2026 Adjudicators

Amanda Kind is a commercial voice teacher, singer, songwriter, and performer. She works with a wide range of clients including professional singers, indie artists, and aspiring performers of all ages across many genres. Amanda teaches commercial music at Wilfrid Laurier University and serves as Artistic Director of Pop Nation Canada, the country's largest commercial music vocal ensemble program. She has also been a guest lecturer, adjudicator, and workshop facilitator for institutions such as Sheridan College, Western University, and the University of Guelph.

As an artist, Amanda has recorded an eclectic catalogue, from her jazz rendition of Wonderwall and original pop releases, easier, take take take, and hello heartache, to country singles including The Good Fight and Slow Dance (which reached #1 on SiriusXM's Top of the Country). With James Downham, she is part of the CMAO-nominated duo Amanda & James, releasing radio singles such as Comeback, Another Round, Two Wrongs Don't Make a Right, and We're Okay.

Her performance experience includes pop, jazz, musical theatre, opera and more. Stage credits include Drowsy (The Drowsy Chaperone), The Witch (Into the Woods), Miss Hanigan (Annie), Miss Stacey (Anne of Green Gables), Sophie (Masterclass), and more. Amanda holds performance certificates in music and theatre from Kwantlen University College and the Canadian College of Performing Arts, an Honours BA from the University of Waterloo, and a Master's degree from Wilfrid Laurier University. She has completed extensive professional development in commercial voice pedagogy at the Boston Conservatory, Shenandoah University (CCM Institute Levels I - III), and Evidence-Based Vocal Pedagogy certification with MTVS.

Amanda is a member of the Songwriters Association of Canada, SOCAN, the Canadian Country Music Association, and NATS Ontario.