2023 Adjudicators
Gordon Gordey
Gordon Gordey is the 1st vice president of the Shevchenko Foundation. He is recognized as one of the 100 most influential people in the development of theatre in Alberta in Theatre 100: Celebrating 100 theatre practitioners over 100 years. Gordon is an internationally recognized professional arts stage director, producer, and librettist/writer of 25 original dance works for Shumka Dancers. Through his 20 years in provincial arts council work in Alberta he participated in hundreds of arts juries and wrote government funding policies in theatre, film, and sound recording.
Carissa Klopoushak
Carissa Klopoushak has made a name for herself as a curious, creative, and versatile violinist. Based in Ottawa, Canada, Carissa is a member of the National Arts Centre Orchestra and the Ironwood Quartet, and she is the artistic director of Ottawa Chamberfest. Carissa has been featured at chamber music festivals across Canada and has toured the country extensively in recital. She is a two-time laureate of the Canada Council for the Arts Musical Instrument Bank Competition and winner of the 2009 Eckhardt-Grammatté National Music Competition. Founder of the Ritornello Chamber Music Festival in her hometown, Saskatoon, Carissa also co-directs the Classical Unbound Festival in Prince Edward County. Carissa holds a doctorate in violin performance from McGill University, where she focused on the little-known classical violin repertoire by Ukrainian composers. Her debut recording, SOUNDWORLDS, was released in 2016.
Troy Ruptash
Troy Ruptash was born and raised in Vegreville, Alberta. After finishing his conservatory training at Ryerson Theatre School in Toronto, Troy began his journey as a working actor in NYC when he was cast in the first season of the television series Law and Order. Troy has continued to work consistently over the past three decades in the film and television industry. He has had recurring guest star and guest lead roles in more than 50 network and cable television shows including the iconic drama Mad Men (cast as the “real” Don Draper), ER, The West Wing, CSI, Desperate Housewives, Prison Break, The Rookie, Justified, and The Young Pope, to name a few. In 2020 Troy made the leap to writer/director with his first feature film, They Who Surround Us. The award-winning film was bought by Mongrel Media and is now playing on major streaming platforms after a successful theatrical release across Canada. Troy is currently securing US and worldwide distribution for the film.