Mr Ainsworth's 2001 season highlights include Messiah's with the Guelph Chamber and with the Mississauga Choral Society, Haydn's Creation in Sudbury, Bocherini's Stabat Mater with the Talisker Players, La Bohème with the University of Toronto. Tamino in Magic Flute for Saskatoon Opera, an Evening at the Proms with Orchestra London, Ramirez Masses with the Orpheus Choir. Recent engagements include a Britten program with the Aldeburgh Connection, Vaughan William's On Wedlock Edge, and Gurney's Ludlow and Teme with the Talisker Players, Handel's Messiah with Chorus Niagara, and Honegger's King David with the Menno Singers. Forthcoming is Bach's St John Passion at the Winter Park Bach Festival in Florida, Charpentier's Médée with Opera Atelier and Hervé Niquet, Acis and Galatet with the Arbor Oak Trio and Don Pasquale with Saskatoon Opera.

Past season's highlights include a Schubert recital with the Aldeburgh Connection; Gilbert & Sullivan's Mikado in Toronto; Mozart's Mass in C Minor with the Bell Arte Singers; a recital at the Guelph Spring Festival; a tour of New Zealand in Bach's Magnificat; a Finzi program with the Aldeburgh Connection and the lead role of the disciple "John" in Handel's Resurrection for Opera Atelier. Opera engagements have included "Tamino" in W.A. Mozart's The Magic Flute for performances in Germany and the Czech Republic, "Borsa" in Rigoletto; "Rinuccio" in Puccini's Gianni Schicchi; La Rondine; Ibert's Angelique; Lysander in Britten's Midsummer Night's Dream, and Bernstein's Trouble in Tahiti.

Colin has studied at the University of Western Ontario and the University of Toronto in the studio of tenor Darryl Edwards.

Mikado (Gilbert & Sullivan)

2002, March - Chorus Niagara

Now in his third season at the Metropolitan Opera, baritone John Avey adds Germont to his roles there which include Enrico in LUCIA and Renato in UN BALLO IN MASCHERA. Rodrigo, Marcello, Sharpless, di Luna, Count Almaviva, and the Vicar (CUNNING LITTLE VIXEN) are his roles for companies including the New York City Opera, Arizona Opera, Montreal Opera, Calgary Opera, Kansas City, Canadian Opera, Opera Hamilton and Pacific Opera Victoria. As Scarpia for Opera Lyra in Ottawa, critics noted that "his baritone is sonorous and his phrasing has the slyness that sets him up from the first as more than egomaniacal brute." He is also an accomplished concert artist.

Engagements at the Glyndebourne Festival, New York Philharmonic and the San Francisco Opera are highlights of baritone Theodore Baerg's international career. Conductors including Kurt Masur, Charles Dutoit and Jukka Pekka Saraste have engaged Mr. Baerg for concert repertoire ranging from Schubert to Carl Orff. Lauded for his "powerful baritone, expressive acting, with a towering presence of the first order", the American-born artist is in demand for the lead roles in OF MICE AND MEN, IL BARBIERE DI SIVIGLIA, MADAMA BUTTERFLY, MERRY WIDOW, DON PASQUALE and the THE GOLDEN ASS premiered by the Canadian Opera. Mr. Baerg is an Associate Professorof Voice and Opera at the University of Western Ontario.

In recital, Mary has appeared for the Aldeburgh Connection, the Toronto Arts and Letters Club, Trinity St. Paul's Church, the Toronto Wagner Society, the Toronto Mozart Society and Montréal's Debut series at La Chapelle Historique du bon-Pasteur. In addition, she recently contributed her talents to Peter Gzowski's Red Barn benefit gala and the prestigious Toronto Opera Ball and gave a masterclass and recital presentation at Luther College High School in Regina, Saskatchewan, her alma mater. Mary also enjoys performing in a series of duet recitals with her husband, tenor Michael Colvin.

In February 2001, Ms Bella recorded a CD with "Classical Kids" entitled A Classical Kids Christmas, which has met with great critical acclaim and been broadcast repeatedly on local and national radio stations "...the Polish Lullaby, stunningly sung by Mary Bella, whose voice pours forth in a cathedral of grand magnificence" (Lance G. Hill, MBC). Among this season's engagements are Mozart's Requiem with Pax Christi Chorale, Mozart's Coronation Mass with Toronto Classical Singers, the Aldeburgh Connection's Great Song Marathon and a tour of Ontario schools with the Canadian Opera Company singing The Queen and Papagena in The Magic Flute.

