Mr. Watson is the former Vice President, Communications of Newalta.  His extensive industry knowledge includes 35 years experience with companies such as Laidlaw Inc., Tricil Ltd., Tirmac Ltd. and Kenting Ltd.  He has played prominent roles in the Canadian Investor Relations Institute and the Canadian Public Relations Society, where he has received his Public Relations Accreditation and was designated a Toronto Chapter Lifetime Member for his services.  Mr. Watson is an Advisory Committee Member for Humber College's Corporate Communications Program. 

Ms. Ficzere's involvement with SOCMI spans 15 years.  This year marks her sixth year as Summer Institute Programming Director - recommending faculty, developing programmes, co-ordinating applications, co-selecting repertoire, and grouping participants into ensembles, as well as, ensuring the Institute runs smoothly.  

Ms. Ficzere is Grades 5 - 8 Learning Resource teacher as well as Principal's Designate at Allan A. Greenleaf Elementary School, Hamilton-Wentworth District School Board.  She holds degrees in Music Education and Performance, Political Science, and a Masters of Education in Curriculum Studies.  She is has been involved in developing curriculum for various subjects including the arts.  Ms. Ficzere specializes in teaching children with various exceptionalities including learning disabilities, gifted, autistic and behavioural challenges.  Ms. Ficzere can also be found teaching piano, once a week, at the Merriam School of Music in Oakville, Ontario.    Email: aficzere@socmi.org 

As an adult I have always been interested in people and how they live around the world and through past times. After studying history and art history in university I taught all of the social studies subjects in the Ontario curriculum, but specialized in the Classics, European History, and Global/Environmental Studies.

As a teacher and later a department head I soon came to realize that my students (and I) could not really come to grips with the world unless we took the opportunity to visit the places we were studying. This lead me to travel extensively with my family and with students to places as varied as Greece, Turkey, Italy, England, Australia and the South Pacific, all of Canada, Belize, Guatemala, and the Amazonian rainforest.   I have had the opportunity to teach “on-site” summer credit programmes in several of these places.



I also came to realize that perhaps the most significant thing which joins the peoples of the world into one human family was our appreciation and love of music. This lead me to develop and run the Toronto International Music Festival for high school students to provide clinics and travel opportunities for music students visiting Toronto. 

Mr. Muldoon has worked for 39 years in public relations, public  affairs and issue management for both the public and private 
sectors. In the early eighties, he was Supervisor for Publicity and Promotion for the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation for radio and 
television for Ontario. He has also worked in private consulting, for a major national brewery, in banking, municipal government, 
regional government and with Canada's largest school board. He has served on a number of boards and as a volunteer to a number of non- profit organizations. He is past Chair of the Board, for the CNIB, Halton/Peel.

Mr. Muldoon is Manager, Communications and Public Affairs for the Toronto District School Board (currently on medical leave). He is an 
accredited member of the Canadian Public Relations Society, a fellow in the prestigious College of Fellows for CPRS and is a Life 
Member. He joined the SOCMI Board in 2006 to assist with publicity,  promotion and fundraising.

Mr. McCulloch is a retired educator who for the past 14 years, worked as a Vice-Principal in 5 secondary schools with the Peel Board of Education.  His passion for music extends back to high school where he played the violin. More recently, Mr. McCulloch has facilitated site arrangements with the Toronto International Music Festival, and organization that brings secondary school students to the Toronto area for workshops and concerts.  Currently, Mr. McCulloch and his wife design and facilitate corporate training in Human Resources through their company MYgosh Associates. 

Ms. Watson is a public relations consultant with over 20 years experience in communications, marketing, event planning and website development. 

A lover of music Ms. Watson has been involved with SOCMI for the past three years designing and developing the website and has grown to love what the institution has to offer young people today. 

Her other community involvements include OPACC (Ontario Parents Advocating for Children with Cancer) as web designer / communications advisor.  She has also been a member of Rotary International Ancaster A. M.  Deirdre is also a member of the Canadian Public Relations Society, Hamilton Chapter and serves on the Mentorship Committee and is also a mentor. 

From a young child Gail Poskitt has been encouraged by her parents to appreciate classical music and performance art. Becoming involved with SOCMI has not only been a wonderful experience, but a perfect fit considering Gail’s interest in chamber music. Every summer she looks forward to being inspired by these young, motivated and talented musicians.

Gail is a recent graduate from McMaster University with a degree in Sociology and Political Science. Her next venture is to pursue a 
career in social work. In her spare time, Gail currently volunteers at Pathways to Education, Fife House, TRCC, and McMaster Children’s Hospital. This will mark Gail’s fourth year as the assistant to the institute director, and she is most excited to assist Adrianna in whatever way she can!