Remembering Uplifting Moments in Song: Barb Monahan (2015)

Michael Colvin

Hailed in Opera News as possessing “one of the most beautiful lyric tenor instruments around,” Irish-Canadian tenor Michael Colvin has appeared to critical acclaim on opera and concert stages throughout Canada, the United States, the U.K., and Europe. His 23/24 season highlights include appearances at Madrid’s Teatro Real in Reimann’s Lear and Staatsoper Hamburg in Lucia di Lammermoor.

Last season, he returned to the Canadian Opera Company (Le nozze di Figaro, Salome), Opéra National de Paris (Tosca, The Magic Flute), Teatro alla Scala (Peter Grimes) and the Toronto Symphony Orchestra for Handel’s Messiah.

Aribert Reimann’s Lear was the vehicle for Colvin’s recent Salzburg and Maggio Musicale (Florence) debuts, his performance as Cornwall noted for “vocal verve, perfect technique and exemplary diction” (Neue Musikzeitung). He enjoyed further performances of this role with Opéra national de Paris. Recent seasons have included Herodes in Salome for English National Opera, Messiah for Symphony Nova Scotia, Dr. Caius in Vlaanderen Opera’s Falstaff, Bob Boles in Peter Grimes with Monte Carlo Opera, Bardolfo in Falstaff for the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, and Monostatos in Canadian Opera Company’s Die Zauberflöte.

Of particular note during Canada’s Sesquicentennial Year, he was featured in the Canadian Opera Company’s new production of Somers’ Louis Riel, presented in Toronto, Ottawa, and Quebec City. Also on his schedule for 2016-2017 were the Painter in Lulu at the English National Opera, Monostatos in Die Zauberflöte for the Canadian Opera Company, and Elijah for Montreal’s Choeur St. Laurent. During the 2015-2016 season he sang l’Aumonier in Dialogues des Carmélites for The Netherlands Opera, Basilio in Le nozze di Figaro for the Canadian Opera Company, and Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9 for the Brott Music Festival.

Highlighting Colvin’s 2014-2015 season was his debut at the Royal Opera Covent Garden as Rodolphe in Rossini’s Guillaume Tell conducted by Antonio Pappano. The year also included a return to the Canadian Opera Company for the roles of Goro in Madama Butterfly and Dr. Caius in Falstaff, Herod in Salome for Opera Ireland, Jaquino for Manitoba Opera’s Fidelio and Messiahs in Newfoundland and Montréal. He joined Bramwell Tovey and the Vancouver Symphony for Rimsky-Korsakov’s Mozart and Salieri and also was seen in Brussels and Paris as Jaquino, with the St. Paul Chamber Orchestra in Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9 and the Toronto Mendelssohn Choir in Pärt’s Passio.

Held in high esteem for his sterling musicianship and commitment to text, he has collaborated with conductors including Franz Welser-Möst, Harry Bicket, Antonio Papano, Johannes Debus, Nicholas McGegan, Sir Charles Mackerras, Andrey Boreyko, Bernard Labadie, Bramwell Tovey, Alexander Shelley, Jacques Lacombe, Trevor Pinnock, Helmut Rilling, Jane Glover and Carlos Kalmar. His repertoire is an eclectic mix, ranging from the opera and orchestral works of Britten and Mozart to Berg, Beethoven, Strauss and Wagner. Additional credits include Welsh National Opera, Minnesota Opera, Seattle Symphony, Louisville Orchestra, Phoenix Symphony, Toronto Symphony, Lyric Opera of Kansas City, Rochester Philharmonic, Ulster Orchestra in Belfast, Detroit Symphony, Garsington Opera, National Arts Centre Orchestra Ottawa, Toronto Mendelssohn Choir, l’Orchestre symphonique de Québec, Pacific Opera Victoria, Portland Opera, London Proms, Lanaudière Festival, Edinburgh Festival, Grant Park Festival and the Elora Festival.

Born in Ballymena, Northern Ireland, and raised in Toronto, Canada, Michael began his musical studies at St. Michael’s Choir School in Toronto and returned to music after attaining his Bachelor of Science in Immunology from the University of Toronto. A graduate of the U. of T. Opera Division, Michael has also trained with the Canadian Opera Company’s Ensemble Studio, the Britten-Pears School in Aldeburgh, England and Canada’s Banff Centre for the Arts. He has been the recipient of numerous awards and scholarships, most notably the Canadian Opera Foundation Award, Chalmers Performing Arts Award and a Canada Council Artist Grant. Michael makes his home in Toronto, Canada. Recording projects include the works of the Ukrainian composer Lysenko, Don Ottavio in the film Don Giovanni Unmasked with Hvorostovsky and recordings on the NAXOS, CBC and Warner Music labels.

Felix Deák

A native Torontonian, cellist and gambist Felix Deák freelances and tours regularly in Canada and Europe. When he’s not making music or cooking, he’s making memories with his dog, Scout.

Christopher Bagan

Christopher Bagan is a versatile artist, equally at home on modern and historical keyboard instruments. He is in high demand as a collaborator, chamber musician and basso-continuo specialist. He has performed with many of the leading baroque singers, instrumentalists and conductors in North America and abroad. Christopher is particularly active in the field of baroque opera, working as the assistant conductor at Opera Atelier and as coach and repetiteur at the Canadian Opera Company. In 2015- 16 Christopher was the Early Keyboard instructor at Case Western Reserve University and the head of Harpsichord at the Cleveland Institute of Music. He is currently on Faculty at the University of Toronto, working with the students in the historical performance program. He is also on faculty as a historical keyboard coach in the Canadian Opera Company's elite Ensemble training program.

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Ian Sadler

Following 3 years as Organist of St. James Cathedral in Toronto, in 2019 Ian Sadler was appointed Organist and Director of Music at St. Paul’s Cathedral, London, Ontario. Ian is also Artistic Director of The Cathedral Singers, a choir which tours to Britain each year to act as choir in residence at a cathedral.

This past July, Ian was Organist-in-Residence at St. Patrick’s Cathedral Dublin. In August he directed his Cathedral Singers in performances at Bath Abbey and Bristol Cathedral in the UK.Highlights this season include a recital to help inaugurate the new organ console at St. James Cathedral, Toronto, a Christmas Concert at Toronto’s Thomson Hall and a week as Organist-in-Residence at St. Paul’s Cathedral, London, England in 2024.