Born in Edmonton, Alberta, Mary Bella holds a Masters in Music Performance and an Opera Diploma from the University of Toronto, as well as a Bachelor of Music with honours from Memorial University of Newfoundland. She has also studied at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama in London, England, McGill University and the Britten-Pears School in Aldeburgh, England. Ms Bella has been the recipient of numerous awards and scholarships, including the prestigious Eaton Graduating Scholarship from the University of Toronto.

Canadian baritone Marc Boucher made his Opera Hamilton debut as Baron Douphol in this seasons Traviata. Recent appearances include the lead baritone role in Thais with Opera In Concert and Elder McLean in Susannah and the Police Inspector in The Consul with Montreal Opera. Upcoming engagements include Escamillo in a production of Carmen in North Carolina. He returns to Montreal Opera for the title role in Pelléas et Melisande in 2001.

On the concert stage Mr Boucher recently made his Montreal Symphony debut singing the Duruflé Requiem. Recent engagements include Carmina Burana in Florida, Fauré's Requiem in Montreal, Handel's Messiah in Halifax, Sarnia, and Edmonton, Haydn's Creation in Montreal, Handel's Judas Maccabeus in St Catherines and a Rogers and Hammerstein Pops program with the Kitchener Waterloo Symphony. Forthcoming engagements include Bach's Peasant Cantata with the Canadian Chamber Ensemble, Carmina Burana with the Laval Symphony, and Beethoven's Ninth Symphony with the McGill Chamber Orchestra.

An award-winning recitalist Mr Boucher's engagements this season include a Poulenc program for the Viva Voce series in Kitchener, a mixed program in Toronto and Monte Carlo, and a private French Melodies program for the French Embassy in Ottawa. He has been heard coast to coast on both French and English CBC networks.

Tenor Nils Brown finished his tightly scheduled 2000-2001 season appearing in Jonathon Miller’s staging of Bach’s ST. MATTHEW PASSION at the Brooklyn Academy of Music in New York City. Replacing an ailing colleague, Mr. Brown learned the demanding tenor arias in 24 hours, successfully integrating them into this famous production in an afternoon with the help of Mr.Miller and conductor Paul Goodwin.

Nils Brown also performed with Boston’s Handel & Haydn Society and conductor Christopher Hogwood in the modern premier of DANKHYMNE DER FREUNDSHAFT, the first performance of one of a group of works by C.P.E. Bach found in manuscript in recently opened archives in the former Soviet Union.

This engagement followed a tour of Schönberg’s re-orchestration of Mahler’s DAS LIED VON DER ERDE, with the companies of Santa Fe Pro Musica and the Smithsonian Chamber Players. Kenneth Slowik conducted contralto Janice Felty, Nils Brown and an elite group of chamber and orchestral players from across North America and the U.K. Performances in Washington were enhanced by the use of the Smithsonian’s quartet of Stradivarius instruments. Mr. Brown repeated this work with Montreal’s I Musici, conducted by Yuli Turofsky. During 2001-2002, he was heard with the American Bach Soloists in works by Bach and Handel, composers who featured prominently in his calendar with the Vancouver Bach Choir, Kitchener Waterloo Philharmonic Choir, Montreal’s St. Lawrence Choir and the Toronto Chamber Choir. Mozart and Haydn were on his schedule for Symphony Nova Scotia and the Elora Festival.

His recent opera credits include perhaps the first tenor role ever written; Artcetro in Jacopo Peri’s EURIDICE performed at the Getty Museum in Los Angeles and those of the Second Priest and First Armed Man in Mozart’s DIE ZAUBERFLÖTE at l’Opéra de Québec.

This season, Mr. Brown’s schedule is highlighted by MESSIAHs with the Montreal Symphony and Chorus Niagara (the latter conducted by Sir David Willcocks), Mozart’s Mass in C Minor with the Jacksonville and Spokane symphonies and DIE SCHÖPFUNG with the Edmonton Symphony and the Ottawa Choral Society. Also on his schedule are engagements with the Toronto Mendelssohn Choir for Mozart’s REQUIEM, the Vancouver Chamber Choir for Bach masses and in Chicago, he will be heard with Music of the Baroque in works by Buxtehude and Telemann. Recording projects include a disc of Scottish Songs for the Analekta label of Montreal.

