Adjudicators
Voice - Nestor Lozano Jr.
Nestor is a triple threat performer with a diverse background in theatre, both on stage and behind the scenes. Over the years, Nestor has honed a deep understanding of various musical and theatrical disciplines, making them a trusted voice in the world of arts adjudication.
Born and raised in Toronto, Nestor holds a Bachelor of Music Theatre Performance degree through Sheridan College’s renowned musical theatre program, where they trained as a triple threat, excelling in acting, singing, and dancing. This comprehensive training has shaped their versatility and depth as a performer, enabling them to adapt to a variety of performance styles.
Nestor has appeared on various musical stages across Canada. Previous theatre credits include: The Wizard in The Wizard of Oz: The Panto (Drayton Entertainment); Miss Understanding in Priscilla, Queen of the Desert (Stage West Calgary); Derrick in Peter Pan: The Panto (Neptune Theatre in Halifax); Papa Ogre/Bear in Shrek The Musical (Globe Theatre in Regina). Most notably, Nestor has appeared on the Stratford Festival stages as Angel Dumott Schunard in RENT, Mrs. Whatsit in A Wrinkle in Time, Tink in Wendy and Peter Pan and appeared in Salesman in China.
Nestor has led workshops with the Drayton Entertainment Youth Academy, where they play a key role in nurturing and guiding the next generation of young performers. Through an Acting Through Song workshop, they help young artists find new meaning and discoveries in songs through technical exercises and heartfelt, emotional approaches. Nestor is passionate about giving young performers the tools they need to succeed, both on stage and in life.
As an adjudicator for the 2025 Take The Stage Music Festival, Nestor is excited to encourage and uplift emerging talent, offering guidance from both an artistic and technical perspective.
.jpg/:/cr=t:0%25,l:21.86%25,w:56.28%25,h:100%25/rs=w:1209,h:1612,cg:true)
Piano - Bernard Hui
Bernard Hui is a distinguished crossover pianist and music educator from Hong Kong, with over 30 years of experience. His expertise spans a broad range of musical genres, allowing him to inspire and guide his students with a dynamic and enriching approach. A master of keyboard technique, Bernard’s teaching fosters both a profound appreciation for music and the development of strong formal performance skills. Widely regarded as a dedicated and compassionate educator, he is committed to helping his students achieve their full potential.
Bernard holds a Bachelor of Music (Honors) and a Professional Diploma in Electronic Music from the Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts. Following his formal education, he deepened his expertise in keyboard improvisation under the mentorship of renowned jazz pianist Bob Mocarsky. Over the years, his improvisational skills have received widespread acclaim.
As a performer, Bernard is known for his artistic spirit and stage presence. He has graced prominent venues such as the Hong Kong Cultural Centre, various City Halls, and HKAPA, and has performed with esteemed local choirs and orchestras. Notably, he was a featured soloist at the inauguration of the Guangzhou Symphony Orchestra and later performed as an organ soloist for the Hong Kong Chinese Orchestra’s concert, *The Wonderful World of Reeds*.
Bernard is also an active participant in Hong Kong's jazz scene. In 1996, he co-founded the Aleatory Jazz Ensemble, and in 2016, he established several new groups, including the HAZZ Trio, Quartet SAN (a fusion jazz band), and the Chinese-jazz ensemble Gwat6 Koeng5. His versatility as a performer has led him to collaborate with bands such as La Petite Jazzy Jam, The Big Band Express, and the R&B/jazz group M.I.D. He is a regular fixture on Hong Kong’s leading jazz stages, including Gecko, Peel Fresco, The Orange Peel, and The Fringe Club.
Since relocating to Toronto in 2021, Bernard has expanded his artistic reach by founding the YouTube channel Lionrock Piano Covers, which showcases high-quality piano performances and sheet music for popular Asian hits, with a special focus on Cantopop. The channel has grown rapidly, with Bernard producing over 300 song covers in just two years, establishing Lionrock Piano Covers as a premier platform for Cantopop piano performances, admired for its artistry and musical arrangements.
Piano - Christopher Siu
Christopher holds a Bachelor of Music in Piano Performance from the University of Toronto, studying under Dr. James Parker and Dr. Boris Lysenko. He has also taken lessons with worldrenowned piano masters including Drs. John O’Conor, Jerome Lowenthal, Peter Bithell, John Perry, Robert Silverman and Edward Auer.
Christopher’s love for music resulted in numerous awards and scholarships, including many grand prizes at music festivals both at home and in America. Under the tutelage of Marina Geringas, Christopher took his RCM Grade 10 piano exam at the age of 11, achieving First Class Honours with Distinction, with a mark of 95. Christopher completed his Royal Conservatory of Music ARCT Diploma in Piano Performance at the young age of 14, again
with Distinction.
As a composer and arranger, Christopher has worked with talented musicians and artists around the world, including Tina Guo (cellist for Hans Zimmer), Anne-Kathrin Dern (The Claus Family), and David Wise (Donkey Kong Country), pop musicians RoomieOfficial and Clay Agnew (Foxchase), and has collaborated with fellow creators Ryan Leach and 8-bit Music Theory. A few of his scoring credits include music and orchestrations for Hallmark's romantic comedy Her Pen
Pal, as well as original music and arrangements for the Dark Dice series, which won awards including “Best Original Score” at the 2022 Signal Awards.
As an educator, Christopher currently runs a YouTube channel where he shares weekly content on composition, orchestration and mixing, empowering musicians to realize their true creative potential.