About the Adjudicators

Mr. Bruce Worland AM

Bruce has long been associated with youth music in Victoria, Australia. Since his boyhood days in Geelong, Victoria, where he commenced his piano studies, music has played a vital part in his life. He was successful in many sections at the South Street Competitions in Ballarat and gained his Associate of Music at 15 years of age.

While completing tertiary studies at University of Melbourne, Bruce studied piano with Roy Shepherd. Upon completion of his degree and teaching qualifications, Bruce taught at Glenroy High School before moving to Melbourne High School where he remained for many years as Director of Music. Melbourne High School has in recent years established a distinguished teacher honour board and Bruce's name appears among the 50 names.

In 1972, he was appointed to the Board of Secondary Inspectors where his involvement with music in state secondary schools continued until 1983 when after a major restructure, he was appointed Senior Music Development Officer. The responsibilities included the employment and placement of some 250 instrumental teachers in government schools throughout Victoria. During this period Bruce was involved with the establishment of a number of music initiatives in Schools. One such initiative was the employment of a professional string quartet and a wind quintet in the Bendigo area. These musicians both taught and performed in schools and the local community. Bruce remained with the Ministry as one of its Senior Administrative Officers, and in his later years became a member of the Teacher Registration Board and the Registered Schools Board. In 1991, Bruce established his own consultancy business. In 1998 Bruce became the executive Director of Melbourne Youth Music.

Bruce has been the Chairman of Melbourne Youth Music since 1972. Through its many musical activities MYM offers excellent opportunities for future musicians, music educators, parents and concert goers to gain high quality musical training. In addition, MYM is keen to provide the opportunities for young composers to have their works rehearsed and performed and for young conductors to gain valuable rehearsal and performance experience.

In 2006 the 34th Summer School had over 900 students from overseas, interstate and throughout Victoria at the Victorian College of the Arts. Both the Saturday Music Program and Summer School have gained international recognition for their excellence. Bruce conducted one of the Saturday Music School ensembles - the Percy Grainger Youth Orchestra - since its establishment in 1974. He retired from this position in December 2005.

In recognition of his services to music education, Bruce was made a Member of the Order of Australia in the 2001 Australia Day Honours List & in September 2001, Bruce received the Lifetime Achievement Award presented as part of the Orchestra of Australia Network [TOAN] 2004 National Orchestral Awards.

Professor James Keene

James F. Keene serves as Director of Bands and holds the title of Brownfield Professor of Music at the University of Illinois. Appointed in 1985, he is only the fourth to hold the Director of Bands position since 1905.

During his 21-year tenure at Illinois, the Symphonic Band and Wind Symphony, under his direction, have been selected to perform for every major music conference in the U.S. including the American Bandmasters Association (three times), College Band Directors National Association (twice) and the Music Educators National Conference (twice). They have toured throughout the country, as well as Great Britain, and have performed in several of the America's most prestigious concert halls including historic Orchestra Hall in Chicago and Carnegie Hall in New York. His ensembles have produced an extensive recording series on several labels, including the Masterpiece Series distributed by EMI-Toshiba of Japan. These recordings have been broadcast on National Public Radio in the U. S., as well as radio programs throughout the world in such diverse places as the United Kingdom, Tokyo, Warsaw, Tel Aviv, Sydney and most recently, Vatican Radio.

Professor Keene received his undergraduate and graduate degrees from the University of Michigan, where he was a student of the legendary William D. Revelli, Elizabeth A. H. Green, and Larry Teal. He returned to his alma mater in 1973 to serve a two-year tenure as Assistant Director of Bands. In addition, he has produced outstanding programs at all levels and prior to his appointment at Illinois, his career highlights include building nationally acclaimed ensembles at East Texas State (now Texas A and M-Commerce) and the University of Arizona.

Mr. Keene is Past-President of the prestigious American Bandmasters Associations, as well as the National Band Association and The Big Ten Band Directors Association. For several years he served as chairman of the ABA/Ostwald Composition Contest, and is currently a member of the Editorial Board of The Journal of Band Research.

In addition to membership in several professional and honorary societies, Mr. Keene is an Evans Scholar, a Past-President of the Champaign Rotary Club, and a Paul Harris Fellow of the Rotary International Foundation. In 1993 Professor Keene was named as an honorary member of the Board of Directors of the International Percy Grainger Society in recognition of his devotion to the music of Grainger; he also serves on the Board of Directors of the John Philip Sousa Foundation and the historic Goldman Memorial Band of New York City. In 2002, Professor Keene was named Honorary Life Member of the Texas Bandmasters Association, becoming only the sixth person to be so honoured in the 55-year history of that organization.

Professor Keene is in constant demand as conductor, clinician, lecturer and adjudicator, and has appeared in those capacities in forty-two states and on four continents. In 2006-07, Professor Keene is scheduled to conduct in Australia, Singapore, China and Europe in addition to a busy schedule of appearances throughout the U.S.

Professor Li Xilin

Mr Li Xilin is a famous music educator, conductor and composer. He is a member of Chinese Musicians Association, Vice Chairperson of the Sichuan Chorus Association and also a member of the International Federation of Choral Music.

In 1977, he graduated from the conducting department of Sichuan Conservatory of Music and became a teacher in this college. He also graduated from the Shanghai Music College of composing and conducting in 1981.

From 1989 to 1993, he studied conducting in Japan. While working in the Sichuan Conservatory of Music, he was the chairman of the music composing department.

Presently he is the Vice President of the Sichuan Conservatory of Music, Vice Dean of the college academic committee, Professor of conducting and tutor of masters. He is a leader in this specialized field and his department enjoys a special financial subsidy from the State Council.

As a conductor, he has won several conducting awards both in domestic and international competitions. In 1993, the Children's Chorus, conducted by Professor Li, won the best performance award and Professor Li won the conductors award (the highest award in the competition) in the first session of the National Children's Voice Chorus Festival.

In July 2002, the "Chengdu Buds Chorus" conducted by Professor Li won third place in the 17th session of the Beijing International Chorus Festival. In addition, several parts of the national wind and string music section, directed and conducted by Professor Li won first prize in this national competition.

In 1990, Professor Li was invited to be the conductor in the 4th session of a TV singing competition organized by CCTV. In 1993, Professor Li was invited to take part in 20th Century Chinese People's Music Festival and conduct "Huang He Chorus" ( a well-known Chinese chorus ). Professor Li also worked as chief artistic director in other national performances and activities and participated in more than 200 performances by CCTV and other provincial TV stations.

Professor Li has also won numerous awards for composing in National and International Festivals. In 1998, the dance music "Happy Festival" created by Professor Li won first prize in the Romanian Cluj International Folk Art Festival his dance music "Children's Future" won the golden prize in the 2nd session of the National Children's Dance Competition.

In 2000, dance music "Happy Festival" and "Red Blanket" created by Professor Li won first prize in the Ukraine Crimea International Art Festival together with another International Music Festival in Poland.

Professor Li Xilin now spends much of his time lecturing and participating in academic exchanges.

He had traveled to Japan, America, Germany and other countries to take part in performances and academic exchanges. His involvement in music has been documented in Peoples Daily, China Youth, and Tokyo News. He is also listed in "World Famous People" by the Cambridge International Famous People Biography Center.