A new recording of Haydn’s Canzonettas and Gothic songs features Nils Brown and the Four Nations Ensemble and is available on the ASV label. Further recordings featuring Mr. Brown are found on the KOCH, Newport Classics, CBC, Analekta, Naxos and Classical Kids labels.

Canadian soprano Measha Brueggergosman is already in great demand on two continents. She won the 2002 Jeunesses Musicales Montreal International Competition and is a prize-winner in other renowned international competitions (Wigmore Hall International Song Competition – London, George London Foundation’s Kirsten Flagstad Award – New York, Robert-Schumann-Competition – Germany). She is an O’Brien Scholar and a recipient of the prestigious Canada Council and Chalmers Performing Arts Grants. Currently, she is pursuing her postgraduate studies with Prof. Edith Wiens at the Hochschule fuer Musik in Augsburg, Germany, after completing her Bachelor of Music Degree under Prof. Mary Morrison at the University of Toronto. Ms. Brueggergosman has been accepted for the 2002 program for singers at the Steans Institute for Young Artists at the Ravinia Festival in Chicago. Within this program she will study with such distinguished musicians as Christoph Eschenbach, Håkan Hagegård, Rudolf Piernay, Thomas Quasthoff and others.

Among the highlights of Ms. Brueggergosman’s 2001/2002 season were her debut at Carnegie Hall with the George London Foundation, her recital debut at Roy Thompson Hall in Toronto, Verdi’s Requiem with Helmuth Rilling as part of the International Beethoven Festival Bonn, as well as in Stuttgart and Berlin, Krzysztof Penderecki’s Credo, conducted by Penderecki, with the Toronto Symphony Orchestra, Franz Schmidt’s The Book with Seven Seals together with Ben Heppner in Toronto and a gala concert in Ottawa with the National Arts Centre Orchestra under the baton of Pinchas Zukerman. Ms. Brueggergosman has been honoured to sing for the British Royal Family and for Nobel Peace Prize recipient Nelson Mandela.

Barbara Budd is well-known as the co-host of CBC Radio’s As It Happens. She has hosted Jeunesses Musicales concerts for several years at Roy Thomson Hall and, for the last four years, at the Harbourfront Centre. Trained as an actress, Barbara Budd spent five seasons as a member of the Stratford Festival Company and has performed in theatres across Canada. She has narrated scores of documentary films, and her voice is heard in feature roles on four award-winning recordings on the Classical Kids label. Ms. Budd is also a frequent performer with the Toronto Symphony as host and narrator. Her passion is introducing young audiences to extraordinary music.

A graduate of the University of Toronto Opera School and of the University of Victoria, tenor Peter Collins is currently a member of the Canadian Opera Company Studio Ensemble. He made his mainstage debut for the Canadian Opera Company as the Song Vendor in Il Tabarro. This past season he also performed as Curio in Giulio Cesare in Egitto, the Fourth Jew in Salome and as Gelsomino in Il viaggio a Reims. Other operatic roles have included La Thière in L’Enfant et les Sortilèges, Prunier in La Rondine, Snout in A Midsummer Night’s Dream, l’Aumonier in Dialogues des Carmelites and Camille in The Merry Widow with the University of Toronto’s Opera Division. This season for the Canadian Opera Company, he will perform The Prologue and Quint in Turn of the Screw, Tchekalinsky in Queen of Spades and the role of the Magistrate in Un Ballo in Maschera. In addition he will cover the role of Gherman in Queen of Spades, Laca in Jenufa and Gustavus 111 in Un Ballo in Maschera. Peter Collins’ concert performances have included Handel’s Messiah, Judas Maccabeus, Israel in Egypt, Stainer’s The Crucifixion, Mozart’s Mass in C Minor and the Verdi Requiem.

