2025 Adjudicators

Praised for her "fabulous sense of style and musical expression", Charissa Vandikas
has established herself as a pianist with a promising future. She has been featured in CBC's
prestigious list "30 hot Canadian classical musicians under 30", and most recently won first
prize in the Concours de concerto 2023 de l'Orchestre de l'Université de Montréal. She has
been the recipient of top prizes in various competitions, including the 70th ARD
International Music Competition, the Concours Prix d'Europe, Canadian Federation of
Music Teachers Association National Piano Competition, and the Canadian Music
Competition.
As a soloist, Ms. Vandikas has appeared in the concert at Koerner Hall, Maison
Symphonique, the Kitchener Waterloo Chamber Music Society, the Canadian Opera
Company, and the Festival of the Sound. Making her orchestral debut with the Greater
Toronto Philharmonic Orchestra in 2013, she has since performed with orchestras around
the world, including the Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra, the Munich Radio orchestra,
the Munich Chamber Orchestra, the Haydn Jeugd Strijkorkest, the Toronto Sinfonietta, the
Royal Conservatory Orchestra, and the Orchestre de l'Université de Montréal.
An active chamber musician, her piano duo La Fiammata has gained international
recognition as the winners of the Lancaster International Chamber Music Competition,
Suzana Szörenyi International Piano Duo Competition, and the Northwest International
Piano Ensemble Competition. They have been featured on the Canadian Broadcasting
Corporation's In Concert, BR24 Rundschau (Bavarian Radio), Art Channel Romania, and
EnjoyTV Romania. La Fiammata recently wrapped the Pan-Canadian tour, a year-long
concert tour across the country made possible through the combined efforts of Debut
Atlantic, Prairie Debut, and Jeunesse Musicale.
Ms. Vandikas is a graduate of the Royal Conservatory of Music, the Glenn Gould
School, and the Université de Montréal, where she is currently pursuing doctoral studies
with Professors Charles Richard-Hamelin and Jean Saulnier. Her former teachers include
Henry Kramer, John O'Conor, and Janice Lin.

Charissa was a frequent competitor at the Pickering GTA Music Festival and at the OMFA Provincials as a student. It is wonderful to have her back at our 25th anniversary year as an adjudicator,