Our 2023 Adjudicators

Isabelle Brassard-Porter

Isabelle Brassard-Porter has had a long musical career as a performer, conductor and educator. As a professional flutist and piccoloist, she had the chance to perform orchestral masterworks from the post romantic era for thirty-two seasons with the Ottawa Symphony Orchestra. Ms. Brassard-Porter was the head of the instrumental music program at the Béatrice-Desloges High School Specialized Arts Program where she conducted numerous ensembles including the Béatrice-Desloges Senior Wind Orchestra which has won the highest honors at numerous festivals in Canada, the United States and Europe. In 2012, MusicFest Canada recognized Ms. Brassard-Porter with the Keith Mann Outstanding Director Award of Excellence. Over the course of her career, Isabelle has inspired countless young people to discover the joy and benefits of making music and is happy to continue this mission at MusicFest Canada . 

Interprète, chef d'orchestre et éducatrice sont quelques-uns des rôles assumés par Isabelle Brassard-Porter au cours d'une longue carrière musicale. Flûtiste et piccoliste professionnelle, elle a eu la chance de jouer de grandes oeuvres post-romantiques avec l’Orchestre symphonique d’Ottawa pendant trente-deux saisons. Comme enseignante, Madame Brassard-Porter a été à la tête du programme de musique instrumentale au sein du Programme Spécialisé en Arts de l’École secondaire Béatrice-Desloges. À titre de chef d’orchestre, Isabelle a dirigé de nombreux ensembles dont l’Orchestre à vent senior Béatrice-Desloges qui a remporté les plus hauts honneurs à de nombreux festivals au Canada, aux États-Unis et en Europe. En 2012, MusicFest Canada a reconnu madame Brassard-Porter en lui décernant le prix d’excellence Keith Mann Outstanding Director Award. Au cours de sa carrière, Isabelle a inspiré d’innombrables jeunes à découvrir la joie et les bienfaits de faire de la musique et est heureuse de continuer cette mission à MusicFest Canada.

Alain Cazes

Awarded first prize in tuba and chamber music at the Conservatoire de Musique de Montréal, Alain Cazes pursued his studies in the United States with Joseph Novotny, Donald Harry and Ronald Bishop. In Brazil, he has been Principal tuba with the Paraïba State Orchestra, member of the Brass-IL Quintet, and professor at the Federal University of Paraïba (UFPB). He has taught at the Université du Québec in Montreal, the Conservatoire de Musique de Montréal and the Université de Montréal, where he was in charge of Wind orchestras, brass department, teaching tuba, chamber music and conducting. 

A frequent soloist, he has performed the radio "première" of several Canadian works for tuba and also lectures on orchestra conducting and brass pedagogy. He adjudicates regularly at several Music Festivals and Competitions in the ten Canadian provinces and internationally. He teaches during summer at the Orford Art Center, Domaine Forget, and the Simposio Internazionale d’Ottoni in Ascoli, Italy. 

Principal tuba with the Orchestre Métropolitain in Montreal, he has also performed with the Montreal Symphony and many other orchestras in the world under the direction of conductors such as; Mehta, Nézet-Séguin, Dutoit, Decker, Baudo, Foster, Kmura, Muller, Toppilow, Grossmann, Zukerman, Veltri, De la Parra, and many others. He has

been co-director of the Orchestre Métropolitain Choir, has been Musical Director of the Montreal Pop Orchestra. He has also conducted the Orchestre Métropolitain and the Orchestre de Drumondville. Alain Cazes, a founding member of the Philharmonie des vents du Québec. 

As a retired full time Professor at the Schulich School of Music of McGill University, he was conductor of the Wind Orchestra, taught conducting and chamber music. He has written

numerous arrangements for a variety of instrumental ensembles published by GAM. He has also written numerous arrangements for wind orchestra and mixed choir. He is Vice-President of CIME music.

Yves Laroche

Yves Laroche has worked since 1993 as music director and a jazz and classical piano teacher atthe Bells Corners Academy of Music in Ottawa, overseeing an intensive jazz ensemble program and a highly popular summer jazz camp. Yves studied with Dave Hildinger and Douglas Voice, among others. He is a performance instructor in jazz piano at Carleton University and has been apart-time faculty member at the School of Music at the University of Ottawa for over 25 years, teaching Elements of music, Arranging and Jazz Ensemble. He also appeared as guest performer at an alumni gala concert. Yves is music director of the convocation ceremonies at Saint Paul University. He received a Great Grant Award from the Trillium Foundation for his excellence in jazz education at the elementary school level. Yves Laroche helped establish jazz programming for Café Nostalgica and the Jazz Vespers Series at All-Saints Anglican Church in Westboro. 

