2025 OCTA Recipients

Susan is honoured to receive the OCTA from her hometown Branch of ORMTA. Susan has spent her life in music and the arts and continues to have a mosaic career there. She was bitten by the lyric theatre bug at a very young age. Her first real performances were on a children’s TV variety show at the age of 5. She sang and performed all through childhood and high school and a few years later Susan graduated from The University of Toronto with a Bachelor of Music in Performance. This was followed by a Master’s in Performance Studies from City University and the Guild Hall (London, England). She is also an Associate of The Royal Conservatory of Music, Toronto, an emeritus member of The National Association of Teachers of Singing, and a member of both Canadian Actors’ Equity Association, and The Association of Canadian Television and Radio Artists. A member of ORMTA since 2005, Susan has served on the Ottawa Region Branch’s Executive and Council in many capacities, including President, and she is currently serving on Provincial Council managing the Competitions portfolio. Although Susan taught voice from her mid-twenties, the focus of her early career was on performance. A former regional winner in the Metropolitan Opera Auditions, Susan performed in opera, operetta, and musical theatre across Canada and in Europe with such companies as The Canadian Opera Company, Opera Lyra Ottawa, Comus Music Theatre, Toronto Operetta Theatre, and Festival Estival Musical. Chamber opera has always had a special appeal for Susan, and she created three roles in that genre: Baby (Baby), The Judge (Space Opera), and Sally (Killing Time). Her concert work includes numerous recitals in Toronto, Vancouver, Washington, D.C., London, Brussels, and other Canadian and European cities. Closer to home she has performed at The National Arts Centre, as a soloist with the Musica Viva Singers, in Opera Gelato, in the Opera in Piazza concerts during Italian Week, with the Ceremonial Band of The Governor General’s Foot Guards, at Rideau Hall, and in recital at the residence of the British High Commissioner. Her performances have been heard on CBC Radio and on Belgian and Canadian television. Susan is passionate about teaching and has maintained a private vocal studio for almost forty years teaching in Ottawa, Toronto, Brussels, Geneva, and London (England). Her students include professional classical and musical theatre singers, actors, and dancers, university music performance students, aspiring high school students, and amateur performers. She has taught singing in conjunction with Canterbury High School in Ottawa since 1988. Susan joined Carleton Music as a performance instructor in 2002, shortly after her return from Europe, and has also lectured there in both the History of Opera and of Musical Theatre. Since 2013 she has been the director of the University’s Lyric Theatre Ensemble. On the academic front, Susan wrote some sixty signed articles on singers for German music encyclopaedia Die Musik in Geschickte und Gegenwart. She remains a sought-after vocal adjudicator and gives workshops and masterclasses on vocal pedagogy, interpretation, stress awareness and relaxation, and performance anxiety.

From the branch:

The support and all the work she brought to the Ottawa music scene have been immense. Her diligence and constant hard work are unstoppable. In addition, she volunteered a lot of her time and years to the association as part of the council and past president.

Jennifer Carter finds much joy in guiding students to discover their voices. She has owned Resound Voice Studio and taught privately since 2008, first in Welland, and since 2017 in Kitchener. Her students vary in age from 8 to senior citizen, and sing as worship leaders, in choirs, community theatre, opera, classical recitals, and rock bands. Principally an opera singer, she has performed in Canada, the US, the UK and Germany in opera and recitals. Described as “A wonderfully honest and communicative performer,” embodying “dramatic intensity and vocal ease,” her roles include Ariadne auf Naxos, Suor Angelica, Norma, Valkyries and Rheinmaidens, Chrysothemis in Elektra, Donna Anna in Don Giovanni, Nedda in Pagliacci, and Silvia in Zanetto. She holds an Honours Bachelor of Fine Arts in Music from York University, Toronto, and a Master of Music in Voice from the University of Manitoba, Winnipeg. Ms. Carter is the 2nd Vice-President of the Ontario Chapter of the National Association of Teachers of Singing (NATS); and a member of the Ontario Registered Music Teachers Association (ORMTA); and the Canadian Federation of Music Teachers’ Association (CFMTA). She is also a member of Aligned and Aware: Solutions for the Singing Body – a library of movement videos by body alignment and singing expert, Sarah Whitten; and Bel Canto Boot Camp, an organization that is promoting musical literacy and technical advancement in the classical singing realm. She was a charter member of the SpeakEasy Cooperative 2017-2020. She is also the founder and Artistic Director of Grand River Opera, in Waterloo Region, an opera company prioritzing women and singers in leadership roles, community involvement, and casting local artists.

