Leila Kirves Awarded Vancouver Opera Guild Career Development Grant
Congratulations to soprano Leila Kirves who has been chosen as Vancouver Opera Guild’s 2025 Career Development Grant recipient!
This grant will enable Leila to undertake an audition tour in Germany, in addition to coachings and lessons, and record new promotional materials.
Currently making her Canadian professional debut in Edmonton Opera’s Die Walküre, Leila was also a 2021 District Winner of the Metropolitan National Council Auditions, winning Third Place at the Northwest Regional level in 2022, and attended the prestigious Gerdine Young Artist Program at the Opera Theatre of St. Louis in 2023.
Lauren Margison Wins 2025 Elizabeth Connell Prize International Singing Competition
Congratulations to Dean Artists soprano Lauren Margison on being named the 2025 Winner of the Elizabeth Connell Prize International Singing Competition!
The £15,000 Elizabeth Connell Prize was created specifically to support emerging sopranos and mezzo sopranos, and financially assist opera singers who show the potential to move into the more dramatic repertoire.
Lauren competed in the finals at London's Royal Academy of Music on June 8th for their jury, comprised of Dame Anne Evans D.B.E., James Black, Bernadette Cullen, David Gowland, Fiona Janes, and Simon O’Neill ONZM, after a week of performances in London.
Bravo, Lauren!
Catherine St-Arnaud and Dominique Côté with Festival Classica
Soprano Catherine St-Arnaud and baritone Dominique Côté join Festival Classica for Bizet’s Carmen.
The production is directed by Marie-Anne Rozankovic, and is conducted by Jean-Marie Zeitouni.
Click here to learn more.
June 7 - Cocathédrale Saint-Antoine-de-Padoue
Justin Welsh with Tapestry Opera at Luminato Festival
Baritone Justin Welsh joins Tapestry Opera at Luminato Festival for Queen of the Night Communion.
The production is directed by Michael Hidetoshi Mori, and is conducted by Kathleen Allan.
Click here to learn more.
June 6 to 7 - Metropolitan United Church (Toronto)
Leila Kirves, Neil Craighead, and Scott Rumble with Edmonton Opera
Soprano Leila Kirves, bass-baritone Neil Craighead, and tenor Scott Rumble join Edmonton Opera for Wagner’s Die Walküre.
The production is directed by Joel Ivany, with Russell Braun conducting.
Click here to learn more.
June 5 to 13 - Maclab Theatre at Citadel Theatre
Jesse Blumberg with the Toronto Bach Festival
Baritone Jesse Blumberg joins the Toronto Bach Festival for Bach’s St. John Passion.
The program is led by conductor John Butt.
Click here to learn more.
June 1 - Eastminster United Church (Toronto)
Adanya Dunn and Elena Howard-Scott with City Opera Vancouver
Soprano Elena Howard-Scott and mezzo-soprano Adanya Dunn join City Opera Vancouver for the Canadian premiere of Sophia’s Forest - a groundbreaking chamber opera by composer Lembit Beecher, and Canadian librettist Hannah Moscovitch.
The production is directed by Julie McIsaac, with music director Gordon Gerrard leading from the podium.
Click here to learn more.
May 29 to June 1 - Goldcorp Centre for the Arts (Vancouver)
Sarah Dufresne and Allyson McHardy with Orchestre Philharmonique et Chœur des Mélomanes
Soprano Sarah Dufresne and mezzo soprano Allyson McHardy join Orchestre Philharmonic et Choeur des Mélomanes for Mahler's Resurrection - Symphony No. 2
The program is conducted by Dean Artists’ own Francis Choinière.
Click here to learn more.
May 24 - Maison symphonique
Wallis Giunta with Teatro alla Scala
Mezzo soprano Wallis Giunta joins Teatro alla Scala for Kurt Weill's Happy End, making her company debut.
The production is directed by Irina Brook, with Riccardo Chailly conducting.
