How one indie opera company is looking to the future, and doubling down on its value of empowering diverse voices
Toronto, ON. (April 29, 2020) – Amplified Opera announces that they have recruited mezzo-soprano Marion Newman and tenor Asitha Tennekoon as Co-Founders in order to grow the organization in a way that embodies their core values of equity, diversity, and inclusion. In addition to their wealth of experience performing on stages across the country, Newman brings her perspective as a mixed Kwagiulth/Stò:lo, English/Irish/Scottish opera artist, and Tennekoon brings his background as a western classical singer who was born and raised in Sri Lanka. The two will be joining AO’s current team, stage director Aria Umezawa and multi-disciplinary creator-performer Teiya Kasahara, in determining the artistic and strategic direction of the organization, as well as assisting with all administrative tasks.
“I am excited to share my perspectives as a mixed First Nations performer and finding ways of working that include cultural and lived knowledge so that all of our stories can be given the platform they deserve,” says Marion Newman.
“Imagine a space where you don’t have to fit into any boxes before walking into the room. Especially for artists from communities not traditionally associated with opera. A space where creators and administrators work together to discover the most effective ways to share unique stories and perspectives,” says Asitha Tennekoon. “This idea of holding space for voices traditionally muted or misrepresented by opera and emboldening them to take control is fundamental to AO’s mandate. I can’t overstate how much this approach resonates with my own hopes and aspirations for the future of the art form.”
“It felt really organic to include Marion and Asitha in this initiative,” says Teiya Kasahara. “Their experience and insight will be invaluable in furthering our company’s objectives and our dreams for a better, more inclusive opera industry.”
“It is important to include other perspectives at the leadership level,” says Aria Umezawa. “Marion and Asitha are both active and thoughtful voices in the Canadian Opera scene, and leaders when it comes to fostering inclusivity and equity as performers. With their input, I’m confident we will create an arts organization built on a strong foundation of listening, learning, and respect.”
Amplified Opera is a Toronto-based, independent opera company that places equity-seeking artists at the centre of public discourse. They launched in October, 2019 with the inaugural AMPLIFY concert series which presented three distinct nights of music focused on blindness and vision-loss, gender expression, and Black identity in North America. They are currently producing a full-length version of Teiya Kasahara’s one-person show, The Queen In Me, which will make its world premiere in 2021.
