2026 Adjudicators

Louise Hawke

Louise is a former Principal dancer of the Royal New Zealand Ballet, the Hong Kong Ballet and a soloist of the National Ballet of Portugal. She was Guest Ballet Mistress for the Singapore Dance Theatre and the Royal New Zealand Ballet.

Born in Auckland, Louise began ballet at the age of 3, training with Rowena Jackson of the Royal Ballet, New Zealand's most famous ballerina. She gained her RAD Elementary, Intermediate and Advanced with Honours and is now a Registered Teacher with both the RAD and the BBO. Louise competed in competitions from the age of 5 until 15 and is proudly a second generation ballet teacher.

She has taught at seminars in Hong Kong, Singapore, Malaysia and NZ, opening the Academy of Ballet Arts in New Zealand in 2003. From inception the studio maintained an excellent record of Distinction and High Merit Awards in both RAD and BBO syllabus, and in NZAMD Jazz and Contemporary exams. Senior students have been consistently accepted for the NZ School of Dance Associate programmes, the RNZB mentor programme, and for international tertiary training.

🌐 louisehawkeballetarts.com

Kate Lahood

Kate is an experienced dance educator, choreographer, and performer with a lifelong passion for the performing arts. She owned and operated the Kate Lahood School of Dance for six years before taking time out to focus on raising her young family.

Kate trained extensively throughout her childhood, competing at a high level and achieving distinction passes across tap, jazz, contemporary, and hip hop examinations. Her competitive highlights include placing in the Top 6 at the PACANZ National Young Performer Awards (NYPA) for Tap in 2008.

Her choreography and performance credits span a range of notable productions and events, including Mary Poppins with the New Plymouth Operatic Society, Dance Captain for We Will Rock You, and involvement in productions such as She Shines On, The Warriors, and the Auckland Santa Parade. Kate was also the winner of the New Plymouth charity event Dancing for Hope, where she was awarded both the overall title and the Audience Favourite.

Now a proud mum of three young children, Kate is gradually returning to the dance industry, freelancing and sharing her expertise across Taranaki. Alongside her work in dance, she is also a wedding celebrant and videographer, bringing creativity and connection into all aspects of her work.

Diana Rhodes

As a practising singing teacher and choral director in Auckland and a registered secondary school teacher with extensive classroom experience, Diana teaches privately and in three Auckland Secondary Schools. Her performance background includes radio recital, music-theatre and operatic stage and her interests include Lieder & Art Song.

Diana has adjudicated singing competitions and work-shopped with leading NZ choirs, as well as working consistently with two choirs she directs to incorporate technique and vocal development. Her on-going interest in vocal pedagogy has led to teaching in a wide range of styles, reinforcing her belief that all singing should be underpinned with the freedom of functional understanding.

Diana is a long-time member of both the NZ Institute of Registered Music Teachers and of Newzats – the NZ Association of Teachers of Singing.

Yun-Pai Hsu

Yun-Pai Hsu studied at the top ranking American music conservatories, Eastman School of Music and University of Cincinnati, where she received her Bachelors and Masters degrees in Piano performance. There she won several prizes, including the prestigious Concerto Prize. During the final stages of her Doctorate degree, she received a teaching and performance award to work and study at the University of Iowa where she pursued a second Masters degree in Music Theory.

Ms Hsu has won many music awards and performed as guest soloist with various orchestras both in the United States and New Zealand. In addition, she worked extensively as a collaborative pianist and has also been invited to premiere new solo piano works as well as chamber music throughout America and Russia.

For over 30 years, Ms Hsu has taught in various musical institutions as well as privately in America, New Zealand, and South Korea. Currently, she has a private piano studio in East Auckland and works as a music specialist at school. In addition, she performs regularly as a collaborative pianist.

Fleur Clarke

Fleur Clarke is an experienced Speech and Drama practitioner based in Pāpāmoa, where she runs her classes at Pāpāmoa College.

She brings with her extensive international experience, having spent eight years in Hong Kong contributing to the development of performing arts curricula and teaching at Singapore International School.

Fleur has a passion for theatre, debating, poetry, and literature, and is committed to fostering expressive confidence, critical thinking, and artistic excellence in young performers. She is delighted to adjudicate at the South Auckland Competitions to support and celebrate the work of emerging speakers and performers.

Susan Bierre

Violist Susan Bierre completed postgraduate studies in the Netherlands, after which she held a principal position in the Dutch Radio Chamber Orchestra, working with chief conductors Franz Brüggen, Ton Koopman, Péter Eötvös, and Hans Zender.

Her work in Europe involved regular performances in the Concertgebouw in Amsterdam as well as participation in European music festivals including the Gaudeamus Festival, Detmold Music Festival, and the Holland Festival. As the solo violist in the contemporary music group Xenakis Ensemble, she toured extensively in Europe and Japan.

Since returning to New Zealand, Susan has established a varied musical life as a recitalist, chamber musician, and freelance performer. She taught viola at the University of Auckland and maintains a busy teaching studio based mainly at Diocesan School.

Dr Jonathan Dunlop

Jonathan is a multi-keyboard specialist, conductor, repetiteur, and composer whose work spans performance, education, and research.

He completed a Bachelor of Music in Piano Performance at the University of Auckland, where he was first introduced to early keyboard instruments including harpsichord, clavichord, and fortepiano. The skills gained during these studies continue to inform his modern piano performance and teaching. In 2018 he completed a Master's degree at the University of Auckland, working extensively as a choral accompanist and developing his skills as a repetiteur, including leading sectional and full rehearsals in the absence of a conductor.

Jonathan went on to complete a Doctor of Musical Arts at the University of Waikato, studying under Katherine Austin, Dr Rachael Griffiths-Hughes, and the late Professor Martin Lodge. His research and performance interests focus on 17th-, 18th-, and 19th-century keyboard repertoire, with particular expertise in historically informed performance on period instruments. He has worked with ensembles throughout Auckland and Waikato, performing on a wide range of early keyboards including chamber organ.

Following his doctoral studies, Jonathan became an Associate Artist with the TANZOS programme at the University of Waikato, contributing as an Associate Artist Repetiteur and working closely with emerging opera singers since 2023. His recent professional highlights include successful nationwide tours with New Zealand Opera as a repetiteur and keyboard specialist.

In addition to his freelance and academic work, Jonathan is the Principal Organist at St Paul's Collegiate School, Hamilton, where he is also active as a choir director and accompanist. He is currently conductor of the Franklin Community Choir in Pukekohe, and as a composer has received numerous awards in regional and tertiary-level competitions.