2026 Adjudicators

Dr. Julia Halfyard is a singer, actor, educator, and community builder whose work is rooted in a deep belief in the power of music to bring people together. A versatile performer, she has appeared on stages across Canada in theatres, concert halls, and intimate cabaret settings, performing repertoire that ranges from classical to contemporary, from the sublime to the joyfully ridiculous.

Her theatrical credits include memorable roles such as Mrs. Lovett in Sweeney Todd with Opera on the Avalon and Mother Superior in both The Sound of Music and Sister Act. She appeared in the world premiere of the Alan Menken and David Spencer musical The Apprenticeship of Duddy Kravitz at the Segal Centre in Montreal and has collaborated with renowned organizations including the Charlottetown Festival, Artistic Fraud, Spirit of Newfoundland, the Newfoundland Symphony Orchestra, and Lady Cove Women’s Choir. 

Alongside her performance career, Dr. Halfyard is deeply committed to mentorship, music education, and community building through the arts. She believes that music festivals, choirs, and collaborative musical spaces are powerful environments where young musicians can grow in confidence, creativity, and connection. Her work consistently centers the idea that music is not only about performance, but also about identity and belonging.

Dr. Halfyard holds a Ph.D. in Education and works at Memorial University of Newfoundland and Labrador in Student Affairs, where she supports student engagement and leadership development. Whether on stage, in the classroom, or in the community, she is passionate about nurturing the next generation of artists and helping young musicians discover both their voice and their place within the musical community.