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Meet the adjudicators for Virden's instrumental, dance festivals

Virden’s spring festival takes place in March and April bringing people from many towns to support the young competitors in venues around Virden. Here are the adjudicators who will work with musicians and dancers in the first sessions of the festival.

The instrumental festival is coming right up on March 13 and 14, and dance festival follows immediately on March 15 and 16.

Not only will you hear the trained and talented youth bringing their best music and dance, but professional adjudications are always interesting.

From this festival competitors will be selected to go on to Provincial Festival competition. 

Anna Penno from Brandon is the Instrumental/Band adjudicator, while the Dance adjudicator will be Danielle Auld from Niverville.

Danielle Auld has over 20 years teaching experience and an extensive background in all styles of dance. She is currently the co-owner and director of Prairie Soul Dance Company located 20 minutes south of Winnipeg in the growing town of Niverville, Man. Her studio there offers recreational and competitive dance programs for children and adults. 

In addition to instructing the competitive jazz and tap program at Prairie Soul, Auld has coordinated satellite dance programs throughout rural Manitoba, has been an instructor for the Royal Winnipeg Ballet Quantum Arts Program, substitute teacher for the Royal Winnipeg Ballet School, and workshop instructor at Steppin’ Time Dance Studio in Brandon. She is a talented and award-winning choreographer, educator, mentor, and role model.  

Auld is excited to be part of the 2023 Virden Dance Festival and is looking forward to sharing her knowledge and expertise!

Anna Penno is a music educator at Crocus Plains Regional Secondary School (CPN music) in Brandon, where she teaches grades 9 to 12 concert and jazz ensembles and conducts the Brandon Community Band. Penno is a proud Brandon University alumnus, having received her undergraduate degree in Music Education from BU. During her time there, Anna was fortunate to study saxophone with Greg Gatien and conducting with Dr. Wendy Zander-McCallum.

She also holds a Master of Music Education degree from Michigan State University. While at MSU, Penno conducted research in jazz pedagogy and gender studies with the guidance of Dr. Cynthia Taggart.

Penno looks forward to opportunities to collaborate with students and educators through her involvement in music camps, festivals, and opportunities to adjudicate. Recent highlights include being a member of the jazz saxophone faculty at the International Music Camp, guest conducting the Norman/Parkland Intermediate Honour Band and the Manitoba Junior Honour Jazz Band, adjudicating at the Manitoba Band Association level one Band Festival, as well as presenting at the Da Capo Music Education Conference. She’s thrilled to be a member of the Westman music education community.  


 

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