From the branch:

The KW-ORTMA branch is pleased to nominate Jennifer Carter for the prestigious Contribution to Teaching Award this year. Jennifer has been an active member for many years and she exemplifies ORMTA's mission to foster excellence in music teaching and music making in the community. Jennifer is in demand as both an active performer and dedicated teacher in our region and she participates regularly in our branch activities. We are grateful that she enters so many singers in our events so that our recitals have a variety of genres represented. Jennifer's outstanding organizational skills are an asset to our branch as she has helped to run the branch competition and spring recitals for many years. She has also been willing to share her talent in our outreach concerts raising awareness and funds for a local bursary program to help support music education in our community. We appreciate her involvement and congratulate her on this achievement.

Amanda’s passion for music began at age 7 when she begged her parents for piano lessons. By Grade 8, she had completed her Grade 9 RCM piano and started teaching under her teacher’s watchful eye. She earned her ARCT in 1986 and became an active member of the Ontario Registered Music Teachers' Association. Over 45 years, Amanda has shared her love for music with students of all ages, many of whom have pursued successful musical careers. After earning a Bachelor of Music from the University of Toronto in 1988, Amanda taught elementary school music before transitioning to a full-time in-home piano studio. Teaching is her passion, and she believes music teaches more than just notes—it teaches life lessons! She tailors lessons to each student, fostering a nurturing environment where they explore both classical and contemporary music. Many of Amanda’s students have excelled in Kiwanis Festivals, recitals, masterclasses, and performed at nursing homes and open mics. Recently, one of her students was awarded a Gold Medal for the highest mark in Ontario on his Level 8 exam. Amanda’s contributions to ORMTA began in 1990, where she served as VP, President, and Past President. She led initiatives such as launching a newsletter and website, organizing workshops, and helping host a Provincial Convention in Oshawa. She also organized fundraising events, including a Play-a-Thon at Loblaws, assisted with Piano Monster Concerts, and served as Eastern Zone Representative for a year. Amanda enjoys being involved in her community. She was Entertainment Coordinator for Relay for Life, accompanist for the General Motors Choir, and Artistic Director for the Oshawa Jazz & Blues Festival. She also served as Music Director at St. Paul’s Presbyterian Church for 13 years. During the pandemic, Amanda and her husband live-streamed performances from their basement and later their driveway, collecting “tips” to donate to 17 local charities. Amanda dreamed of becoming an RCM Examiner like her teacher, Earle Moss. She has been an Examiner for 32 years and was recently honoured with a Service Recognition Award from the Royal Conservatory of Music. She has also adjudicated at several music festivals and given workshops on Performance Anxiety and Technique. In her spare time, she teaches swimming, sings, performs in local pubs with her husband, and is learning the fiddle. Amanda believes music has the power to connect, heal, and transform lives. Through her teaching, performances, and community involvement, she continues to inspire.

From the branch:

I first met Amanda in the early 1990s. She encouraged me to attend a national conference in Ottawa. This began a long running friendship and respect for Amanda. Amanda was one of the younger members of our branch and yet she took on major responsibilities. She was branch president when Oshawa branch hosted a provincial conference. She arranged a duet club for her fellow teachers that was quite successful and fun for our members. Amanda continued to work hard professionally eventually becoming an examiner for the Royal Conservatory. Amanda has been a resource and friend many times over the years. During a difficult time of illness for her, it was a privilege to support her and see her work so hard to come back to her "normal" life of teaching, examining, swimming instruction, hiking with her dogs and husband and entertaining crowds with her band on weekends. Over time, she has managed to come back STRONG....and humbly. It gives me great pleasure to nominate Amanda de Boer for this teacher award (OCTA).