Click here to learn more.
May 14-30 - Teatro alla Scala (Milan)
Antoine Plante with Mercury Chamber Orchestra
Conductor Antoine Plante leads Mercury Chamber Orchestra for Mendelssohn's Italian Symphony.
The program features violinist, Kerson Leong.
Click here to learn more.
May 17 - Cullen Theatre (Houston)
Lauren Margison, Andrea Núñez, Frederic Antoun, and Simon Rivard with Opéra de Montréal
Sopranos Lauren Margison and Andrea Núñez, and tenor Frédéric Antoun join Opéra de Montréal for Puccini's La Bohème.
The production is directed by François Racine, with Dean Artists’ very own Simon Rivard conducting.
Click here to learn more.
May 10-20 - Salle Wilfrid-Pelletier (Montréal)
LILLIAN BROOKS WITH PETERBOROUGH SINGERS
Mezzo soprano Lillian Brooks joins Peterborough Singers for Mozart’s Requiem.
The program is accompanied by Ian Sadler on the organ, and is conducted by Syd Birrell, who marks his last performance with the organization as artistic director.
Click here to learn more.
May 10 - Emmanuel United Church (Peterborough)
JACQUELINE WOODLEY WITH ORCHESTRE SYMPHONIQUE DE L'ESTUAIRE DU ST-LAURENT
Soprano Jacqueline Woodley joins Orchestre Symphonique de l'Estuaire du St-Laurent for Brahms’ German Requiem.
The program is led by conductor Léa Moisan-Perrier.
Click here to learn more.
May 10 - Desjardins-Telus Hall
ADANYA DUNN WITH WARSZAWSKA OPERA KAMERALNA
Mezzo soprano Adanya Dunn joins Warszawska Opera Kameralna for Mozart’s La Clemenza di Tito.
The production directed by Anna Sroka-Hryń, with conductor Benjamin Bayl leading from the podium.
Click here to learn more.
May 8 - Teatr Warszawskiej Opery Kameralnej
ALEXANDER WEIMANN WITH THIRTEEN STRINGS CHAMBER ORCHESTRA
Conductor Alexander Weimann leads Thirteen Strings Chamber Orchestra for Forces of Nature.
The program features soprano Magali Simard-Galdès.
Click here to learn more.
May 8 - Carleton Dominion-Chalmers Centre
JONELLE SILLS WITH VOLCANO THEATRE
Soprano Jonelle Sills joins Volcano Theatre for Scott Joplin’s Treemonisha.
The production is conducted by Jeri Lynne Johnson.
Click here to learn more.
May 2 to 4 - Harris Theatre (Chicago)
JESSE BLUMBERG WITH AMADEUS CHOIR
Baritone Jesse Blumberg joins the Amadeus Choir for Duruflé’s Requiem.
The program is led by Kathleen Allen.
Click here to learn more.
May 4 - Metropolitan United Church
LILLIAN BROOKS AND STEPHEN HEGEDUS WITH CHORUS NIAGARA
Mezzo soprano Lillian Brooks and bass baritone Stephen Hegedus join Chorus Niagara for Bach’s Mass in B minor.
The program is led by conductor Robert Cooper.
Click here to learn more.
May 3 - The FirstOntario Performing Art Centre
HIROMI OMURA WITH UTAH OPERA
Soprano Hiromi Omura joins Utah Opera for Puccini’s Madama Butterfly.
The production is directed by Matthew Ozawa, with Benjamin Manis leading from the podium.
Click here to learn more.
May 3 to 11 - Janet Quinney Lawson Capitol Theatre
JULIEN PROULX WITH L'ORCHESTRE SYMPHONIQUE DE QUÉBEC
Conductor Julien Proulx leads l’Orchestre symphonique de Québec for Charlebois Symphonique.
The program features Robert Charlebois greatest hits, in symphonic version.
Click hereto learn more.
May 3 & 4 - Grand théâtre de Québec