Hailed as "a perfect model of the ‘bel canto’ style of singing" and praised for his"honey-toned" and "ravishing lyric tenor", young Irish-Canadian tenor Michael Colvin is quickly making a name for himself on opera and concert stages around the world with acclaimed performances in Canada, the United States and Europe. Upcoming debuts include the Edinburgh International Festival’s OEDIPUS REX, Canadian Opera Company’s L’ITALIANA IN ALGERI and Opera Saskatchewan’s BARBER OF SEVILLE. Concert highlights this season include Mozart’s REQUIEM with the NAC Orchestra (Zuckerman), Beethoven’s SYMPHONY No. 9 with Festival International de Lanaudiere (Talmi), MESSIAH with Symphony Nova Scotia and Britten’s SERENADE with the Victoria Symphony (Vernon). Other credits include Rhombus Media's DON GIOVANNI UNMASKED with Hvorostovsky and recordings on the Warner Music, Naxos, CBC and Centrediscs labels.

Gregory Cross has appeared across Canada and the United Kingdom in Theatre, Musicals, Opera and Television.  He was the original Firmin in the award-winning Toronto production of "The Phantom of the Opera" and can be heard in that role on the Canadian Cast recording. He has performed on London's West End in such shows as "Miss Saigon" at the Theatre Royale, Drury Lane. His Television credits include: "Due South", "Wind at My Back", and a recurring role as Ed Caruso, the singing telegram-man on the children's series "Noddy". Greg has a Bachelor of Music in Voice Performance from the University of Toronto, is a past finalist in the Regional Metropolitan Opera Auditions and has taught singing at both The Royal Conservatory of Music and The Banff Centre of Fine Arts.

Acclaimed by Vancouver critics for her “floating high pianissimos” and “tender, rapturous, and pure” singing, soprano Sally Dibblee is captivating audiences from Charlottetown to Vancouver. Sally’s 1998/99 season opened with her Utah Opera debut as Liu in Puccini’s Turandot; other roles included Mozart’s Susanna in Le Nozze Di Figaro and Marguerite in Gounod’s Faust. Last season, Sally sang Musetta in Vancouver Opera’s La Boheme, the Governess in Turn of the Screw with Manitboa Opera and Performances as Zerlina in Don Giovanni for Opera Ontario in Kitchener and Hamilton.

A former member of the Canadian Opera company Ensemble Studio, Sally made her COC debut as Frasquita in Carmen, followed by the leading role of Camilla in the world premiere of Randolph Peters’ Nosferatu,. She has been a frequent guest artist with the opera companies of Winnipeg and Edmonton, as well as the Banff Centre for the Performing Arts.

On the concert stage Sally has been soloist with the Calgary Philharmonic for Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9 and Andrew Lloyd Weber’s Requiem, with Messiahs, for the Winnipeg Symphony, the Elora Festival Singers, and the Bach-Elgar Choir of Hamilton. In recital, she appears often with The Aldeburgh Connection in Toronto, on CBC, and at the Elora Festival. Le Souvenir: Canadian Songs for Parlour and Stage, a recording of Canadian Heritage songs, has been released as a CD.

Mr. Dobson attended Lieder classes at the Steans Institute for Young Artists at the Ravinia Festival and he was also at the Music Academy of the West where he sang Garibaldo in Handel’s RODELINDA. Further credits include a tour of France with the Banff Festival of the Arts and performances at the Orford Festival of Music singing the title role in LE NOZZE DI FIGARO.

Brian Duyn, a native of Niagara on the Lake, obtained his Bachelor of Music degree at Wilfrid Laurier University in Waterloo, Ontario, where he studied voice with Victor Martens.
Since graduating, Brian’s performing career has included opera, oratorio, music theatre and television commercials. As a member of the ensemble in The Phantom of the Opera at the Pantages Theatre in Toronto he performed the roles of Raoul and Piangi . Brian’s opera credits include Ernesto in Don Pasquale, Ferrando in Cosi Fan Tutte, Lucas in Lucas et Cecile and The Herder in the world premier of Iron Road. On the concert stage Brian has performed the tenor solos in Handel’s Messiah, Mendelssohn’s Elijah, Haydn’s Lord Nelson Mass, Rossini’s Messe Solennelle, Britten's Saint Nicolas and a number of Bach’s cantatas as well as the Evangelist in St. John Passion. In December 01 Brian made his debut as a haute-contre when sang the solos in a concert of Charpentier Christmas Motets with the Aradia Ensemble, which was broadcast on CBC radio . Later that month the same program was recorded by Naxos and will be released on compact disc next year.

