About
Deborah is from Victoria BC, she studied piano with Susan de Burgh
and composition with Stephen Brown. In 2010 she won the Katarina Scholarship and entered the Diploma of Music Program at Camosun College. Following this she auditioned at the University of Victoria minoring in piano performance with Bruce Vogt and majoring in composition with Dr. Anna Hostman and Dr. Anthony Tan.
In 2012 Debbie won first, second and third place in the BC Provincials this had never been achieved before.
"I would never have guessed the same person wrote such contrasting
pieces, congratulations I think you are my new favorite composer."
Susan Griesdale
Objective
Teaching is my passion I am patient and perceptive this helps me adapt to the needs of each individual and success follows. I continue to grow as a teacher and I learn from my students as much as they learn from me.
Education
University of Victoria, Mus BA (grad) 2022
RCM Grade 10 Piano/Pedagogy/Theory 2015
Camosun College, Diploma in Music 2014
Lambrick Park Senior Secondary School 1984
Awards and Certificates
2017 RCM Gold Medal Teachers Award (flute)
2015 BC Provincials Composition 1st Place
2015 RCM Gold Medal Teachers Award (flute)
2015 Murray Adaskin Composition Contest 1st
2014 CFMTA Nationals Composition 2nd
2014 BC Provincials Composition 1st
2013 Murray Adaskin Composition Contest 1st
2012 BC Provincials Composition 1st 2nd and 3rd
2012 Katarina Scholarship Composition
2011 Dr. Harmon Lewis Music Award
2011 Katarina Scholarship Composition
2010 Katarina Scholarship Composition
2009 VCM Award (highest mark flute exam)
2009 Madeleine Till Student Teacher Award
2008 Jean Coulthard Composition Contest 1st
Composition Premiers
The Sleeping Dragon With the permission of Canadian composer Nancy Telfer I orchestrated her piano piece and added new material. Don Wright Symphonic Winds, Conductor Dr. Michael Keddy,
The Farquhar Auditorium (2020 canceled)
The Open Cage UVic Wind Symphony, Conductor Dr. Stephen Capaldo, The Farquhar Auditorium 2019
Cries of Despair Phillip T Young Performance Hall 2019
ROCK, PAPER, SCISSORS! Phillip T Young Performance Hall 2019
Echoes Alix Goolden Performance Hall 2012
Recent Works
Time Line written for chamber orchestra this was performed in a orchestra reading by the UVic Symphony under direction of Conductor Ajtony Csaba in The Farquhar Auditorium on March 15 2021.
Above the Clouds for solo piano, I used two motives from Time Line
and overlapped them creating a simplistic counterpoint that unfolds gradually. The inspiration for this title came from a majestic experience watching the sunset atop of Haleakala volcano in Maui.
Current Studies
I am studying simultaneously for my Bachelors of Music from
the University of Victoria and ARCT in Piano Pedagogy from the
Royal Conservatory of Music.