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John Burge's background and interests as an adjudicator:

I greatly enjoy working with younger students and musicians of all ages especially as an adjudicator of piano and composition classes at music festivals. For the past decade I usually find that I cannot fit in all the requests to adjudicate and it is not uncommon to have a festival make a booking a couple of years in advance. Indeed, there are a number of festivals that seem to plan on my return visit every five or six years as is the case with the Calgary Festival of the Arts where I adjudicated in 2015 after having worked there in 2003 and 2009 (when it was the Calgary Kiwanis Music Festival).

Recently I have spent time in November each year, adjudicating and providing workshops sponsored as Canada Music Week events.  As both a composer and pianist, these kinds of Canadian music events seem to be natural fits, especially as I am now bringing out some of my easier piano music with the RED LEAF PIANOWORKS group. As a past-President of the Canadian League of Composers I also know many of the composers of the music being performed personally. Although it hasn't happened yet, I would love to include a short recital of my own piano music at one of these events.

Although I seem to often be assigned the adjudication of senior piano classes, I really do enjoy working with younger musicians. My wife and I raised two boys who devoted much of their time to music studies and performance. I repeatedly draw upon the experience that I gained as a parent and watching other adjudicators work with a wide range of children. I also coached soccer for my kids' teams when they were ages 5 to 10 and learned that getting the attention of a festival class of young pianist is not so far removed from making sure that a whole field of soccer players are focused on what you are saying and moving in the right direction.  The younger the children, the more they appreciate a story first and then get to the details.

What John Burge strives to accomplish as an adjudicator:

  • Make sure that everyone is having fun and is at ease and able to perform to the best of their ability.  Sometimes this requires a brief introduction of myself and a few smiles to all the performers before the start of the class. This often involves the telling of a rather lame joke which often makes the moment pathetically funny but we all try.
  • Make sure that all performers leave wanting to come back and perform again really soon.
  • If a student plays twice for me then I make sure that I memorize their name.
  • While it is important to write a concise and detailed written adjudication, I never read an adjudication outloud but instead, summarize the main points from memory always trying to get to the piano for demonstration purposes whenever possible.
  • If it is the performer's last time playing at the festival and there is extra time available in the class (perhaps because another performer hasn't shown up) I will sometimes invite the pianist to return to the keyboard to have a short masterclass if it would be advantageous.  These are often the most constructive and entertaining moments for the audience.
  • If the class is devoted to one composer (such as Bach or Chopin) I include historical information that helps to bring the music alive with meaning and purpose.  In more advanced repertoire, I don't hesitate to dwell on points of analysis or performance practice that can help to broaden the performer's perspective and musical insights.
  • Students must always bow after a performance (and preferrably annouce their name and the composition they are going to play before sitting at the piano).  I have been known to get an entire class up to practice bowing at the very first session and then it is miraculous how word spreads that I like to see performers graciously acknowledge the audience's applause with a bow.

Music Festivals where John Burge has adjudicated (Piano unless indicated otherwise):

  • New Brunswick Registered Music Teachers' Association Composition Competition, 2018
  • MidWestern Ontario Music Festival, Walkerton, ON (Composition), 2018
  • Edmonton Music Festival, Edmonton, AB, 2017
  • Newmarket Lions Club Music Festival, Newmarket, ON, 2017
  • New Brunswick Provincials (Composition), 2017
  • Canadian National Music Teachers' Association Composition Competition, 2016
  • Alberta Provincial Music Festival, Edmonton, AB, 2016
  • New Brunswick Provincials (Composition), 2016
  • Peel Region Festival, Mississaga, ON, 2016
  • Toronto Contemporary Showcase, Toronto, ON, 2015
  • Kingston Canada Music Week Festival, Kingston, ON, 2015
  • Brampton Music Festival, Brampton, ON, May 2, 2015
  • Calgary Festival of the Arts, Calgary, AB, 2015
  • Burlington Music Festival, Burlington, ON, 2014
  • Alberta Piano Teacher’s Association Creative Writing Competition, 2014
  • Ontario Registered Music Teacher’s Provincial Instrumental Competition, Toronto, ON, 2014
  • Peterborough and Region Music Festival, Peterborough, ON, 2013
  • Orillia Music Festival, Orillia, ON, 2013
  • Peel Region Music Festival, Mississauga, ON, 2012
  • Kingston Canada Music Week Festival, Kingston, ON, 2011
  • Ottawa Canada Music Week Festival, Ottawa, ON, 2011
  • Alberta Provincial Music Festival, Edmonton, AB, 2011
  • Edmonton Music Festival, Edmonton, AB, 2011
  • North York Kiwanis Music Festival, Richmond Hill, ON, 2010
  • Calgary Kiwanis Music Festival, Calgary, AB, 2009
  • Kitchener-Waterloo Music Festival, Kitchener-Waterloo, ON, 2009
  • Burlington Music Festival, Burlington, ON, 2008
  • Edmonton Kiwanis Music Festival, Edmonton, AB, 2008
  • Sunderland Music Festival, Sunderland, ON, 2007
  • Peel Region Music Festival, Mississauga, ON, 2007
  • Ontario Provincial Music Competition Finals, London, ON, 2007
  • Bancroft Music Festival, Bancroft, ON, 2006
  • St. Thomas Music Festival, St. Thomas, ON, 2006
  • Oshawa-Whitby Music Festival, Oshawa, ON, 2005
  • Edmonton Kiwanis Music Festival, Edmonton, AB, 2004
  • Pembroke Music Festival, Pembroke, ON, 2004
  • Toronto Kiwanis Music Festival, Toronto, ON, 2003
  • Calgary Kiwanis Music Festival, Calgary, AB, 2003
  • Burlington Music Festival, Burlington, ON, 2003
  • Kitchener-Waterloo Music Festival, Kitchener-Waterloo, ON, 2002
  • Peterborough Music Festival, Peterborough, ON, 2001
  • Oshawa-Whitby Music Festival, Oshawa, ON, 2000
  • Cobourg Music Festival, Cobourg, Ontario, 1999
  • Oshawa-Whitby Music Festival, Oshawa, ON, 1998
  • Ontario Registered Music Teachers’ Association Provincial Competition, Kingston Area, 1998
  • Stirling Music Festival, Stirling, ON, 1997
  • Ontario Registered Music Teachers’ Association Provincial Competition, Kingston Area, 1997
  • Ontario Registered Music Teachers’ Association Provincial Competition, Oshawa-Whitby Area, 1996
  • Belleville Music Festival, Belleville, ON, 1995
  • Bancroft Music Festival, Bancroft, ON, 1992
  • Perth Music Festival, Perth, ON, 1991.
  • Ontario Registered Music Teachers’ Association Provincial Competition, Kingston Area, 1991