Region 26 Global Impact

Making a difference worldwide

The first foray by a regional member onto the International scene was by Joey Minshall as a member of the International Music Arranger's Program. Joey is still a prolific and highly sought-after arranger of great imagination and was most recently (January 2021) awarded the distinction of Master Music Arranger. When International made the decision in 1981 to separate BC, Alberta and Saskatchewan from Region 13 and create Region 26, Joey was the first Director of Musical Activities (DMA, now Education Coordinator on the RMT). She created the Director Certification Program, which was subsequently adopted by the International organization as a way to train directors and musical leaders.

Marcia Pinvidic became the region's first candidate to enter the judging program, serving on her first official panel in 1994. She became a Certified Judge in the Expression Category in 1999, served as Judge Specialists Moderator, and is currently Chair of the Education Direction Committee (EDC), Past International President (2014-16), and most recently and the 2021 recipient of the President’s Lifetime Achievement Award.

Sandy Marron followed her lead in the judging journey. She is a Certified Judge in the Sound Category, and was a member of the Sound Category Judging Category Description Book Update Task Force.

Judy Pozsgay is a Certified Judge in the Visual Communication Category, and a member of the International Faculty.

Corinna Garriock is a Certified Judge in the Music Category, a member of the EDC, Administrator of the Arranger Certification Program Committee, acts as the EDC Arranger Liaison, and is a member of the International Faculty.

Lisa Greenough is an Approved Judge in the Visual Communication Category, and is a member of the International Faculty.

Lisa Hunszinger is an Approved Candidate Judge in the Expression Category.

Region 26 is also proud to be home to Marsha Fulton, Judge Emerita in the Expression Category, the 2018 President’s Lifetime Achievement Award recipient, and a two-time Past International President (1981-83; 1989-91).

Three members of Region 26 have served on the International Board of Directors – Marsha Fulton, Cammi MacKinlay and Marcia Pinvidic. Like Marsha and Marcia, Cammi is also a Past International President (2010-12), International Faculty, a Panel Secretary and the 2019 recipient of the President’s Lifetime Achievement Award. She also received the inaugural Cammi MacKinlay Excellence in Leadership Award in 2020.

Our newest member to enter into International leadership is Mary Teed who is serving a One-Year Appointment to the International Board of Directors, is the International Bylaws and Rules Specialist, Chair of the Membership Retention Committee, a member of the Song Assessment of Organizational Materials Task Force, and of the Philanthropy Committee.

Of course, Region 26 is very proud to be the home of the 2004 International Quartet Champions, Brava! (Sandy Marron, Lynn Tatton, Elaine Cotton, Shannon Harris), the 2012 International Quartet Champions, Martini (Corinna Garriock, Michelle Little (Region 14), DeAnne Haugen (Region 3) and Shannon Harris), and the 2017 International Quartet Champions, Frenzy (Melissa Pope (MAL), Nikki Blackmer (Region 13), Anne Downton, and Judy Pozsgay (CAL, Region 13). Anne Downton is also a member of the International Faculty.

Region 26 is equally proud to have Sher Taylor as a member of the Song Assessment Tool Sub-committee (as part of the Diversity, Equity and Inclusivity initiative), Margaret Walton serving on the Chorus Toolkit Subcommittee, and Leslie Mackay serving on the RMT Documentation Review Task Force.

We also have several members who are Song Assessment Tool volunteers.

Updated March 2023