Ian was a chorister at St. Paul’s Cathedral, London, England, Music Scholar at The King’s School, Canterbury and then Organ Scholar at Bristol University. Following a Musicology degree Ian was appointed Organ Scholar for 3 years at St. Paul’s Cathedral. His final engagement in the UK before moving to Canada was to play the organ in the movie, ‘Chariots of Fire’. In 1980 Ian moved to Canada following appointments in Toronto as Organist at Grace Church on-the-Hill and Choral Director at Upper Canada College. In 1986 he won 1st prize at the Syracuse International Organ Competition, USA. Recitals have since taken him to Denmark, Finland, Sweden, Germany, France (Notre Dame, Paris), Austria (St. Stephen’s Cathedral, Vienna), Australia, Jamaica, the USA and the UK (St. Paul’s, Westminster Abbey, King’s College Chapel, Cambridge). Highlights of Ian’s career include recitals at the launching of the organs in Singer Hall, Calgary, Toronto’s Thomson Hall and Edmonton’s Winspeare Centre, a Juno award for a CD by his Burlington Chamber choir, the award of a Fellowship from The Royal Canadian College of Organists, and election to Britain’s oldest music charity, The Royal Society of Musicians.

Adam Bishop

Tenor Adam Bishop has performed for audiences across Canada and abroad in art song, oratorio, and opera. He has had the privilege of performing for Prime Ministers, Royalty, and regularly performed the Canadian and US National Anthems for the Toronto Blue Jays. In 2010, Bishop undertook the role of Le Prince Charmant in Massenet’s Cendrillon at the Glenn Gould School. Led by Maestro Uri Mayer, these were the inaugural operatic performances in the world-class Koerner Hall. Other roles include Nemorino in L’Elisir d’Amore, Ferrando in Così fan Tutte, Le Chevalier de la Force in Les Dialogues des Carmélites, and the Count Almaviva in Il Barbiere di Siviglia.

Locally, Mr. Bishop’s recent performances include Bach’s St. John Passion with the Peterborough Singers, Beethoven’s 9th Symphony with the Peterborough Symphony Orchestra, and performances of Handel’s Messiah with the Uxbridge Chamber Choir. Other highlights include Handel’s Messiah with the Regina Symphony Orchestra and the Peterborough Singers, Mozart’s Requiem with the Georgian Bay Concert Choir. Charpentier’s Te Deum and Karl Jenkins’ The Armed Man with the Regina Philharmonic Chorus, Mendelssohn’s Elijah with the Toronto Classical Singers and Talisker Players conducted by Jurgen Petrenko as well as performances of Vaughan Williams’ Hodie, Stainer’s Crucifixion, Mendelssohn’s Elijah, and Britten’s St. Nicolas Oratorio.

Mr. Bishop holds a Masters of Music in Vocal Performance from the University of Toronto, and is a graduate of the Artists Diploma program at The Glenn Gould School. Former teachers include Dr. Darryl Edwards, Monica Whicher, Carol-Lynn Reifel, and Fr. Paul Massel. He has participated in elite training programs such as the Highlands Opera Studio under Richard Margison, and the Tafelmusik Baroque Summer Institute.

Joshua Wales

Tenor Joshua Wales holds a degree in voice performance from McGill University, with further training at the Tafelmusik Baroque Summer Institute and Orford Arts Centre. Recent highlights include several seasons in the Canadian Opera Company chorus, as well as Against the Grain Theatre’s staged production of Handel’s Messiah (Dora Award for Best Ensemble). On the oratorio stage, he was the tenor soloist in Mozart’s Requiem (Grand River Chorus), Handel’s Athalia (Victoria Conservatory), Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony (Corktown Orchestra), and Messiah (Grand River Chorus, Arcady Baroque Ensemble.) Past opera credits include the title role in Charpentier’s Orphee (Orford Arts Centre), Anthony in Sweeney Todd (Alexander Theatre), Spirit of the Masque in Britten’s Gloriana (Voicebox: Opera in Concert), and Almaviva in Il Barbiere di Siviglia (Summer Opera Lyric Theatre). He has also performed with Opera Atelier, Opera Five, and Tapestry New Opera. He has an MD from McMaster University and is a palliative care physician in Toronto.

Graham Robinson

Born on Vancouver Island, Toronto-based baritone Graham Robinson has established himself as a sought-after interpreter of song, oratorio, and opera from the baroque to the contemporary. Recent performances include Handel’s Messiah and J.S. Bach’s St. John Passion with the Cellar Singers, Corydon in Purcell’s The Fairy Queen with Confluence Concerts, and the Evangelist Quartet in Pärt’s Passio with The Elora Singers.

Graham holds an undergraduate degree in music from the University of Victoria and a master’s degree in Vocal Pedagogy from the University of Toronto where he studied under Lorna MacDonald. Through Tafelmusik’s Summer Baroque Institute, Graham has received historically informed baroque performance coaching by Peter Harvey and Ivars Taurins.

Graham is passionate about ensemble singing and can be found singing regularly with Tafelmusik Baroque Chamber Choir, The Elora Singers, the Elmer Iseler Singers, and Soundstreams Choir 21, with whom he has participated in Juno winning and nominated recordings. Graham is a founding member of both the Aspirare Vocal Collective and Toronto’s Trinity Bach Project.

Graham keeps a private voice studio in Toronto’s downtown core where his pedagogical process focuses on singing as a narrative artform and utilizing the physiological mechanics of the human body to produce natural, uninhibited vocalization. His students have performed onstage at the Canadian Opera Company and been accepted into top tier post-secondary music programs.

Lillian Brooks

Canadian mezzo-soprano Lillian Brooks has been praised for her “lyric sound” (Ludwig van Toronto), “easy handling of coloratura” (Schmopera), and has been noted for her “wonderful sensitivity to story and the development of song,” (FYI Music). During the 2023 season, Lillian will appear with chamber ensemble InnerCHAMBER (Stratford, ON), for an intimate performance of Mahler’s Ruckert Lieder and returns to Chorus Niagara in March 2023 for Beethoven’s epic oratorio, Missa Solemnis. To close out the season, Lillian will be seen performing the role of Mrs. Anderssen in the Royal Conservatory Presents: A Little Night Music (Sondheim), alongside a star studded all-Canadian cast.