Dr. Chris Foley is a pianist dedicated to the fields of pedagogy, opera, contemporary music, art song, and chamber music. At the Eastman School of Music, he received a Doctor of Musical Arts degree in 1994, majoring in Piano Accompanying and Chamber Music as a student of Jean Barr and David Burge. He is on the faculty of the Royal Conservatory of Music, where he also serves as a senior examiner. He spent fourteen summers as Resident Accompanist at the Bowdoin International Music Festival in Brunswick, Maine. In 1989 at the Eckhardt-Grammaté Competition for the Performance of Contemporary Music, he won first prize for the performance of the commissioned work and third prize overall. In 1991, he won first prize in piano at the Kneisel Competition for the Performance of German Lieder in Rochester, New York. As pianist and repetiteur for Tapestry New Opera, he has been involved with numerous productions, as well as being on the creative team for Tapestry's unique Composer/Librettist and Director/Musical Director laboratories. In 2010 he was the first Leadership Legacy Intern at Tapestry, where he created the Tapestry Songbook program, a workshop and recital program aimed at educating emerging singers and pianists in the new opera development process. Highly active as a clinician, live and webinar appearances include the 2016 ORMTA Summer Convention, The Royal Conservatory's Summer Summit, National Conference for Keyboard Pedagogy, the University of Rochester, The Frances Clark Center for Keyboard Pedagogy, The Aspen Music Festival, Collabfest, Tom Lee Music Canada, Trinity Western University, and Millionaire Musician. Some of the many venues at which he has recently performed include the Eastman School of Music Faculty Concert Series, the University of Western Ontario, Cleveland State Composers’ Forum, Vancouver International New Music Festival, April in Santa Cruz, and Toronto's Word on the Street. As author of the Collaborative Piano Blog, he writes about issues of importance to the collaborative pianist, as well as current musical events in Toronto and elsewhere.

From the branch:

Chris has been an active member of ORMTA's Hamilton-Halton Branch for nearly two decades, making significant contributions. He has served as President, chaired various non-executive roles, and introduced positive changes that benefit both teachers and students, all while exemplifying quality, passion, and integrity. Together with his wife, Wendy Hatala Foley, Chris co-created the Foley Music and Arts Studio in Oakville, Ontario, which offers music lessons and showcases Wendy's original artwork. As a private teacher, RCM Senior Examiner, and collaborative pianist, Chris regularly adjudicates and performs across Canada and the United States. His students, many of whom are at advanced levels, are known for their sensitivity and exceptional performance quality. In addition to his musical endeavors, Chris enjoys writing and publishing a newsletter and the Foley Music and Arts blog, which have inspired many over the years. It’s clear that Chris not only loves what he does, but also does what he loves.

Brian McDowell has been a lifelong resident of North Bay and has been involved in teaching music for over 50 years. At age 10, Brian first took lessons from an Italian gentleman who was mostly accomplished on the mandolin. He promptly taught Brian how to tremolo, a skill that finally paid off when “Surfin” music came into style. Shortly afterward his mother sought out the services of Russ Smith who set Brian on the path to his life’s work and joy. At the Royal Conservatory of Music, in Toronto, Brian studied classical guitar with Norbert Kraft and theoretical subjects with David Paul. Following studies with Mr. Kraft were four more years of lessons with Eli Kassner, at his Toronto Guitar Academy. While studying, Brian was employed by Russ Smith who owned Music City. There he worked in the store and began teaching beginner level students. In 1975 he completed all of the conservatory requirements and received the Royal Conservatory's Associate Diploma (A.R.C.T.) in classical guitar performance. Along with this and his students’ examination results, he qualified to become a member of the North Bay Branch of the Ontario Registered Music Teachers’ Association (ORMTA). His classical performances included numerous solo and ensemble recitals as well as concerts in and around North Bay. He performed guitar concertos with the North Bay Symphony on two separate occasions. He was also a featured soloist in a series of concerts with the North Bay Chamber Singers. It was about this time that Brian formed a partnership with Russ Smith and opened “Music Craft Studios” which employed approximately 12 full and part time music teachers. “Music Craft Studios” was in operation over a period of about 15 years finally closing when it seemed impossible to keep the most qualified teachers from branching out on their own. After closing the studio, he continued teaching privately out of his home studio and then joined the staff at “Brava Music Studios” for a period of approximately 10 years. He presently continues to teach privately under the business name of “Brian McDowell Guitar Lessons Plus” in his home studio. He was invited on several occasions to teach at a Summer Arts School in Kirkland Lake and also traveled to Windsor and Sudbury to adjudicate their music festivals. His students have been counted among the very best in the province. On eleven occasions, they have been awarded the Royal Conservatory Silver Medal for obtaining the highest mark in Ontario in their particular guitar grade on a particular year. These awards have been won at virtually every level including grade 10. His students have been recognized locally by the ORMTA for excellence in performance and theoretical studies. His services as a teacher have been sought out by students who travel from as far away as Ottawa. A number of his former students have gone on to graduate from university music programs and have begun professional careers of their own. Several have gone on to succeed in the commercial music business. He has written and self-published a number of instructional manuals for guitar and electric bass. In 2005, the North Bay Branch of the Ontario Registered Music Teachers’ Association nominated him for a provincial Special Teacher’s Award which he received in 2006. This award was one of the highlights in his musical career. He served as president of the North Bay Branch of ORMTA from June 2015 to June 2017 and then again from June 2021 to June 2024. From June 2019 to June 2021, he was secretary of the North Bay Branch. Over the years Brian has also performed with many types of musical ensembles from pop to jazz as well as many local musical theatre productions. He had his theatrical debut playing on stage in the play “The Town and the Trains” directed by his son Shawn and produced by Nipissing Stage Co. He became a “regular” band member performing in the TOROS productions of “Les Miserables,” “Swing,” “Beauty and the Beast,” “Cats,” “Seusical the Musical,” “Fiddler On the Roof,” “42nd Street,” and “All Shook Up” as well as Dreamcoat Theatre productions of “Seusical the Musical,” “The Adventures of Tom Sawyer,” and “The King and I,” a Wellspring production of “The Last Five Years” and Summer Challenge Productions of “Once Upon a Mattress,” “Back to the Eighties,” and “Grease”. Most recent TOROS performances were in the 2016 show “West Side Story” and in 2017, the show “Big Fish.” Brian was inducted to the “North Bay Musicians and Entertainers Hall of Recognition” in 2011.