As well, he has adjudicated the jazz band categories for the Rhythms Festival and MusicFest. On three occasions, he has adjudicated amateur music grants for the City of Ottawa. Over more than two decades, Yves Laroche has performed at major events, including the Ottawa International Jazz Festival, the Tulip Festival, the Festival Franco-Ontarien and the Canadian Grand Masters Fiddle Championship. His television appearances include The Rita McNeil Show, Chez-Nous and The Morning Show. He also worked as an arranger for CBC Radio’s Ottawa In Concert featuring Vanessa London. Recently, his jazz composition “For Oscar” was aired on the CBCRadio jazz music program Tonic. Yves Laroche has performed with the Ewashko Singers, theCantata Singers of Ottawa, Capital Vox and the Orpheus Theatre Company, and he was musicaldirector and pianist for the National Art Centre production of Angel Square by Brian Doyle.

His vast musical theatre experience includes productions of Jesus Christ Superstar, Godspell and Once Upon A Mattress. As a jazz sideman, he plays regularly with the Pollcats, the Peter Liu Trio, the Rick Rangno Project and the Doug Martin Quartet. He regularly plays private engagements at the Embassade de France, Rideau Hall, the Rideau Club, the Chateau Laurier, and is featured at the Brookstreet Hotel, Zolas, The Apothecary Cocktail Lounge, Das Lokal, and The Montgomery Scotch Lounge. Yves is a 30-year member of the Ottawa-Gatineau Musicians’ Association Local 180.

Dave Neill

Born and raised in Ottawa, saxophonist Dave Neill moved to Toronto in 1995 to pursue a jazz performance degree from the University of Toronto, where he studied with Alex Dean and Mike Murley. 

Working as a performer, adjudicator and clinician, Dave is active on the freelance scene, including jobs with Johnny Mathis, Wayne Newton, Frankie Valli, Regis Philbin, Nikki Yanofsky, Kirk MacDonald JazzOrchestra and he appears on the recently released Alex Dean Big Band recording. Now a full-time professor at Humber College, Dave is the Academic Advisor and teaches a variety ofcourses, including Music Business. Furthermore, Dave plays a role mentoring the next generation of performers at the Youth Jazz Canada Summer Jazz Workshop. 

Previously, he taught at the University of Toronto from 2004-2016, the Humber College Community Music School from 2000-2015 and the IMC Jazz Camp (2000-2018). Dave completed his Master’s in Jazz Performance at the University of Toronto, and has released two CDs as a leader.  His debut quartet CD All In featured his original compositions, while his follow-up CD Daylight was named as one of the top Canadian Jazz CDs of 2014 by Peter Hum of the Ottawa Citizen.

Terry Porter

Performer, conductor and educator; Terry Porter began as a freelance clarinettist, performing with the Vancouver Symphony, Ottawa Symphony, Royal Winnipeg Ballet and Mel Torme Orchestras. 

As a conductor, Captain Porter was Director of Music of the Governor General’s Foot Guards Band for twelve years where he led performances supporting local events and those of all levels of government. Mr. Porter also led ensembles, both student and professional, in performances abroad including nine European tours. 

As an educator, he has helped young people discover the joys and benefits we all share, having music in our lives. Terry Porter is thrilled to be part of the adjudication team here at Capital Region MusicFest.

Geoffrey Sirett 

Geoffrey Sirett is a singer, voice educator and conductor. As an opera singer, his career highlights include engagements with the Canadian Opera Company, Opéra de Montréal, Edmonton Opera, Vancouver Opera, Tapestry Opera, and Against the Grain Theatre. Geoffrey was the recipient of the 2018 Dora award for outstanding performance. On the concert stage, Geoffrey has performed across Canada and the United States, including engagements with the Toronto Symphony Orchestra, Edmonton Symphony, Victoria Symphony, and Winnipeg Symphony.

Geoffrey is the Artistic-Executive Director of the award-winning Cantabile Choirs of Kingston. Geoffrey is Music Director for the indie opera company Bicycle Opera Project, and their upcoming film Sweat. Geoffrey holds BMUS and Artist Diploma (Western University), MMUS in Opera (University of Toronto). Geoffrey is a passionate advocate for mental wellness and resources for artists. He holds a Masters in Counselling Psychology (Yorkville University) and is a RP (Qualifying) with the College of Registered Psychotherapists of Ontario.