Lillian made her professional debut in 2015 singing Mozart’s Requiem with Chorus Niagara, under the baton of Robert Cooper. Her love of oratorio and concert works has continued to grow, as she performs as a soloist in repertoire such as Handel’s Messiah and Dixit Dominus, Bach’s St John Passion and St Matthew Passion, Vivaldi’s Gloria, Durufle’s Requiem, Mahler’s Das Lied von der Erde, and the Canadian premieres of both Last Light Above the World by Alan Bevan and The Cross of Christ by Romulo Delgado. Equally at home on the operatic stage, her past roles include Bradamante in Alcina, Annio in La clemenza di Tito, Third Lady in Mozart’s The Magic Flute, Flora in La Traviata, and Cherubino in Le nozze di Figaro.

Lillian enjoyed two years with Calgary Opera as a member of their McPhee Artist Development Program during their 2019/20 and 2020/21 seasons. She appeared as The Mother in Amahl and the Night Visitors and Hansel in Hansel & Gretel as a part of the cohort. Lillian also had the opportunity to participate in new-music workshops as part of Calgary Opera’s “Opera Labs” series, working with Canadian conductors and composers including John Estacio, Dean Burry, Kelly Marie Murphy, Jean-Claude Picard, and Johannes Debus.

Recent highlights include singing with Toronto City Opera (Fenena in Nabucco, and Lucia in Cavalleria Rusticana), Chorus Niagara (Handel’s Messiah), VOICEBOX Opera in Concert (Sister Bridgeman in Florence: the Lady with the Lamp), and Toronto Operetta Theatre as part of the world premiere performance of A Northern Lights Dream by Michael Rose, singing the role of Fetill/Third Lady. Other opera credits include Mrs. Nolan in Menotti’s The Medium, Filipyevna in Tchaikovsky’s Eugene Onegin, and Cornelia in Handel’s Giulio Cesare.

Lillian’s musical journey has led to numerous accolades for her dedication to the craft. In 2015, she was awarded the prestigious Hnatyshyn Foundation Developing Artists Grant, while graduating cum laude from York University, where she studied with Canadian mezzo-soprano Catherine Robbin and earned first prize in their annual Concerto Competition. Brooks received her Artist Diploma Program in Vocal Performance from the Glenn Gould School in 2017 and went on to participate in the 2018 Britten-Pears Young Artist Programme in Aldeburgh, UK, where she studied with internationally acclaimed faculty including Matthew Rose and Anne-Sofie von Otter.

January 2023

Lesley Bouza

While initially trained in saxophone at the University of Guelph, Lesley discovered the
potential of her singing voice in her early twenties and has never looked back. She then went
on to study voice at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama before returning to
Canada to become an active Toronto based musician. She delights in taking every
opportunity to use her eclectic skill-set performing jazz, pop, musical theatre and classical
genres. Some of Lesley’s career highlights include Lesley Sings Joni, a Joni Mitchell tribute
concert at the 2018 Elora Festival, Steve Reich at 80 with Soundstreams, Dido and Aeneas
at Carnegie Hall with Les Violons du Roy and a tour of Taiwan as a member of the Swingle
Singers.

In addition to being a busy performer Lesley is an accredited music therapist. This provides
her with the opportunity to connect with others through music and to support them in their
exploration of music as a tool for their own well-being.

Alex Dobson

Recognized for his “ringing, present sound” and “rich, flexible, baritone”, British-Canadian Alexander Dobson has been praised for his musicality and dramatic awareness on both opera and concert stages. Some roles include the title roles in Wozzeck and Don Giovanni, as well as Guglielmo (Così Fan Tutte), Belcoré (L’elisir d’amore), Ned Keene (Peter Grimes), The Count (The Marriage of Figaro), and Marcello (La Bohème), Alexander has appeared with conductors such as Yannick Nézet-Séguin, Trevor Pinnock, Nic McGegan and Paul Goodwin; on the stages of L’Opéra du Montréal, Opera Ontario, Milwaukee’s Florentine Opera, Calgary Opera, Opera Lafayette, Royal Opera House Covent Garden and with the Toronto Symphony, Cleveland Orchestra, Orchestre Métropolitain, Montreal Symphony Orchestra, Philadelphia Orchestra, National Arts Centre Orchestra, Tafelmusik and Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra. Recent engagements include Handel’s Messiah in New York, Jacksonville and Halifax, Escamillo in Carmen with the Kitchener Waterloo Symphony and Pulcinella with Artis Naples, Florida, Raimbaud in Edmonton Opera’s production of Rossini’s Le Comte Ory, Against Nature with Citadel and Compagnie and Il Conte in Le Nozze di Figaro with Florentine Opera. Upcoming engagements include Das Lied von der Erde with the Ontario Phlharmonic, Winterreise with Société d’art vocal, St. Matthew Passion with the St. Louis Bach Society, Angel’s Bone with Loose Tea Opera and Mozart Requiem with Arion Baroque Orchestra.

More information can be found about Alexander at:

schwalbeandpartners.com/project/alexander-dobson-baritone/

Janelle Lucyk

“Such an angelic voice. Her expressiveness is beyond words. It’s as though she’s channeling God.” – Dr Cowan

Janelle Lucyk is a leader among an emerging generation of Canadian artists specializing in historically informed performance, taking ideas from conception to the stage. She graduated with distinction from the Conservatoire Royal de Bruxelles (Belgium), and completed her Masters in Management at Durham University (UK). In fall 2022, she was invited by legendary organist Xaver Varnus to perform at his two sold out performances in Hungary, including at the spectacular Bartók National Concert Hall in Budapest. Janelle is the artistic director of Ménestrel, her early music ensemble with Kerry Bursey, and together their interpretations have been praised for being closer to what songs would have sounded like back in time. In December 2022, Ménestrel toured a new production of Handel’s Messiah which congregated 21 emerging performers from across Canada to be featured across Nova Scotia. Janelle is Artistic & Administrative Director of Musique Royale (est. 1985), a music presenter based in Lunenburg, Nova Scotia which enriches historic spaces through the sharing of world class early music, and more. Last year included concerts in over forty different venues across the spectacular maritime province.

Ian Sabourin

Ian is a Canadian countertenor raised in Ottawa and based in Montreal, renowned for his unique sound, powerful high notes, and diverse repertoire. He has been awarded the Fellowship Stingray Audience Award and recently joined the Opéra de Montréal’s Atelier Lyrique as their first countertenor. Ian is also a professional chorister in Montreal with various professional ensembles such as Ensemble Caprice, Harmonies des Saisons, and Ottawa Bach Choir.