From the branch:

The members of the ORMTA North Bay Branch are excited to nominate Brian McDowell for this year's ORMTA Contribution to Teaching Award. Brian is an inspiration to all of the branch members. Brian is a dedicated music teacher for over 50 years and a member with our branch for over 40 years. He presently continues to teach privately in his home studio. Brian served as president of the North Bay Branch from June 2015 to June 2017 and then again from June 2021 to June 2024. From June 2019 to June 2021, he was secretary of the North Bay Branch. He is and has been involved in many community musical events and has performed as a solo guitarist and in ensemble recitals. He has also given concerts in and around North Bay. He has written and self-published a number of instructional manuals for guitar and electric bass. In 2005, the North Bay Branch of the Ontario Registered Music Teachers’ Association nominated him for a provincial Special Teacher’s Award which he received in 2006. Due to his dedicated work as a music teacher, music performer and music leader of the North Bay Branch, we have voted that Brian be named once again for the ORMTA Contribution to Teaching Award. 

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, and was invited to perform at Carnegie Hall in the Dietrich Fischer Dieskau Workshop. Recent performances include an invitation to New York City by the Leschetizky Association, a debut of commissioned works by David L. McIntyre at the CFMTA national convention, a recital for the University Music Society national conference, and appearances with the Windsor Symphony Orchestra including Mozart’s Concerto for Two Pianos, K. 365, Samuel Coleridge-Taylor’s Nonet, and Bach’s Concerto No. 5 in F minor. Christine’s CD release, Schubert and Schumann, has enjoyed critical acclaim and CBC Radio play. Christine’s newest album release, Schubert: Late Piano Works, was recorded at the Glenn Gould Studio and features Schubert’s Sonata in C-minor, D. 958, and Drei Klavierstücke, D. 946. Christine's national reputation as a piano pedagogue is reflected in invitations to adjudicate festivals and competitions, including the Ontario, British Columbia, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, and Québec Provincials; the National Piano Competition for the CFMTA; 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 ARMTA, and the CFMTA national convention. An enthusiastic supporter of amateur musicians, Christine taught and performed for many years at CANMAC's summer festival in Laurentides, QC. Christine's contributions as a writer and presenter include a conference presentation in Florence, Italy, a presentation at the University of Arizona on Music Performance Anxiety, a presentation at the national convention of the CFMTA 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. Christine will be presenting at The Piano Conference NCKP 2025 this summer. 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, Lakehead University, and the University of Regina, and is currently Associate Professor at the University of Windsor.

From the Branch:

The Windsor-Essex branch of the ORMTA has nominated Christine in recognition of the world class level of musicianship and piano pedagogy that she continues to value and uphold in our community and beyond. Her passion for nurturing a love of music in young artists is evident through her enthusiastic participation in our branch activities. Christine strives to reach each student and make a positive impact on their learning, for instance, by providing workshops, masterclasses, and adjudicating competitions at the local and zone levels. We are truly grateful to Christine for enriching the musical arts in Windsor through her steadfast devotion to education.