A native of Timmins, Ontario, Canadian soprano Maghan McPhee’s voice has been described as “brilliant, with warm lyricism” (Times Argus). Ms. McPhee was a semi-finalist in the Montreal International Voice Competition and winner of the Silver Medal at the esteemed Eckhart-Gramatté competition, which focuses on new music. The finals of both competitions were broadcast live on National CBC radio and showed her ability in a wide variety of repertoire including contemporary works, opera, oratorio and art song.
This season Ms. McPhee will sing Haydn’s Creation with the Nova Scotia Symphony Orchestra and makes both her Tapestry New Opera and Edmonton Opera debut with Shelter, a work which will have its world premiere this winter in partnership with the University of Alberta’s “Festival of Ideas”. Previously, Ms. McPhee made her Carnegie Hall debut in the world premiere of a work by Ryan Carter. Other highlights include her debut recital at the National Arts Centre, a recital at the Juilliard School with pianist Joel Harder and performances with the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra, the American Symphony Orchestra, on the main-stage at the National Arts Centre under Pinchas Zukerman’s baton, and at the National Gallery of Canada.
Along with partner Julie Nesrallah, Maghan is the producer of “Carmen on Tap”, a production company with the goal of introducing new audiences to opera by combining high art, food and drink in the elegant yet casual setting of the Velvet room in Ottawa’s historic Byward Market. Maghan performed the role of Micaela in this consistently sold out production.
Ms. McPhee finished her second Masters Degree at Bard College Conservatory of Music in New York where she was awarded a full scholarship and a teaching position. One of only eight international singers in the inaugural class, she worked alongside Dawn Upshaw, Kayo Iwama, Jennifer Ringo Conlon, and Lorraine Nubar as well as several other New York coaches. She is a recipient of a Canada Council for the Arts Grant for Professional Musicians. This funding enabled her to continue her monthly trips to New York to work with acclaimed American soprano Benita Valente (Marlborough Festival), Lorraine Nubar (Met Opera; Juilliard; New England Conservatory; Bard College), Jennifer Ringo Conlon (Los Angeles Opera; Bard College; Aspen Opera Theater Institute) and others from the Metropolitan Opera.
Competition credits include the Louis Quilico Voice Competition, the Brian Law Competition, the Académie International d'été de Nice (France) Competition, and the Canadian Music Competition. An honours graduate of the University of Toronto, Ms. McPhee earned a Master’s degree from the University of Ottawa. She has sung throughout Canada and in Italy, France and Austria. Ms. McPhee was pleased to join the voice faculty at Carleton University this past fall.
Aldeburgh Connection Banff Centre Bard Summerscape (American Symphony Orchestra) Canadian Centennial Choir Carnegie Hall CBC Radio 2 Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra May Festival Edmonton Opera National Arts Centre Orchestra National Arts Centre Debut Series New York City Deessof Choir Opera Lyra Ottawa Pontiac Enchante Symphony Nova Scotia Tapestry New Opera Timmins Symphony Orchestra University of Ottawa Orchestra