Upcoming performances include his soloist role for Handel’s Israel in Egypt with Choeur Classique de Montreal, his soloist role for Bach’s St. Matthew Passion with The Peterborough Singers, and his debut with ODM as Ottone from L’incoronazione di Poppea.

Ian’s clarity and evenness of tone have been highly praised in his 2022/2023 season, which includes covering a staged version of Pergolesi’s Stabat Mater at Edmonton Opera, as soloist in Bach’s Mass in B Minor and Solomon in Handel’s Solomon with Caelis Academy Ensemble in Ottawa, touring with Musique Royale for Handel’s Messiah, and as Orlando in Handel’s Orlando with Opera McGill in his final year of studies.

Ian also appeared as a bass-baritone on contemporary ensemble Lyrico’s debut album ‘Noel à l’Opéra,’ recorded with Orchestre Philharmonique et Chouer Mélomanes. In July 2022, at the Lameque Baroque Festival, Ian’s voice was described as “stunning, with a powerful timbre – the kind of voice you can listen to for hours without getting tired.”

Ian earned a Masters in Early Music/Opera Performance from McGill University, where he studied with mezzo-soprano Annamaria Popescu. He also holds a Graduate Diploma in Voice Performance from McGill University, where he studied with soprano Dominique Labelle. Ian obtained his Bachelors in Music from the University of Toronto, where he studied with countertenor Daniel Taylor.

Jonathan Liebich

Bass-Baritone Jonathan Liebich is known for a rich and expressive voice and has enjoyed performing in Canada and Europe. Most recently he has appeared in performances of Messiah with the Uxbridge Messiah Singers and Bach’s Christmas Oratorio with Cantorei Sine Nomine.

Jonathan is particularly passionate about the oratorio repertoire and audiences have been riveted by his commanding performances of repertoire including Beethoven’s Missa Solemnis, Mass in C, Ninth Symphony, numerous of Bach’s Cantatas as well as St. John’s Passion, Brahms’ German Requiem, Mendelssohn’s Elijah, Haydn’s Creation and Lord Nelson Mass, Vaughan Williams’ Five Mystical Songs and the Requiems of Mozart, Fauré and Duruflé with numerous orchestras and choirs including the Elmer Iseler Singers, Stuttgart Music Festival under the baton of Helmuth Rilling, the Vancouver Bach Choir, Vancouver Symphony and Kingston Symphony. He has been recorded and aired on CBC Radio2 several times.

He has also navigated many operatic stages in roles such as Count Almaviva and Figaro in The Marriage of Figaro, Papageno in The Magic Flute, The 4 Villains in Tales of Hoffmann, Belcore in Elixir of Love, Sam in A Masked Ball, El Dancairo in Carmen, and Baron Douphol in La Traviata. Several of these were on Vancouver Opera’s Mainstage. He is also an alumnus of the Vancouver Opera Touring Ensemble with whom he performed Mozart’s Magic Flute in over 200 schools throughout his home province of British Columbia. Jonathan enjoyed working with St. Anne’s MADS as the Pirate King in their award winning production of Pirates of Penzance, including a performance at the International Gilbert and Sullivan Festival in Buxton England. He has been on two European tours performing The Magic Flute and The Marriage of Figaro.

Since 2011 Jonathan has shared his love and passion of choral music through his direction of the New Song Chancel Choir in Port Perry, where he currently resides with his family.

In his spare time, he is a Program Manager with the Toronto Transit Commission.

Ernesto Ramirez

Mexican tenor Ernesto Ramírez is garnering rave reviews for his distinctive Italianate sound, “wonderfully fluid line and brilliant high notes,” combined with his “suave, nuanced lyricism.” Ernesto recently debuted as Pinkerton in Madama Butterfly with Mexico’s Opera de Leon, Rodolfo in La bohème with Pacific Northwest Opera, and sang his first Don Jose with Opera Kelowna’s Carmen and in concert with Kitchener-Waterloo Symphony.

Ernesto has performed to great acclaim for audiences in France, Germany, Switzerland, Canada, and the United States. In 2014 while engaged as a cover for the title role of Roberto Devereux with the Canadian Opera Company, he was thrilled to share the stage in performance with soprano Sondra Radvanovsky.

Ernesto begins the current season covering the Duke in Edmonton Opera’s Rigoletto, and is the tenor soloist in Handel’s Messiah with Hamilton’s Bach Elgar Choir; Alexander Cann, conductor. In 2020, Ernesto debuts in Against the Grain Theatre’s Bound, a reaction to those displaced, dehumanized and mistreated by recent geopolitical conflict, with original text by director Joel Ivany. Composer Kevin Lau infuses his own music onto the backbone of Handel’s music.

Operatic roles for Ernesto include Raoul in the Canadian Premiere of Meyerbeer’s Les Huegenots, Arturo in I Puritani, and Alfredo in La Traviata with Sarasota Opera

His “resplendent tenor” has been heard in performances of Verdi’s Requiem with Brott Music Festival, and Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony with the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra, Niagara Symphony and Kingston Symphony. Opera companies in Zurich, Quebec, Montreal, Tel-Aviv and Mexico City have welcomed him as a guest artist in their Opera Galas. He also performed at The 150th Anniversary of Puccini, a gala hosted by Simonetta Puccini.

Ernesto earned a Bachelor of Music in Clarinet Performance from the University of Guadalajara in Mexico, and graduated from Boston Universityʼs Opera Institute. He has received awards from The Metropolitan Opera Council Auditions in Los Angeles, the Society of Singers Foundation and the New West Symphony Young Artist Prize.

Geoff Bemrose

Geoff has been involved in theatre and music for as long as he can remember. He has a great deal of experience as a singer, musician, actor, producer, director, and stage manager. As a teacher, he has had the pleasure of mentoring hundreds of young performers over the years.