A protégé of Lois Marshall and Ileana Cotrubas, Leslie’s career encompasses the full depth of opera and oratorio across North America and in Europe. Her recent solo performance of Debussy and Stravinsky Orchestral Songs in Bordeaux, France was received with critical acclaim. Other highlights of this genre include Handel’s Messiah, Royal Albert Hall, London, Weinachts Oratorium (J.S. Bach) Stuttgart, A Midsummer Night’s Dream ( Mendelssohn) Washington National Symphony, 2nd Symphony ( Mahler), Calgary Philharmonic and Carmina Burana & Poulenc Gloria, Toronto Symphony Orchestra. On the opera stage, Leslie has performed the title role of Linda di Chamounix , Pamina in Die Zauberflöte , Nanetta in Falstaff, Tytania in A Midsummer Night’s Dream and Musetta in La Boheme.

On October 26, 2003 Leslie releases her recording "Le Miroir de Mon Amour"; music of Rachmaninoff, Tchaikovsky, Strauss, Faure and Debussy with Canadian pianist Brian Finley.

Following his debut season at Glimmerglass, where he was featured in SALOME and LA BOHEME, bass-baritone Thomas Goerz was in Cincinnati for his first Papageno in THE MAGIC FLUTE. His unique vocal quality and dramatic integrity brought distinction to his performances in the World Premiere of THE GOLDEN ASS for the Canadian Opera directed by Colin Graham and THE TAMING OF THE SHREW for Pacific Opera Victoria. The Quebec Symphony, COC, Toronto Mendelssohn Choir and the Kitchener Waterloo Philharmonic Choir have engaged him for works ranging from Haydn MASSES and MESSIAH, to JULIUS CAESAR and Mozart's REQUIEM. In demand for concerts in Japan, Canada and the U.S., Javert in LES MISERABLES and MIKADO for Virginia Opera are further indications of his range and versatility. His recordings of Bach Cantatas are available from Naxos.

Albert Greer, known both as a choral conductor and tenor soloist, has directed York's vocal program for the past 14 years. He is currently Director of the Cellar Singers, the Couchiching Young Singers, and the Choirs of St. James' Anglican Church, Orillia. Albert Greer is one of Canada's finest oratorio, concert and recital tenors. In a career spanning over thirty years, Mr. Greer has sung most of the oratorio repertoire with major orchestras and choirs across Canada.

Praised for her "lustrous sound and fluent legato", soprano Meredith Hall performs and records regularly throughout Europe, North America and Japan with renowned conductors including Christopher Hogwood, Marc Minkowski and Nicholas McGegan. Acclaimed in the title role of PARTENOPE (Göttingen Handel Festival) and L'INCORONAZIONE DI POPPEA (Houston Grand Opera), Ms. Hall debuts this season with the Toronto Symphony in MESSIAH. She also joins the Arcadia Foundation for performances of Mozart's MASS IN C MINOR in Osaka, Japan and Pittsburgh Chatham Baroque in Handel's GLORIA. In 2002/2003 her engagements take her to Memphis, Cleveland, Vancouver and Montreal. Ms. Hall's recordings are available from Deutsche Grammophon Archiv, Philips, Naxos and CBC, Canada.

Pianist and organist, composer and performer, former Paul Winter Consort member Paul Halley has recorded many albums with Living Music. His classical training, his varied experiences and his instinctive, personal feel for his instrument are reflected in his performances and his recordings.

Born in England, Paul Halley grew up in Canada before returning to England to study music at Cambridge University. Appointed Musician Director in 1977 at New York's Cathedral of St John the Divine, the world's largest Gothic Cathedral, Halley spent twelve years transforming its music program into a rich combination of classical and contemporary music.

As a member of the Paul Winter Consort for nineteen years, Halley recorded many albums with Living Music

Stuart Hamilton, C.M. is well known as a vocal coach and accompanist, having appeared throughout North America and Europe with many of Canada's leading singers. He appears regularly for the COC and the CBC as lecturer and commentator, is currently the Quizmaster for CBC's Saturday Afternoon at the Opera and has appeared as a panelist on the Opera Quiz from the Metropolitan Opera in New York City. In 1984 Mr. Hamilton was awarded the ORDER OF CANADA for his outstanding contribution to the musical life of Canada and a Governor General's Award commemorating Canada's 125th year.

