WELCOME TO ORMTA WINDSOR-ESSEX

Instrumental Competition Level 8/9

🥇 Winner Jiayu Xu
🥈 Second Jayden Su

Instrumental Competition Level 10/Associate

🥇 Winner Erica Wang
🥈 Second Sebastian Haddad

Young Artist Competition

🥇 Winner Serena Zhang

Jiayu, Erica, and Serena advanced to the Western Zone Competition in Windsor, ON on May 26th, 2024.

Jiayu Xu is a student of Nadia Santoro.
Jayden Su is a student of Dr. Thomas Green.
Serena Zhang and Erica Wang are students of Dr. Gregory Butler.
Sebastian Haddad is a student of Otello Haddad.

ORMTA Windsor-Essex would like to thank Dr. Shoshana Telner for providing exceptional adjudications to each competitor. A big thank you to D & S Pianos for generously providing the scholarship money to our winners.

Lee Watson has been an ORMTA member for 22 years, most recently in Windsor-Essex, where she served as Branch President from 2019-2023. Lee received her B. Mus. In Vocal Performance from the University of Windsor, and her MTS (Master of Theological Studies) from Tyndale University. Lee also holds an ARCT (Performance) in Voice, and she is an RCM-certified teacher in Piano, Voice, and Theory. Lee greatly expanded her online teaching profile during the pandemic, with her remote students hailing from other Southwestern Ontario cities such as London and Toronto, and as far away as Sault St. Marie, Chicago, and Bangladesh. 

Lee was a contributor to RCM’s Teaching Online course, in which she authored a section entitled “The Ergonomics of Healthy Teaching.” She is a passionate advocate for intergenerational musical experiences, and recorded a video segment about the benefits of intergenerational musicmaking for Stratford’s Magical Musical Stories social media initiative. Lee is a powerful voice in support of students with exceptional needs, and was the President of the Windsor-Essex chapter of PEACE (Public Education Advocates for Christian Equity). In her studio, she specializes in teaching students with special needs by employing and adapting the strategies and techniques commonly used by music therapists during her lessons. 

Locally, Lee is currently a Board member of the Windsor Symphony Orchestra, and she serves as Chairperson of the Windsor Symphony Education Committee. She is a regular speaker at Windsor Symphony concerts, where her aim is to bring awareness of the wide-ranging benefits of the performing arts. She held the position of Music Director at Heritage Park Alliance Church in Windsor for eight years, where she worked tirelessly to develop musical talent and train volunteers. Lee was also the Entertainment Coordinator for the Woofa-roo Pet Fest in Amherstburg, a two-day event for “pets and their people,” which provided young performers with an opportunity to share their music in a fun and relaxed environment. 

Lee comes from a long line of musicians. Lee’s grandfather, Dr. John H. L. Watson, founded the Windsor Light Opera Association (now Windsor Light Music Theatre) in 1948, with the goal of bringing quality amateur musical theatre to Windsor-Essex County. Lee has been married for almost a quarter of a century, and has raised two delightful children who are also musicians. Lee would like to congratulate the other 2024 OCTA recipients, and is humbled to have been awarded this honour by her peers.

Instrumental Competition Level 8/9

🥇 Winner Daniel Thiessen
🥈 Second Jiayu Xu

Instrumental Competition Level 10/Associate

🥇 Winner Yuchen Sun
🥈 Second Erica Wang

Young Artist Competition

🥇 Winner Serena Zhang

Daniel, Yuchen, and Serena will advance to the Provincial Competition in Ottawa, ON.

Daniel Thiessen is a student of Sharon Bee.
Jiayu Xu is a student of Nadia Santoro.
Yuchen Sun is a student of Christine Tithecott.
Serena Zhang and Erica Wang are students of Dr. Gregory Butler.