Geoff is a founding member of Art for Awareness and enjoys raising awareness of social issues through various arts performances. He directed the AFA production of RENT at Showplace, performed as Javert in Les Miserables (St. James Players), and played bass in the band for Hedwig and the Angry Inch (AFA). Other performance credits include Dan Goodman in Next to Normal (AFA), Billy Flynn in Chicago (St. James), and he is a member of the local rock group North Hope. Directorial credits include Chicago: High School Edition, Mamma Mia, Damn Yankees, The Drowsy Chaperone, Little Shop of Horrors, The Laramie Project (LCS), Anything Goes & Guys and Dolls (Adam Scott Musical Theatre). He was also the tech director of the Peterborough Singers’ productions of Carmina Burana and SOUL II as well as the technical consultant for 4th Line Theatre’s Young Company.

Geoff is currently a Theatre and Outdoor Education teacher at Lakefield College School where he directs Musicals and the LCS Rock Choir. He also leads the school record label “Grove Records” and is the Technical Director of the Bryan Jones Theatre.

Alex Halliday

Alex Halliday returns to the Ensemble Studio for his second year after studying opera at the University of Toronto. Originally from St. John’s, Newfoundland, he ventured home to obtain his Bachelor’s of Music (Performance) from the Memorial University of Newfoundland. After graduating, he pursued an Opera Masters from the University of Toronto and then went on to work for the Canadian Opera Company’s Ensemble Studio where he is still currently contracted. Alex makes his COC debut this season as Guccio in Puccini’s Gianni Schicchi.

Jacob Abrahamse

Jacob Abrahamse created the starring role of the Holy Child in the Dora Award-winning premiere of R. Murray Schafer’s The Children’s Crusade. Soundstreams Canada’s production of Schafer’s opera afforded Abrahamse the opportunity to work alongside director Tim Albery, conductor David Fallis, and mezzo-soprano Wallis Giunta. Abrahamse subsequently presented at Moses Znaimer’s Idea City, alongside Randi Zuckerberg, Pete Worden, Ali Velshi, and Preston Manning.

Abrahamse sang his debut performance of G. F. Handel’s Messiah with the Peterborough Singers in 2016. He reprised the Messiah with the Theatre of Early Music and Schola Cantorum. As a guest soloist for the Northumberland Orchestra and Chorus, Abrahamse performed Saint-Saëns’s Oratorio de Noël and W. A. Mozart’s Krönungsmesse.

With the Hamilton Philharmonic, Abrahamse performed the role of Tintin/Sergio in Lloyd Burritt’s opera, Miracle Flight 571, and the role of the Fenian in the premiere performance of Abigail Richardson-Schulte and Anna Chatterton’s opera, Shot: The Story of D’Arcy McGee. With COSA Canada, Abrahamse created the role of Orfeo in the workshop of Dean Burry’s Il Giudizio di Pigmalione. He has also performed as Ralph Rackstraw in Gilbert and Sullivan’s HMS Pinafore, Richard in Gilbert and Sullivan’s Ruddigore, Frederic in Gilbert and Sullivan’s The Pirates of Penzance, and as Oebalus in W. A. Mozart’s Apollo et Hyacinthus.

An accomplished recitalist, Abrahamse has sung programs at the Arts and Letters Club of Toronto, the University of Toronto’s Walter Hall, the Canadian Music Centre, and the Royal Conservatory of Music. In 2013, he performed Estonian art songs alongside Norman Reintamm and Trio Estonia. Abrahamse reprised this repertoire in concert with the Grammy Award-winning RAM Koor in 2015. In 2021, he participated in The John Beckwith Songbook project, produced by Confluence Concerts. Abrahamse has performed alongside Russell Braun, Barbara Hannigan, Krisztina Szabó, Colin Ainsworth, Daniel Taylor, Rik Emmett, Murray McLaughlin, Ian Thomas, and Dan Clancy.

Abrahamse holds a Bachelor of Music in Performance with Honours from the University of Toronto and a Master of Arts in English Literature from Trent University. He has been bestowed with a Lieutenant Governor’s Award, the Albert and Wilhelmine Francis Scholarship in Music, the Greta Kraus Scholarship, the Queensmen of Toronto Richard Bowles Memorial Scholarship, and two civic awards from the City of Peterborough. Abrahamse has appeared in the Toronto Star, Globe and Mail, National Post, CBC, MacLean’s Magazine, and Opera Canada.

Martina Myskohlid

Martina Myskohlid is a Canadian coloratura mezzo-soprano with an adventurous spirit and the drive to fulfil an international career. Martina is a current member of the Atelier lyrique de l’Opéra de Montréal. She recently graduated with honours from Yale University, earning the Master of Music degree.

This well-travelled mezzo has crossed Canada coast-to-coast, participating in the intensive Opera NUOVA in Edmonton, Alberta, and Wendy Nielsen’s Vocal Techniques Workshop in St. Andrews-by-the-Sea, New Brunswick. Venturing through Europe after receiving her bachelor’s degree from the University of Toronto allowed Martina to fully immerse herself in a variety of cultural customs as well as participate in countertenor Michael Chance’s “SienAgosto” summer intensive program in Siena, Italy. These experiences further developed her desire to perform internationally.

A spontaneous risk-taker who brings a fresh and unique point of view to the stage, Martina’s recent credits include performances with the Orchestre Métropolitain and the Orchestre symphonique de Laval. Her recent opera roles include Paula in Daniel Catán’s Florencia en el Amazonas with Yale Opera, Despina in Mozart’s Così fan Tutte with Toronto Lyric Opera Centre, Elmire in Mechem’s Tartuffe with Opera NUOVA, and scene performances in part of the Yale Opera Scenes performances, which include the title role in Rossini’s La Cenerentola, Cherubino in Mozart’s Le nozze di Figaro, and Béatrice in Berlioz’s Béatrice et Bénédict.

Martina is equally dedicated to performing at the highest level outside of opera. She was recently featured as the alto soloist in Mozart’s Requiem with the Waterbury Symphony Orchestra in Waterbury, Connecticut and premiered the work Sanctus per soprano, controtenore, flauto e clarinetto, by French-Canadian composer Francis Patrick Ubertelli in Toronto. Her background in musical theatre also fostered her love for Broadway, which she studied for six years before turning to opera.

