Kathaumixw Jury & Guest Conductors

Don James, C.M. - Canada

No dream can be successful without a visionary. The dream of holding an international choral music festival in Powell River belonged to Don James 23 years ago. Since then, the dream, in the form of International Choral Kathaumixw, has become a reality, and it has been embraced and propelled by the community of Powell River, British Columbia.

Mr. James settled in Powell River after graduating in Orchestral Conducting from the University of Washington in the early 1970s. Over the past 30 years he has enjoyed an enviable career as a conductor,  music educator and musical entrepreneur. He is the founder and music director of the Powell River Academy of Music, International Choral Kathaumixw and Symphony & Opera Academy of the Pacific. more...

Fred Sjöberg - Sweden

Fred Sjöberg born 1953 studied as a singer and choral conductor (M.M.) at the Royal Academy of Music in Stockholm and Örebro. He studied with Professor Solvieg Grippe, Eric Ericson and Helmuth Rilling.

Fred works in a broad spectrum of music styles including jazz, a cappella, major classic works, pop, contemporary etc.

He works often as a conductor or tenor soloist and is well known from J S Bach St. Johns Passion to spectacular choir gala concerts at the Globe Arena in Stockholm.  more...

Arthur Arnold - The Netherlands

Arthur Arnold, Music Director and Conductor of the Symphony Orchestra Academy of the Pacific, studied conducting with Anton Kersjes in the Netherlands. He undertook practical training with Marcello Viotti, Jean Fournet and Graeme Jenkins. In 1996 he was awarded by the “Prins Bernhard Foundation” to study at the Accademia Chigiana in Siena (Italy) with Myung-Whun Chung. He was given the Busenhart Morgan-Evans scholarship to participate in masterclasses with Diego Masson, Jorma Panula and Gianluigi Gelmetti. In England he conducted Rigoletto, Don Giovanni and Falstaff during the Dartington International Summer School of Music. (’96, ’97, ’98).

Arthur Arnold has been assistant conductor of Hans Vonk. He assisted the maestro with the Saint Louis Symphony Orchestra (USA), Orchestre Philharmonique de Radio France, the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra Amsterdam, the Rotterdam Philharmonic Orchestra, the Radio Philharmonic Orchestra Holland, Netherlands Radio Symphony Orchestra and The Netherlands Opera.  more...

Jean-Claude Wilkens - France

Born of a family where music was an important part of life, Jean-Claude Wilkens studied music and mathematics at Seraing Music School and at Liège Royal Conservatory both in Belgium. Later, he studied choir conducting with Pierre Cao at the Luxemburg Conservatory and attended workshops of choir conducting with maestros Lucien Jean-Baptiste, Philippe Caillard, Fernando Eldoro and Eric Ericson.

His teaching career in secondary schools was diverted to that of cultural management, first with Jeunesses Musicales where he was director for four years and then as Executive Director of the International Center for Choral Music in Namur, Belgium. Presently, Mr. Wilkens is serving as the Secretary General of the International Federation for Choral Music. more...

Sarah Fryer - Great Brittan

British/ Canadian mezzo-soprano Sarah Fryer began her musical studies as a specialist music pupil at Wells Cathedral School, where she studied flute & singing. After gaining an Honours degree in Theology from Exeter University she continued her vocal studies at the Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester (where she was awarded the Onckin Prize for performance) and in Florence, with the distinguished Belgian soprano Suzanne Danco. She has worked in master classes at the Britten-Pears school for Advanced Musical Studies with Sir Peter Pears, Hugues Cuenod, Heather Harper, John Shirley-Quirk, Kurt Equiluz and Galina Vishnevskaya. In 1993 she was a finalist in the Royal Overseas League singing competition and in 1994 she received sponsorship from the British Wagner Society. more ...

Colin Balzer - Canada

Born in British Columbia, Canada, tenor Colin Balzer received his formal musical training at the University of British Columbia with David Meek and at the Hochchule für Musik Augsburg with Canadian soprano Edith Wiens.

The last couple of years have seen Colin performing diverse repertoire ranging from Monteverdi to Penderecki with critical acclaim in both Canada and Europe with such conductors as Bernard Labadie, Yoav Talmi, Christof Prick, Helmuth Rilling and Simone Young. This past season had Colin singing masses from Gounod, Bruckner, Dvorák, and Schubert, King David by Honneger, Mendelssohn's Elijah, Handel's Messiah, Britten's War Requiem at the Britten. Festival in England, Acis in a Munich production of Acis and Galatera, and Lucano, Soldato and Familiari in Festival Vancouver's production of Monteverdi's L'incoronatione di Poppea.  more...

Gunnel Sjöberg - Sweden

Gunnel Sjöberg received her training as a singing teacher from the School of Music at the University of Örebro. She has also studied at the Royal University College of Music in Stockholm. Gunnel is a frequent soloist in such works as the St John Passion, the St Matthew Passion and the Christmas Oratorio of Bach and the Requiems of Mozart and Fauré. She has also appeared in several TV shows and concerts. Ms. Sjöberg performs a wide range of repertoire; however, baroque music is closest to her heart. Gunnel has worked with such renowned conductors as Eric Ericson, Anders Öhrwall, Helmuth Rilling and Nikolaus Harnoncourt. Gunnel has sung with the Örebro Chamber Choir for several years.

Ay-Laung Wang - Canada

Ay-Laung Wang is an active recitalist whose superb musicianship, excellent technique, and great personal charm make her a favorite with audiences and congregations wherever she performs.

Ay-Laung graduated from Trinity Western University where she excelled in her piano and conducting studies. While at Trinity Western University, she served with great distinction as special assistant conductor to the TWU choirs. She continued her studies at UBC with Edward Norman receiving a Masters of Music with top standing in organ performance. She also holds performer and teacher ARCT diplomas from the Royal Conservatory of Toronto. more...

Tobin Stokes - Canada

Tobin was born in North Vancouver and first lived in Horseshoe Bay, B.C. His family moved to Powell River, where he eventually became a charter member of the award-winning Powell River Boy's Choir, performing, competing and touring in many countries. He trained first as a pianist, and went on to study music at the University of Victoria. He completed a degree in percussion and began composing in 1989.

From years of experience as a performer in many genres, Tobin is comfortable working in a variety of styles. He is a prolific composer for film, theatre, opera, orchestra and other ensembles, and large events. His music for television has aired on all the Canadian networks, he has been commissioned by CBC Radio Two, Festival Vancouver, the 2010 Olympic Bid, and many others. He has been Composer-in-Residence for the Kathaumixw Choral Festival, the Symphony and Opera Academy of the Pacific, and most recently, was awarded a Composer-in-Residence position with the Victoria Symphony.

After living and working in Vancouver, Toronto, the Gulf Islands, and Montreal, he has returned to live and work in Victoria, B.C. Tobin is married with two children.