowship, and The Winspear Fund for Advanced Classical Music Studies.

Performance highlights include appearances at the 14th World Piano Pedagogy Conference in Phoenix, Arizona, the Toronto Summer Music Festival, the Academy at Centre d'arts Orford, and a soloist with the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra and the Concordia University College Orchestra. He is a member of the Canadian Music Festival Adjudicators’ Association.







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.