In the 2021 season, Martina was a finalist in the Orchestre symphonique de Montréal competition, and was awarded the Encouragement Award in the Metropolitan Opera National Competition. In her graduating year at Yale, she performed a solo recital with piano, and appeared in the Yale Opera Duets and Yale Scenes Showcases. Upon graduating from Yale, she was awarded the David L. Kasdon Memorial Prize, given to an outstanding singer at the School of Music.

www.martinamyskohlid.com

Christine Slevan

Christine Slevan has been singing, teaching, and conducting in Peterborough for over 30 years. She taught music at Peterborough Collegiate and Vocational School from 1992-2012, where she encouraged and mentored many young singers. Many of these former students have been or are currently members of the Peterborough Singers’ family, with some eventually going on to pursue professional music careers. As a member of All Saints’ Anglican Church, she often conducted the choir for various church services, including these two great works by Vivaldi and Faure.

Recently retired in 2021, Christine was delighted when Director Syd Birrell called her and asked her to be a part of this wonderful event with proceeds going to three worthy organizations. Bringing these two pieces to life with such an enthusiastic and talented group has been an extraordinary experience, and she wishes to thank all the members of the Peterborough Singers for this opportunity.

Shannon McCracken

Shannon McCracken is a singer, actor, voice-over artist and teacher. She has performed across Canada, and is equally at home in plays and musicals, film and television, and on the concert stage.

Favourite stage credits of Shannon’s include Esme in the world premiere of Buying the Farm at the Port Stanley Festival Theatre, Raising the Barn and Living History with Globus Theatre, Galinda in Wicked (CMTP/Toronto Fringe), Amalia in She Loves Me (CMTP), Barbarina in The Marriage of Figaro (Opera Laurier), Eileen in Wonderful Town, and Oklahoma! and The Sound of Music (Capitol Theatre). Her oratorio work includes Handel’s Messiah with the Peterborough Singers, the Grand River Chorus and Wilfrid Laurier University’s chamber choir and orchestra, Vivaldi’s Gloria with Choral Connection, and Bach’s Magnificat in D Major with the Northumberland Orchestra and Choir. As well as frequenting as a guest soloist for choirs and orchestras, Shannon has been featured in cabarets at the Banff Centre, with New Stages, alongside Colm Wilkinson, at the inaugural Women of Musical Theatre Festival in Toronto, and her recital and concert work have taken her across the country.

Shannon is a proud member of the Canadian Actors’ Equity Association, holds an Honours BMus in Voice Performance from Wilfrid Laurier University, and is an alumnus of the Banff Centre’s Musical Theatre Professional Intensive, the Victoria Conservatory of Music’s Advanced Singers Program, and the Theatre 20 Conservatory. When she’s not on stage, set or in the booth, she’s either teaching from her home studio in Peterborough, or walking her dog in the woods.

shannonmccracken.com
@shannonkmccracken

Venabrass

Venabrass is a brass ensemble from Toronto, Ontario. Formed primarily from the Venables family, this brass group displays ensemble virtuosity at its finest. As individuals, members of the Venabrass have travelled around the world as both soloists, conductors and composer both as freelance, professional and through The Salvation Army. The early days of the group was merely family members playing music together. This grew into touring at Christmas time, performing annual concerts, recording, and travelling to Africa. Venabrass now exists beyond just the Venables name with other high caliber musicians included. However, it still maintains its Salvation Army musicianship, to which, they desire to serve God first and foremost through their music and strive towards the highest degree of music excellence in that service.

2020-2021 Season Advertisers

The Singers wish to acknowledge those businesses, services, and individuals who supported us in 2020-2021 through purchasing advertising.

Many of you also donate to our choir and sponsor soloists and concerts. You have our heartfelt thanks:

Megan Murphy

Megan Murphy is a graduate of York University’s Fine Arts program and has worked as an actor in film, television, theatre and radio for more than two decades. She is a graduate of the Second City Conservatory and the Seneca College Documentary Filmmaking Institute.

Most recently she co-created The Verandah Society, a theatrical experience of storytelling and song, with singer/songwriter, Kate Suhr. They premiered their latest show at 4^th Line Theatre in August 2021. She co-hosted a morning radio show on Star 93.3FM for over a decade. Her feature documentary, “Murphy’s Law”, won Best Documentary Film at the Fingal Film Festival in Ireland and her short film, “Towns End” won an audience Choice Award at the Vox Popular Film Festival. She is a public speaker and published writer and can be found at www.murphyslawfilm.com. She is thrilled to be joining the Peterborough Singers once again this year.

Leslie Fagan

Leslie Fagan has delighted audiences and critics alike at Royal Albert Hall, Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, Bordeaux Opera House, and Roy Thomson Hall and has performed under the batons of such noted conductors as Sir David Willcocks, Hans Graf, Jukke Pekke Saraste, Kent Tritle, Heinz Ferlisch, Victor Borge and Elmer Isler.

Highlights of Fagan’s past engagements include: a solo concert of music of Stravinsky and Debussy with the Bordeaux Aquitaine Symphonie Nationale, France; Bach’s Weinachts Oratorium in Stuttgart, Germany; Handel’s Messiah at the Royal Albert Hall in London, England; Tafelmusik Orchestra and Choir in Toronto, Ontario; and engagement as guest soloist at the International Choral Festival in Gouda, Netherlands. On the opera stage, she has sung the title role in Donizetti’s Linda di Chamounix; Pamina in Mozart’s Die Zauberflöte; Sophie in Massenet’s Werther; Musetta in Puccini’s La Boheme and Nanetta in Verdi’s Falstaff. At the Aldeburgh Festival in England, she performed the roles of Tytania in Britten’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream and Zerlina in Mozart’s Don Giovanni.

Fagan is a proud Canadian, whose performances at home have led her from Massey Hall to the Massey Ferguson Dealership in Exeter and myriad venues between. Her recordings include her debut solo album Le Miroir de Mon Amour, A Song for all Seasons with The Toronto Children’s Chorus, Handel’s Messiah with the Fanshawe Symphonic Chorus, and Mozart’s Mass in C Minor with Chorus London. Her project of promoting Canadian Art Song has come to fruition with two recordings of beautiful compositions from across Canada, “Thread of Winter” and “Halibut Cheeks & Other Love Songs.”

Fagan has performed on CBC radio and television, BBC radio and television, and National Public Radio.

Laura Pudwell

Mezzo-soprano Grammy-nominated Laura Pudwell’s reputation as a superb vocalist has been well-established as a result of her performances in London, Paris, Salzburg, Houston, Vienna and Boston. Her vast repertoire ranges from early music to contemporary works. She is equally at home on the opera, oratorio or recital stage, and has received international acclaim for her recordings. A frequent guest of many national and international presenters, she has had the privilege of working with many outstanding conductors, including Hans Graf, Hervé Niquet, Andrew Parott, Ivars Taurens, David Fallis, Brian Jackson, John Sinclair, Bernard Labadie, Lydia Adams, Howard Dyck and Robert Cooper.

