2022 Adjudicators

Dr. Christine Vanderkooy

PIANO CONCERTOS

Praised for her “sensitive and passionate artistic interpretation”, Canadian pianist Christine Vanderkooy has performed as a soloist across Canada, and in the USA and Europe, including a European recital tour, the Eckhardt-Grammaté National Piano Competition, the Gaudeamus International Competition in the Netherlands, and was invited to perform at Carnegie Hall in the Dietrich Fischer Dieskau Workshop (before he cancelled!).  Christine recently returned to the Windsor Symphony Orchestra stage following her performance of the Mozart Double Piano Concerto to perform Christine was recently featured in two episodes of the Windsor Symphony Orchestra’s digital concert series performing Samuel Coleridge-Taylor’s Nonet and Bach’s Concerto No. 5 in F minor for Piano and String Orchestra.  Her CD release, Schubert and Schumann, was recorded at the Banff Centre for the Arts and has enjoyed critical acclaim including a cover story for Tempo magazine as well as radio play on CBC Radio and stations across the continent.  Christine’s upcoming album release, recorded at the Glenn Gould Studio during Toronto’s lockdown in December 2020, is expected later this year and comprises two works composed by Schubert in the twilight of his life—the Sonata in C-minor, D. 958, and Drei Klavierstücke, D. 946. 

Christine’s national reputation as a piano pedagogue is reflected in regular invitations to adjudicate festivals and competitions, including the B.C., Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Quebec Provincials, the National Piano Competition for the CFMTA (Canadian Federation of Music Teacher’s Associations, 2011 and 2019) and as a judge for the Canadian JUNO Awards.  Christine has been invited to give masterclasses at the University of Lethbridge, Regina Conservatory, McMaster University, Bishop’s University, the Alberta Registered Music Teachers’ Association, and the CFMTA national convention.  An enthusiastic supporter of amateur musicians, Christine taught and performed for many years at CAMMAC’s summer festival (Canadian Amateur Musicians Musiciens Amateur Canadiens) in Laurentides, QC. 

Christine’s contributions as a writer and presenter include a conference presentation in Florence, Italy, and an invited presentation at the University of Arizona on the psychological and physiological aspects of Music Performance Anxiety, a presentation at the national convention of the Canadian Federation of Music Teachers’ Associations on Beethoven’s pedaling in piano works, and a presentation at Bishop’s University on Russian piano literature.  By invitation, Christine has contributed an article for the Royal Conservatory of Music blog, designed a course for RCM’s use entitled “Piano Pedagogy:  Gesture and Sound”, and traveled with the senior pedagogy team across Alberta as a presenter for the RCM Teacher Professional Development Seminars. 

Christine’s major teachers include David McIntyre, Boyd McDonald, Tom Plaunt, Sara Laimon, and Marc Durand.  Having studied and taught at McGill University where she earned a Doctor of Music (D.Mus.) degree in Piano Performance, Christine has since held positions at the University of Prince Edward Island, University of Windsor, Lakehead University, and the University of Regina, and is pleased to have joined the University of Windsor’s Faculty of Education in 2017 where she is an Associate Professor.  While teaching online at home, Christine is frequently visited upon by her two bouncing young children and can be seen skidding between bouts of virtual school, the kitchen, dining room office, piano practice, and river walks with her lovely husband and kiddos.