Dr. Valerie Long is delighted to return as adjudicator to the St. John's Kiwanis Music Festival. Valerie has had a lifelong association with all that is music and possesses a wealth of knowledge from her teaching, conducting and performing background. She received her Bachelor of Music and Bachelor of Music Education degrees from Memorial University in Newfoundland. Upon completion of these degrees, Valerie taught in a number of schools in St. John's, Ottawa and Madison, Wisconsin where her broad teaching experience has included instruction in classroom, choral, and instrumental music from Kindergarten through high school and university.

She received her Master's of Music in Choral Music Education from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and a Doctorate in Philosophy in Curriculum and Instruction from the same institution. Valerie has taught at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and Memorial University of Newfoundland and has served as Fine Arts Program Specialist with the former Avalon East School Board in St. John's, Newfoundland.

As a member of the National Adjudicator's Association, Valerie enjoys sharing her energetic and encouraging style with young musicians across the province and the country. She has been musical director/pianist for numerous musical theatre productions and has earned a reputation for being an engaging and highly respected adjudicator and clinician. Valerie currently conducts two accomplished community choirs in St John's - Les Ms. (lesms.ca) and the Holy Heart of Mary Alumnae Choir (heartnotes.net).