Solomon (Handel)

2001, November - Chorus Niagara

Stephen Harland, a fresh, new voice among Canadian lyric tenors, adds Rodolfo in LA BOHEME to his credits this season. Born in Irian Jaya, New Guinea, he holds a Bachelor's Degree from York University in Fine Arts. With a growing reputation in opera and operetta, he is also well-received by Canada's major symphonies and choral groups including the Montreal Symphony and Symphony Nova Scotia, singing the standard works of Handel, Mozart, Beethoven and Mendelssohn.

Widely acclaimed as Canada’s most accomplished young tenor, Stuart Howe has already appeared on stages throughout Europe, Canada, the US and the Middle East. Born in Saint John, New Brunswick, Canada, Stuart made his critically acclaimed European debut as Nemorino in Donizetti’s L’ELISIR D’AMORE in Oporto, Portugal, where the European press revered him as "The quintessential Nemorino" and "likely Canada’s next great international tenor". He went on to sing extensively throughout Europe, before returning to Canada, for his first Rodolfo in Puccini’s LA BOHÈME.

The press here has been equally as kind, recently praising him as having "an extraordinarily sweet, beautifully focused tenor voice" and labeling him "a valuable property". Mr. Howe’s growing repertoire also includes Pinkerton in MADAMA BUTTERFLY, Cavaradossi in TOSCA, Gerald in LAKMÉ, The Duke in RIGOLETTO, Edgardo in LUCIA, Rinuccio in GIANNI SCHICCHI, Ernesto in DON PASQUALE, and Jenik in THE BARTERED BRIDE. He has also appeared in DIE FLEDERMAUS, Rossini’s WILLIAM TELL, Verdi’s ATTILA, Lehár’s MERRY WIDOW, SUSANNAH by Carlisle Floyd, Bellini’s LA STRANIERA, Romberg’s STUDENT PRINCE and Rota’s THE ITALIAN STRAW HAT. Stuart is a regular featured artist in concert opera, including appearances in London, Düsseldorf, Oporto, Haifa, Washington, Denver, Boston, Toronto, Calgary, Edmonton, Ottawa, Victoria, and Halifax, to name but a few.

Regarded internationally as a creator of new operatic roles, Stuart recently appeared as James Nichol in Chan Ka Nin’s THE IRON ROAD to unanimous rave reviews at the historic Elgin Theatre in Toronto. Mr. Howe also created the extensive lead role of John Higgs for Pacific Opera Victoria's critically acclaimed world premier of EREWHON from Canadian Composer Lou Applebaum and librettist Mavor Moore. Both world premieres were recorded and broadcast nationwide on the CBC. Stuart has also created lead roles in world premier operas such as Pulitzer Prize winning composer Robert Ward’s LADY KATE, where he created the role of Tom Wade; and the role of Marco in THE PADRONE, a work written by Chadwick, former President of the New England Conservatory of Music in Boston. (The work, commissioned by the Metropolitan Opera early in the twentieth century, was not staged until 1997).

Oratorio credits include Haydn's THE SEASONS, Handel’s THE MESSIAH, Mendelssohn’s ELIJAH, CARMINA BURANA by Carl Orff, Bach’s MAGNIFICAT, ST. MATHEW PASSION and CANTATA 29, and Bruckner’s TE DEUM. In May, 2001 Stuart appeared with the Israel Northern Symphony in Haifa, Israel, where he sang the tenor solos in two world premiere oratorios. The event, part of The Opening of the Terraces of the Shrine, was broadcast live worldwide via satellite, television, radio and the web, with video and CD released.

Stuart received a Performance Diploma from Oberlin College Conservatory of Music in Oberlin, Ohio under the tutelage of Richard Miller. He then received a Graduate Diploma in Opera at Boston’s New England Conservatory of Music, working with renowned diction and opera coach John Moriarty.

A recipient of several prestigious career development grants and awards, Stuart was a 2001 Dora Award nominee for his portrayal of James Nichol in THE IRON ROAD and was a Toronto winner of the Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions in 1999.

