2023 SUPAF Adjudicators
Terry Moore, Band & Orchestra
Director of Music, Choir, Band, and Orchestra at Snow Canyon High School from 1995 until his 2020 retirement. He began his teaching career at Granite HS, teaching Orchestra, Band, Social Studies, and French. He was also the Associate Conductor of the Granite Youth Symphony, and VP of the American Federation of Teachers from 2003 to 2012. Terry has also been a counselor at SCHS, DHS, and Success Academy, as well as WCSD Fine Arts Coordinator. Master’s degree, Norwich University. Married to Lory, he has five children and 13 grandchildren.
Kyle Nielsen, Choir
Director of Choral Activities at So. Virginia Univ. Guest conductor and professional ensemble singer, recently appearing in the UMEA State Choir Festival, the Piedmont Singers, and a Bach B-Mass with the Richmond VA Cathedral of the Sacred Heart. Previous Artistic Administrator for the Santa Fe NM Desert Chorale; Associate Conductor of the Master Chorale of South Florida; and conducting fellow with the professional Seraphic Fire Choir. Artistic Director of The Origin Initiative, preparing vocal artists for contemporary careers. Graduate of DMA Choral Conducting program, U of Miami Frost School of Music, and the MM Choral Conducting and Vocal Performance & Pedagogy programs at East Carolina Univ. BA in Music and Theatre, SVU.
Dave Wankier, Choir
Taught music for 41 years in Monticello, Vernal, Delta, and Las Vegas. Member of UMEA choral committee for 15 years and served as Choral Vice President. Earned many superior awards at Utah choir festivals.
Jason Bonham, Orchestra
Lecturer of Viola at Cal State Long Beach, principal violist with Las Vegas Philharmonic and with Pageant of the Masters Philharmonic Orchestra in Laguna Beach CA. Previous faculty member at UNLV, BYU, and Dixie. Founder and former Artistic Director of Tuacahn Summer Arts Institute. Lives in Dana Point, CA, with wife and three children.
Jessika Soli, Orchestra
An active recording artist, half the cello duo, Rosin with cellist, Daniel Gaisford, and Adjunct Cello Professor at SUU, Jessika was principle cellist of the Southwest Symphony for two years and principle cellist of the UNLV orchestra. She performs regularly with the Chamber Music Society in St. George, UT and also has a private cello studio located in Santa Clara where she teaches a large class of talented cellists. 2018 top three finalists for the Blizzcon Talent Show at the Anaheim convention center in LA. She arranged and recorded her own version of Daughter of the Sea. Her love for fantasy and video games has led her to arrange and perform music from her favorite games and movies as well as popular music. Cello performance degree UofU; also attended UNLV.
Cynthia Richards, Strings
Recently retired from teaching violin and string pedagogy at UVU. Free-lance recording studio musician and concertmaster of Utah Valley Symphony, and String specialist at the BYU Intermuse Academy. Private studio for over 50 years, using her own innovative curriculum, The Complete Musician, for teaching based on European conservatory practices. Mother of eight successful musician children, who served as her laboratory subjects in preparing her first book, How to Get Your Child to Practice Without Resorting to Violence. BA in Violin Performance from BYU, studied abroad with Franz Samohyl, professor of violin at the Vienna Academy.
Tara Tichener, Strings
Adjunct Strings professor at Utah Tech, studio instructor, and adjudicator/clinician for Music programs in So Utah and Nevada, So Utah native Tara Tichenor is a violinist. Former Concert Master of Dixie State Symphony Orchestra and Southwest Symphony. Lead violinist in Tuacahn pit orchestra since 2008. Has collaborated with many professional artists and groups (Mannheim Steamroller, Celtic Women, Gentry…) Performed as a soloist with the Orchestra of Southern Utah, Dixie State Symphony Orchestra, and the Heritage Choir. Performs with her family Celtic band, Wooden Tantrum. Started the early morning strings program at Legacy Elementary. BA with an emphasis of Music, DSU, wife and mother of four.
Norm Lister, Vocalists
A veteran choral conductor who retired after serving 35 years in the public school system, his choirs received numerous honors and awards for performances at region, state, and national venues during his 26 years at PVHS. He is the founder and former director of Lieto Voices! and has worked as an adjunct professor at Dixie State University. He maintains a private vocal studio and enjoys directing musical theater productions throughout the community. “Messiah” has been a constant for Norm during his long, rewarding musical career.
Rachel Blackburn, Dance
A Utah native, teacher, choreographer, and arts administrator throughout Utah & WY. Rachel spent two years in St George as an assistant director for dance companies at both CC and DH HSs and worked with St George Dance Company for three seasons. While at UVU she notable acted as a director’s assistant for Synergy Dance Company, worked as a dancer with RDT, and received the department’s Dance Education Award of Merit and Outstanding Student Award upon graduating. She has created several award winning works on various professional & pre-professional companies throughout the Rocky Mountain Region. Modern dance training with an emphasis in education at UVU.
Melissa Holm, Dance
Dancing since age 4 in the Virginia Tanner Program at the UofU, primarily with Children’s Dance Theatre (the major performing arm of the company), Melissa now teaches 2nd grade for the program as well as a satellite class in Heber. She is in her 9th year as a Dance Specialist in Park City for the Beverly Taylor Sorenson Arts Learning Program. Bachelors degree in Dance Education with a minor in health, UVU; Master in Arts, UofU.
Serena Webb, Dance
Making the exciting decision to create her own company and school in 2023, Serena continues to produce new works with her flare of dance theatrics. Her overall mission is to create art that any audience can connect with by telling stories in a new and exciting way. She has performed with the UVU Contemporary Dance Ensemble and worked with Ballet West, Ririe-Woodbury, Repertory Dance Theater, Utah Metropolitan Ballet, and Alivin Ailey. Serena co-founded Body Logic Dance Company in 2009 and Body Logic Dance Academy with Melanie Ewell in 2014. BFA in Modern Dance, UVU, specializing in Ballet, Modern, Contemporary, and Jazz.
Steve Bentley, Piano
A Master’s Degree in Piano Collaboration and Music Education supported by a Bachelor’s in Piano and Trumpet performance, Stephen’s expressive sight-reading skills have made him a favorite Piano Collaborator with members of the Utah Symphony and the UofU School of Music. Currently he is working on a series of educational videos with principle players from the Utah Symphony which focus on undergrad-level repertoire through discussion and performance. Stephen lives in SLC with his wife, Jennifer, and handsome son, Jackson.
Jennifer Redfearn, Piano
A professional pianist, accompanist, and piano instructor for 25 years, with a thriving studio of 60+ students, each of whom she enjoys watching grow musically. BA in Music Education and Piano Performance from DSU, where she received awards for outstanding accompanist and pianist of the year.
Richard and Sarah Chatelian, Band
Director of music at Skyline High School for 30 years, Richard was also the conductor of the Granite Youth Symphony and a contracted adjudicator for music festivals in Anaheim and Orange County.
Sarah is a woodwind player and presently plays in five orchestras and ensembles in Salt Lake City. She has degrees both in Music Performance and Chemistry.