Toronto, October 10, 2023 – Seven of Canada’s most promising new opera singers have been selected to compete in the Canadian Opera Company’s Centre Stage: Ensemble Studio Competition on October 26, 2023 at the Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts. The annual fundraiser and vocal competition showcases the very best in emerging opera talent, with all proceeds supporting the COC’s prestigious artistic career development program, the Ensemble Studio.
125 candidates applied to join the Ensemble Studio next season, with judges traveling all over Canada to hear nearly 90 young artists in-person, with stops in Vancouver, Calgary, Montreal, and Toronto. This year’s finalists are:
- Jamal al Titi, baritone – Minsk, Belarus
- Matthew Bermudez, tenor – London, ON
- Matthew Li, bass – Ottawa, ON
- Emily Rocha, soprano – Courtice, ON
- Duncan Stenhouse, bass – Calgary, AB
- Elisabeth St-Gelais, soprano – Chicoutimi, QC
- Gabrielle Turgeon, soprano – Sault Ste. Marie, ON
“The Ensemble Studio’s national reputation as the premier destination for young opera singers to launch major international careers continues to steadily grow,” says Dorian Cox, Director of the Ensemble Studio. “This year we saw a significant increase in the number of applicants and heard an extraordinary level of artistry, expressiveness, and virtuosity across the country. These seven finalists represent the highest level of excellence and I am looking forward to celebrating them at Centre Stage!”
This season, organizers have rolled out the red carpet, with a theme of “Lights. Camera. Opera!” Television’s Sangita Patel hosts the fast-paced and fun-filled night featuring some of opera’s most popular selections. On October 26, finalists will sing one last aria, accompanied by the acclaimed COC Orchestra, for a shot at cash prizes and the chance to be invited to join the COC Ensemble Studio. Audience members can also join in the action with a live-vote to decide the night’s Audience Choice Award winner.
Following each singer’s performance, they will be evaluated and receive live feedback from this year’s judging panel:
- Perryn Leech, COC General Director
- Roberto Mauro, COC Director of Artistic Planning
- Adrianne Pieczonka, internationally-celebrated soprano
- Daniel Bartholomew-Poyser, Canadian conductor and music educator
- Thom Allison, actor and director of Rent at the Stratford Festival
Immediately following the main event, Spotlight Premium Experience ticket-holders enjoy a three-course dinner and live entertainment presented in the stunning Henry N. R. Jackman Lounge which, on this night, will be transformed into glamorous Studio 145 as part of the night’s Hollywood-themed festivities
For full details on competition timing and tickets, please visit coc.ca/CentreStage.
Ticketing Information
Tickets for Centre Stage: Ensemble Studio Competition range from $80-$150 with Opera Under 30 tickets priced at $35 anywhere in the auditorium. They are available online at coc.ca, by calling 416-363-8231, or by visiting the Four Seasons Centre Box Office in person at 145 Queen St. W.
Acknowledgements
Thank you to the entire COC community, including our COC Board of Directors, our Corporate Sponsors and Foundation Supporters, generous public funders, union partners, and — most critically — our audience. Your inspiring support ensures that opera flourishes, uniting global audiences and paving the way for a vibrant future.
About the Canadian Opera Company
Based in Toronto, the Canadian Opera Company is the largest producer of opera in Canada and one of the largest in North America. General Director Perryn Leech joined the company in 2021, forming a leadership team with Music Director Johannes Debus and Deputy General Director Christie Darville. The COC enjoys a loyal audience, including a dedicated base of subscribers, and has an international reputation for artistic excellence and creative innovation. Its diverse repertoire includes new commissions and productions, local and international collaborations with leading opera companies and festivals, and attracts the world’s foremost Canadian and international artists. The company is an incubator for the future of the art form, nurturing Canada’s new wave of opera performers and creators with customized training and support. The COC’s purpose-built opera house, the Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts, is hailed internationally as one of the finest in the world. For more information, visit coc.ca.