Beauty of voice and musicianship of the highest order are mezzo-soprano Anita Krause's entrée onto the concert platforms and stages of the major orchestras and opera companies of the U.S. and Canada. Silver medallist in the CBC Music Competition, Ms. Krause debuted at the renowned Ravinia Festival in a Mozart concert with Bryn Terfel conducted by Christoph Eschenbach and her performance in MAVRA marked her debut with the Montreal Symphony conducted by Charles Dutoit. She was featured at the Glimmerglass Opera as Suzuki in Mark Lamos' production of MADAMA BUTTERFLY and repeated this role for the Canadian Opera Company, l’Opéra de Québec, Manitoba Opera and for Orchestra London (ON). She also appeared with the COC Orchestra in Stravinsky's PULCINELLA SUITE as well as Beethoven's Symphony No. 9 in concerts at the Weston Recital Hall. The Beethoven masterwork was her debut vehicle with the Calgary Philharmonic conducted by Hans Graf and she debuted with l'Opéra Français de New York as Blanche in BARBE-BLEUE conducted by Yves Abel. Ms. Krause sang the Bach MAGNIFICAT with the Vancouver Symphony and returned to La Belle Province for ELIJAH with l’Orchestre symphonique de Quebec, Mozart’s REQUIEM for Vancouver Bach Choir and the Akron Symphony. Ms. Krause sings MESSIAH next season with the Vancouver Chamber Choir.

In the fall of 2001 she sang MESSIAH with the Toronto Symphony, Haydn's LORD NELSON MASS and Mozart's REQUIEM with Bernard Labadie and Les Violons du Roy plus concerts in London, Ontario and for Toronto’s Aldeburgh Connection. On the opera stage she was heard as the Page in SALOME, first for Opera Lyra in Ottawa then for the renowned Seattle Opera, Cornelia in JULIUS CAESAR for Pacific Opera Victoria, Ino in SEMELE for Chicago Opera Theater and Isoletta in Bellini’s LA STRANIERA for Opera in Concert. Margaret in WOZZECK with the Montreal Symphony and the Mahler 8th Symphony for the Lanaudiere Festival keep her busy into the summer of 2002.

Canadian Opera Company roles include Emilia in OTELLO Ursule in BÉATRICE ET BÉNÉDICT, the Madrigal Singer in MANON LESCAUT, Tisbe in LA CENERENTOLA, the title role in Kulesha's RED EMMA and she toured with the COC Ensemble as Rossini's Cinderella and as Hansel in HANSEL AND GRETEL. Steuart Bedford conducted her in the title role of Britten's RAPE OF LUCRETIA at Aldeburgh. In the 2001/02 season, she made her Seattle Opera debut as Page in SALOME and next seson sings Malika in Opera Ontario’s LAKMÉ.

A Fellow at the Steans Instsitute at Ravinia, she has won awards and prizes from the George London Foundation, the Jean Chalmers Fund, first prize in the Canadian Young Mozart Singers Competition, and a bronze medal in the Salzburg International Mozart Competition.

She has sung ELIJAH conducted by John Nelson at Wheaton College and works such as MESSIAH, the Verdi REQUIEM and Rossini's STABAT MATER with the orchestras and choral societies of Santa Barbara, Rochester, Vancouver, Santa Monica, Chautauqua, Kitchener-Waterloo, and Long Beach. Ms. Krause has appeared in recital for the Guelph Spring Festival, the Ottawa Chamber Music Festival, the Toronto Mozart Society and Music Toronto at the Jane Mallett Theatre, the latter two recitals broadcast by the CBC and Classical 96 FM respectively.

Bruce Kelly (Baritone) has been teaching Voice at the Queen's School of Music since 1992. He enjoys an active career in opera and in concert. In Europe, he has sung in Strasbourg, Nice, Avignon, and Moscow. In addition to the Toronto Symphony, he has been guest soloist for the major orchestras across Canada. He has appeared with the Calgary Opera, Opera Hamilton, Opera Lyra Ottawa, Opera in Concert, and the Toronto Operetta Theatre. His performance of Rossini with The Aldeburgh Connection was broadcast on CBC Stereo. He appeared with the Kingston Symphony in January 1998 singing in the concert production of Bizet's Carmen.

