Speech, Vocal and Musical Theatre



Darby Watson

Dr. Bradley Parker

Chantelle Bjornstad

Dance Adjudicators

Darby started dancing at the age of 3, where she immediately fell in love and hasn’t been able to stop since. Growing up in Lloydminster, Darby trained in ballet, jazz, tap, hip hop, lyrical, contemporary, modern and musical theatre. She began assisting at age 12, which progressed into teaching and choreographing by 16. Darby’s passion for dance motivated her to pursue online education as early as High School, allowing more time in her schedule for dance, her true joy.
After graduation, she was signed to an agency in Toronto, Ontario. Darby moved to Toronto and began dancing and modelling full time. She was fortunate enough to quickly become a full time assistant to Danny Davalos, a choreographer on So You Think You Can Dance Canada. Darby’s favourite credits over the years include being a mainstage dancer at the Rio Palace in Puerto Vallarta as well as in Disneyland. All of her experiences expanded her knowledge and helped her to grow not only as a dancer, but as a choreographer. 
Since returning home, Darby has been teaching in Edmonton and hasn’t looked back since. Nothing makes her happier than watching her students do what they love. Darby believes in teaching through admiration and recognition, all while building a dancer’s confidence to ensure the best outcome for success. She is completely committed to her students and pushes them to reach their highest potential. Darby is thrilled to be here and can’t wait to witness the upcoming talent on stage!

Canadian pianist, Brad Parker, has performed extensively as a soloist and collaborative pianist in Canada, the United States, France, Italy, and Haiti.  Recent performances include solo recitals in Alberta, South Carolina and California, as well as collaborative performances with Pedro Diaz (English Horn, Met Opera Orchestra), Gabriel Goni (flute, Costa Rica Symphony), and Nancy Stagnitta (flute, Interlochen Center for the Arts), multiple events in the Piccolo Spoleto Festival, as well as concertos with the Lethbridge Symphony, Charleston Symphony and Lyra Vivace Chamber Orchestra.
An active promoter of new music, Brad has debuted several works for piano and various chamber ensembles at the Banff Chamber Music Festival, Musique Maintenant in Paris, as well as the Women in Music Festival at the Eastman School of Music.  In 2000, he was awarded “Best Performance of a 20th Century Work” at the Chautauqua International Piano Competition.
Dr. Parker is on the music faculty at the University of Lethbridge, and previously taught at Charleston Southern University and Erskine College in South Carolina.  His passion for musical instruction led him to volunteer for several summers at the North Haiti Music Camp, on the campus of the Christian University of North Haiti.
Brad completed a Masters and DMA in Piano Performance at the Eastman School of Music in Rochester, New York, with further graduate studies in France at the Paris Conservatory.  He studied at Wilfrid Laurier University in Waterloo, Ontario where he earned a Bachelor of Music with Distinction.  His principal teachers include Rebecca Penneys, Dr. Heather Dawn Taves, and Jean Koerner.

Chantelle found her love of dance at the age of four.  She is trained in ballet, tap, jazz, lyrical and musical theatre.  She has completed examinations from Pre-primary to Advanced in the Canadian Dance Teachers Association (CDTA) and Royal Academy of Dance (RAD). She spent several summers training with Canada’s Royal Winnipeg Ballet and the Alberta Ballet’s professional programs and on scholarship with Sherry Walsh Dance Academy in Ontario. She is an Affiliate member of the CDTA and has recently completed the Certificate of Ballet Teaching Studies program with the RAD, awarding her Registered Teacher Status with the RAD.
She started performing professionally at a young age in Saskatchewan’s annual Kinsmen's Telemiracle with Bob McGrath and Fred Penner, the Legends Alive tour, The Alberta Ballet’s Nutcracker and in Dare to Dance Production. You can even see her in a country music video on CMT!
At the age of eighteen Chantelle moved to Tokyo, Japan where she performed as a dancer for Tokyo Disneyland.  Her career continued with Anita Mann Productions and Stiletto Entertainment under the mentorship of Barry Manilow in Los Angeles, California.  She danced and sang her way around the world with Holland America and Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines for ten years.  She became the youngest Dance Captain in the history of Anita Mann Productions and this was one of Chantelle's proudest accomplishments during this decade.  She enjoyed guiding the cast members and maintaining the integrity of the shows she performed in while sailing on the high seas.
After retiring from her professional dance career in 2009, Chantelle has made her home in Edmonton, Alberta where she has been teaching ever since. She has held many different roles, such as a multi-genre teacher, an award-winning choreographer and was a Director of Ballet before joining both Shelley's Dance Company and Zero Gravity Dance in 2020.  She has much experience organizing, training, choreographing and chaperoning students for provincial, national and international conventions and competitions. On top of her current teaching roles, Chantelle also teaches workshops, summer intensives and adjudicates at competitions across Western Canada.  She takes pride in preparing students for national level examinations and competitions and looks forward to sharing her passion and love of dance with your children as they perform on stage this weekend at Coronation Dance Festival!

​Tina Hartt

Piano, Violin and Guitar



Tina Hartt is a singer, composer and musician native to Montreal. With over 21 years of performing
experience, she has enjoyed a diverse singing career spanning all over Canada: rock bands and church
choirs in Montreal, Big Bands and jazz ensembles in Toronto, and acting/singing/dancing in Nova
Scotia and PEI.
In 2014 she decided to focus on jazz. Going back to her french roots, she dusted off some of the old
french chansons (ex. Brel, Aznavour and Piaf) and gave them new life by combining them with jazz
harmonies and adding a Latin twist. These elements are the foundation for her original material, and
give a freshness to her interpretations of jazz standards.
Since arriving in Calgary, Tina has performed at many of the city’s top venues, including Jack Singer
Hall, the Grey Eagle Casino, the Petroleum Club, The Grand Theatre and the Ironwood Stage & Grill.
Tina has also been featured in the JazzYYC International Jazz Days Festival, the ProArts Concert
Series and La Cité Francophone Patio Concert Series. In early 2023 she released her 2nd CD titled
“Absence of You” which got nominated for Jazz Recording of the Year by YYC Music Awards.