The Competition is Heating Up at the Opera House

From the COC -

 Out of a pool of 146 young, aspiring opera singers from across the country, the Canadian Opera Company has selected 10 to compete in the Second Annual COC Ensemble Studio Competition on
November 29, 2012 at 6:30 p.m. in the Richard Bradshaw Amphitheatre at the Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts.  The young singers competing are: bass-baritone Gordon Bintner (Regina, Sask.);
mezzo-soprano Charlotte Burrage (Woodstock, Ont.); soprano Aviva Fortunata (Calgary, Alta.); baritone Clarence Frazer (Toronto, Ont.); tenor Andrew Haji (London, Ont.); mezzo-soprano Danielle MacMillan (Toronto, Ont.); bass Nathan Keoughan (Charlottetown, P.E.I.); tenor Michael Marino (London, Ont.); soprano Lara Secord-Haid (Winnipeg, Man.) and soprano Kelsey Vicary (Niagara Falls, Ont.).

The 10 finalists were chosen following preliminary auditions in Toronto, Montreal, Vancouver and New York City.  Over the course of the two-hour event on November 29, each finalist will perform two arias showcasing their vocal technique and range before an audience and panel of judges.  Select finalists will be invited to join the COC’s 2013/2014 Ensemble Studio, with the number of offers to be determined by the judging panel.  First, second and third prizes, worth $5,000, $3,000 and $1,500, respectively, will be awarded, in addition to a People’s Choice Award, selected by audience vote, worth $1,500.


The Ensemble Studio Competition highlights the finest young opera talent from across Canada.  Winning a place in the COC’s Ensemble Studio can be these singers’ first step towards an international opera career.  The audience at the vocal competition will be hearing the singers selected to follow in the footsteps of such renowned Ensemble Studio graduates as Ben Heppner, Isabel Bayrakdarian, John Fanning, Joseph Kaiser, David Pomeroy and Krisztina Szabó, among many others.

The Second Annual Ensemble Studio Competition is almost sold-out, with only a limited number of standing-room tickets available.  Standing-room rickets are $15 and may be purchased online here, or by calling COC Ticket Services at 416-363-8231.  Tickets are also available in person at the Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts Box Office, located at 145 Queen St. W., Monday to Saturday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.