On the opera stage, Pudwell has performed across Canada with such companies as Opera Atelier, the Calgary Opera, Vancouver Early Music and Festival Vancouver, as well as with the Houston Grand Opera and the Cleveland Opera. Her many roles include Cornelia (Giulio Cesare), Marcelina (Le Nozze di Figaro), Nerone and Arnalta (L’Incoronazione di Poppea) Mrs. Quickly (Falstaff), and Dido/Sorceress (Dido & Aeneas), which also was an award-winning recording performed by Pudwell in Paris. She is a regular participant in many festivals, including Festival Vancouver, the Ottawa Chamber Music Festival, the Banff Summer Festival, the Elora Festival, the Boston Early Music Festival, the Grand River Baroque Festival, and the WinterPark Bach Festival in Orlando. She appears regularly with the Toronto Consort, and is a frequent guest soloist with Tafelmusik, the Kitchener-Waterloo Symphony, the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra, the Toronto Chamber Choir, Symphony Nova Scotia, the St. Lawrence Choir, Le Concert Spirituel, Chorus Niagara and the Menno Singers.

Pudwell lives in Kitchener-Waterloo, Ontario with her husband and two children.

Alex Mathews

Baritone Alex Mathews performed solo and chorus roles with the Canadian Children’s Opera Company, Canadian Opera Company, and Toronto Symphony Orchestra from the age of 6 to 18 in performance venues around Toronto. Alex attended high school at St Michael’s Choir School in Toronto. At Western University, Alex was an active member of the opera program throughout his undergraduate and master’s degrees.

He is currently pursuing his Diploma in Operatic Performance at the University of Toronto, under the tutelage of Wendy Nielsen. Most recently, he performed the role of Elviro in Händel’s Serse at Chautauqua Summer Music Festival, Count Gil in Ermanno Wolf-Ferrari’s Il segreto di Susanna at the University of Toronto, and took part in the Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity’s Opera in the 21st Century program.

David Walsh

David Walsh, a native of Toronto, is currently going into his first year of Opera Performance at the University of Toronto after finishing a Bachelor of Music in Performance there earlier this year. He started classical vocal training in his last year of high school, began his studies in Music Education at the University of Toronto, and then auditioned successfully for voice performance two years later to follow his true passion.

From there David has participated in a wide range of vocal performances. Recently he became a part of the Orpheus Choir of Toronto as a Sidgwick Scholar and a highlight at the beginning of this year was when he placed as a prize winner in the Toronto Mozart Vocal Competition. At U of T Opera this past season, he made his debut in Le Nozze di Figaro as Don Curzio. He was asked to perform as part of the chorus for Opera Atelier’s production of Idomeneo in 2019. He was asked back to the Opera Atelier Chorus for this season for their production of Don Giovanni. In the spring of 2018 he was invited to perform with the Against the Grain Theatre as a chorus soloist for the opera Orphée et Eurydice. In May 2017, he was an opera chorus member in the critically acclaimed Oksana G, a new Canadian opera premiered by Tapestry Opera, where he had the honour of working with many esteemed artists. He is part of the Cor Unum Ensemble, an ensemble run by young adults from across Toronto.

As well as an avid singer, David is an avid biker. This form of transportation is the way he practices a lot of his repertoire. So, if you ever see a blur of red hair and hear some Fauré on the downtown streets of Toronto, you have most likely encountered David Walsh.

Simona Genga

Named one of the CBC’s “30 hot Canadian Classical Musicians under 30” Mezzo-Soprano Simona Genga, is known for her” vocal plushness, amplitude and range which are mature beyond her years”(Opera Canada). In the 19/20 season, Ms.Genga graduated from the Canadian Opera Company’s prestigious Ensemble Studio after winning both First Prize and Audience Choice Awards at their Centre Stage Competition in 2017. During her time with the COC, Ms. Genga has debuted the roles of Berta in il Barbiere di Siviglia, Gertrude in the OYA Hansel and Gretel, Second Maid in Elektra, premiered the role of Cindy in Wow Factor: A Cinderella Story, and was preparing the High Priestess in Aida and the role of Mrs. Macaroni in Ian Cusson’s new opera Fanstasma which has now been postponed.

Simona’s training includes working with Highlands Opera Studio, the Ravinia Steans Music Institute, The Franz Schubert Institut, the Chautauqua Institute, a Masters in Opera at the University of Toronto and most notably returning as a Gerdine Young Artist, to sing Annina in Patricia Racettes’ directing debut of La Traviata at Opera Theatre of Saint Louis.

Simona is a grateful recipient of a 2019 Sullivan Foundation Career Development Grant, the 2017 Norcop Song Recital Prize, Career Grants from the Hnatyshyn Foundation, the Jacqueline Desmarais Foundation, multiple Ruby Mercer Awards, the Christina and Louis Quilico Competition, where she won third prize in 2019 and with OTSL’s 2018 Barbara and Stanley Richman Award for demonstrating “exceptional potential for a significant career.

Midori Marsh

Soprano Midori Marsh was recently named by the CBC as one of Canada’s hot classical musicians under 30. Past engagements include Sarah Thorpe in No One’s Safe and Johan’s Mother in Silent Light (Banff Centre); Frasquita in Carmen (Waterloo Symphony); Arminda in La finta giardiniera, Rose Maurrant in
Street Scene, Susanna in The Marriage of Figaro, and Mary Crawford in Mansfield Park (UofT Opera); Annina in La Traviata (Cambridge Symphony Orchestra); Zerlina in Don Giovanni (Portland Summer Opera Workshop); Laurie Moss in The Tender Land and Antonia in The Tales of Hoffmann (Opera Laurier). In October 2019 she took home both the first prize and the audience choice award at the Canadian Opera Company’s Ensemble Studio Competition, and is currently a member of the COC’s young artist ensemble for the 2020-2021 season.

Beau Dixon

Beau Dixon is an award-winning actor, musician, playwright, music director and sound designer.

As an actor, Beau has performed on many reputable theatre stages throughout Canada. NOW magazine and Toronto Star have listed him among Toronto’s top ten theatre actors, multiple years in a row.

