Toronto, ON – June 16th, 2026, Highlands Opera Studio/Theatre General & Co-Artist Director, Valerie Kuinka, and Co-Artistic Director, Richard Margison, are thrilled to announce the inaugural VANDA TREISER OPERA COMPETITION taking place on October 11th, 2026.
This new annual competition for opera singers of all voice types is possible through a
generous donation by VANDA TREISER INITIATIVES. It will be open to CANADIAN
CITIZENS and LANDED IMMIGRANTS born after December 31st, 1985, and will offer
multiple prizes totalling $12,500. Competition registration will be through video
application. The registration portal will be available on the Highlands Opera Studio
website (highlandsoperastudio.com) between June 22nd and August 21st.
The LIVE FINAL ROUND will take place on Sunday, October 11th, 2:30pm at
Trinity-St.Paul’s United Church, 427 Bloor Street West, Toronto.
Preliminary assessment of the video applications will be conducted by the Co-
Artistic Directors of Highlands Opera Studio. Up to 8 Finalists will be notified by email by September 12th, 2026, and will be expected to present 2 arias in the live
Final Round on October 11th for a jury of 5 judges (TBA). Each finalist will be given
30 minutes of rehearsal time onstage at Trinity-St. Paul’s United Church with the
competition accompanist prior to the final round. (TBD).
The following prizes will be awarded on October 11th after the performances and judges’
deliberation:
$5,000 – 1st Prize
$3,000 – 2nd John Bailey Memorial Prize
$1,500 – 3rd Prize
$500 – Audience Choice Award
$500 – 5 Finalist Prizes (awarded to finalists not awarded one of the top three
prizes)
“We are absolutely thrilled to honour Vanda Treiser, cherished friend and longstanding
member of the Highlands Opera Theatre Board of Directors, in this meaningful way on
the occasion of the 20th Anniversary Year of Highlands Opera Studio,” says Valerie
Kuinka. “This new annual competition will add another opportunity to showcase the
incredible talent of Canadian operatic artists and offer some financial support to a few of
the many accomplished Canadian classically trained singers striving to make a career
at home and abroad.
“The impact of Vanda Treiser’s commitment to young Canadian opera singers and the
many years of support she has provided for Highlands Opera Studio and other
organizations in her home province of Quebec cannot be overstated,” Kuinka goes on to
say. “The investment by Mme.Treiser in this new opportunity is in addition to her many
years of sustaining support for the concentrated 4-5 weeks of professional training and
career development opportunities offered annually by Highlands Opera Studio in
July/August. We are deeply grateful for this remarkable and visionary woman.”
Find more information at www.highlandsoperastudio.com
