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If you asked a younger Ian Sabourin what he wanted to be when he grew up, the countertenor and 2023 Atelier Lyrique Stingray Star Prize winner would not have answered “famous opera singer,” but rather “rock star.”
Indeed, Sabourin’s love for music was ignited in two places: the Ottawa Choir of Men and Boys rehearsal hall, and at a Green Day concert he attended at age 8. These opposite genres remained a part of Sabourin’s life until university, at which point he made the decision to focus solely on classical singing.
His choice to enter the Atelier competition was somewhat spur-of-the-moment; he “applied on the Montreal subway five minutes before the deadline.” With that said, Sabourin has worked hard to achieve his recent musical successes. In the final year of his undergraduate degree at the University of Toronto, Sabourin sustained a voice injury—a polyp on his vocal chord. He completed his degree, and auditioned for master’s programs in spite of the injury, and had surgery in 2021. He was then faced with the challenge of relearning to sing. He is now the first countertenor to have competed for, and won, a spot in the Opéra de Montréal’s young artist program.
The Atelier competition was undoubtedly a “game-changer” for Sabourin. When discussing his first lesson with the program’s main instructor, mezzo-soprano Ariane Girard, he claims that “she changed the way (I) saw singing forever.” He commends her teaching style and pedagogy, especially noting her attention to anatomy, science, and artistry when assessing the voice. He tries to emulate these qualities in his own teaching, and hopes to instil self-confidence in his students.
The process for the Atelier competition was thorough and intense, with a week of coaching and interviews for finalists that culminated in a closed audition for a panel and a public concert for the Stingray Star prize: a scholarship awarded on top of the Atelier fellowship, to an audience favourite. At the public concert, Sabourin performed a personal favourite: “Ombra mai fu” from Handel’s Serse. “I credit Handel for my success,” he said. This aria holds a special place in Sabourin’s career. It was a piece he sang with admiration before his surgery, which he has continued singing since. “It’s a piece I want to sing for the rest of my life,” he said.
The upward climb has not stopped for this young singer. He looks forward to his time at the Atelier, and hopes to one day record a variety of music: old, new, and undiscovered. Until then, he will continue to perform and teach, helping others find their voice—just like he did, twice.
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