As a playwright, Beau has had his plays commissioned, performed and produced across the country. His award-winning play, Beneath Springhill: The Maurice Ruddick Story (recently published by Scirocco Drama Books), garnered him a Calgary Critic’s Award for Best Individual Performance and two Dora Mavor Moore Awards for Best New Play and Best Individual Performance.

Born in Detroit, the birthplace of Motown, Beau has music in his roots and developed a passion at an early age. After discovering the music of Stevie Wonder in his parents’ record collection, Beau insisted on taking piano lessons at age six. His first music gig was at age twelve, playing piano for his father’s church services in London, Ontario. After high school, he pursued music full time as a multi instrumentalist and lead singer for rock bands, touring in the United States, Canada and Europe. He has written and produced songs for radio and television and has appeared on numerous albums. In 2000, Beau started his own recording studio (Sound Kitchen Studio) in Peterborough, Ontario.

In 2010, Beau co-founded Firebrand Theatre, a touring company whose mission is to bring Canadian stories to life for students and educators in elementary, secondary and post-secondary schools throughout Canada. He has been inducted into Peterborough’s Pathway of Fame and is a K.M. Hunter Award finalist.

As a sound designer, he was nominated for a Dora Mavor Moore Award for the production of Rifles at the Shaw Festival and Praxis Theatre. Beau has recently taken on the role of music director for Sheridan College and Lakefield College School, and in summer of 2021 he was curator and music director for the Stratford Festival’s production of Freedom: The Spirit and Legacy of Black Music.

As an artist of mixed race, Beau proudly carves the legacy of his ancestors into all of his work and publicly advocates racial inclusion.

Doug Sutherland

Doug Sutherland is a pharmacist who played trumpet throughout high school and continued in university with the Etobicoke Philharmonic Orchestra. He then packed his trumpet away for 25 years, only bringing it out to serenade his kids during their (suddenly shortened) baths. He now plays regularly to be ready to meet the high musical standards required of Syd Birrell and others.

Rob Phillips

Rob Phillips has been performing on the piano in the Peterborough area for the past thirty years. At age six, he began classical piano studies and soon, with the encouragement of his piano teacher, fell in love with boogie woogie piano. In high school, he started up his first pop/rock/soul groups and also began jazz piano studies with the great Brian Bowne. After studies at Trent University, Phillips was awarded a scholarship to the University of Alabama to study jazz and classical piano. After formal studies, Phillips began teaching, performing, and recording with many local musicians. A six-year stint as one of the musical directors for The Second City theatre company, as well as being musical director for many local groups, has Phillips performing with a variety of well-known musicians. Over the years, he has performed with The Rick Fines Trio, the Chelsey Bennett Band, Beau Dixon, Ada Lee, Bridget Foley, Ronnie Hawkins, The Lemon Sisters, The Weber Brothers, and The Three Martinis comedy improv group. Every Thursday, The Rob Phillips Jazz and Blues Trio plays the The Blackhorse pub.

Curtis Cronkwright

Curtis Cronkwright is a professional drummer and teacher working in the Peterborough area. Curtis received a diploma of music from Mohawk College, majoring in jazz drumming. Throughout his career, Curtis has been lucky enough to have played, and continues to play, with some of the area’s top musicians including, Slips ‘n’ the High Fives, The Lemmon Sisters, Chelsey Bennett, Mike Graham, Beau Dixon, Bridget Foley, The Channel Cats, The Kawartha Jazz Ensemble, the Peterborough Pop Ensemble, Michael Bell, and Rob Phillips. In addition to playing with these great artists, Curtis also teaches drums privately in his home and at Lakefield College School.

Steve McCracken

Steve McCracken has called Peterborough his home for the past twenty-five years. As owner of the local music shop, B Flat Music , he has continued to develop his musical interests by performing, writing, and arranging. As band leader of the Channel Cats, he performs regularly at the Lakefield Jazz Festival alongside Bridget and the Gospel Girls as well as with other local jazz musicians. In 2000, Steve founded the Peterborough Jazz & Blues Workshop, a high school aged jazz-blues combo, which emphasizes improvisation. Many of Steve’s students have developed successful careers in the music world. Steve has written many of the band charts for Beatles III. He is pleased to be performing once again with the Peterborough Singers.

Andrew Affleck

Bassist Andrew Affleck has worked for Juno award-winning musicians Susan Aglukark and George Fox and has toured with bands such as the Good Brothers and Lace. He has performed with comedian and actor Bob Newhart and performed for the Queen, two Canadian prime ministers, and the Prime Minister of France. Andrew has been nominated four times for Canadian Country Bass Player of the Year.

Barry Haggarty

Guitar player par excellence, Barry Haggarty has played with the best in the business. Barry played guitar for the legendary Ronnie Hawkins before forming his own touring band and releasing the single “Come To Me” with Ixtland Records. Barry later joined Bentwood Rocker, releasing an album with Quality Records entitled Take Me to Heaven. Barry released another single with Capital Records “Second Wind.” Barry has co-written a number of songs with fellow Peterborough native Cyril Rawson and has played sessions in Nashville for Lucille Starr and for a then up-and-coming young singer, Shania Twain. After releasing an independent single, “Doesn’t Mean A Thing,” Barry toured with The Family Brown and was the guitar player on the television
series Ronnie and the Brown’s, starring Ronnie Prophet and The Family Brown.

Barry was nominated for three years running from 1990 to 1992 as Guitar Player Of The Year with the Canadian Country Music Association. In 1991, Barry opened his own recording studio, Haggarty Sound Studio, in Peterborough, Ontario.

He has since produced independent artists such as Montana Sky, Mark Ekins, and Danny Bronson. Over one hundred CDs and cassettes have been released by independent artists, companies, and organizations from Haggarty Sound Studio.

The year 1999 marked a milestone for Barry as a singer, songwriter, musician, producer, and studio owner with the release of his premiere independent CD, Old Days. “Give Me A Break,” the first single release from this CD has been nationally charted by RPM. Barry has had the pleasure of working with Valdy and Natalie McMaster in the studio.

Recently, Barry has been working very hard on new projects of his own! Haggarty Sound Studios has been given a fresh new look to enhance artists’ recording experience. In September 2013, he was honoured to be inducted into the Peterborough Pathway of Fame!