Solomon (Handel)

2001, November - Chorus Niagara

A veteran actor, director, teacher and administrator, with 52 years of theatrical experience, Barry MacGregor has played numerous leading roles in theatre, television, radio and film. During 18 seasons with the Stratford Festival, among others, he has performed the roles of Oberon in Midsummer Night’s Dream, Falstaff in the Merry Wives of Windsor, Bardolph and Falstaff in Henry IV Part I and Part 2. This season he will play the roles of The Fool in King Lear and Colonel Pickering in My Fair Lady for Stratford. For the Shaw Festival, Mr. MacGregor appeared as a leading actor in such roles of the Inquisitor in Saint Joan, Higgins and Alfred Doolittle in Pygmalion, Tom in John Bull’s Other Island, Mandoza in Man and Superman, Charlie Barnet in One for the Pot, Hercule Poirot in Black Coffee, and many other productions. For four seasons, he was a member of the Royal Sharkespeare Company. On radio, he has performed hundreds of roles as leading and supporting actor for the BBC and CBC, including such roles as Lord Byron, William Blake, Job, Sherlock Holmes and Oscar Wilde for the CBC Radio program, “Ideas”. He also starred as Stephen Leacock in CBC TV’s production of “Life and Times”. He recently directed productions for Theatre Aquarius, Persephone Theatre and the National Arts Centre.

Seiji Ozawa was mezzo-soprano Allyson McHardy's conductor at Tanglewood when she appeared as Concepcion in Ravel's L'HEURE ESPAGNOLE. Hailed by the San Francisco Chronicle for "her warm and forthright singing, fearless command of coloratura and charismatic stage presence", the young Canadian is attracting attention in Europe and North America.  She toured the U.S. as Orlovsky in FLEDERMAUS for Western Opera Theater and debuted with the Minnesota Orchestra in JEANNE D'ARC AU BOUCHER Leading operatic repertoire in Amsterdam, Arizona and Toronto is balanced by the oratorio works of Bach, Beethoven, and Handel. She can also be heard on the recent recording of Somers' SERINETTE.

Since winning the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation Young Artists Debut Competition , Linda Maguire's elegant vocal richness, versatile vocal technique and commanding, dramatic presence have brought her both national and international acclaim.

Recent orchestral engagements included Verdi's Requiems with the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra, the Vancouver Bach Society and the Oahu Choral Society, Last Night of the Proms concerts with Bramwell Tovey and the Toronto Symphony Orchestra, Mahler's Eigth Symphony with the Washington Choral Society and the National Symphony Orchestra, Rossini's Stabat Mater with Chorus Niagara, a December 31st Viennese Millennium Celebration Concert with the North Carolina Symphony, a concert of Handel's Arias from Trouser Roles with Jeanne Lamon and the Tafelmusik Baroque Orchestra (CBC numerous rebroadcasts), Mozart's C-Minor Mass with L'Orchestre Symphonique de Montreal, Penderecki's Polish Requiem with the Vancouver Bach Society, Last Night of the Proms and Beethoven's Ninth Symphony with the Toronto Symphony Orchestra.

Linda's versatility has always extended comfortably and successfully into popular and Broadway repertoire. She has a full recording of Gershwin's music with the CBC Radio International Series, and has sung Pops Concerts for many professional orchestra and organizations including the Vancouver Symphony, Edmonton Symphony, Calgary Philharmonic, Toronto Operetta Theatre, etc.

Born in Ottawa, soprano Shannon Mercer is currently a member of the Studio Ensemble of the Canadian Opera Company and performed in their production of Venus and Adonis which went on tour to the Nederlands at the end of last summer. Amongst her many appearances this season for the Studio Ensemble, is her appearance as Xenia in Boris Godounov for the Canadian Opera Company. For the Studio de Musique ancienne de Montréal this season, Shannon performed the title role in Purcell's Dido and Aeneas to wide acclaim. The previous season, she was a featured soloist with l'Ensemble Arion of Montréal in a concert of Bach cantatas under Hervé Niquet of France, and a tour of Québec and France with Les Violons du Roy under Bernard Labadie. Other summer season engagements included a return engagement with l'Ensemble Arion as featured artist in their Music Royale tour of the Maritimes. She recently made her début for l'Opéra de Québec as First Lady in Mozart's Magic Flute . This summer Shannon will join the prestigious Merola programme at the San Francisco Opera. Future engagements include Oscar in Un Ballo in Maschera for the Canadian Opera Company and Nerine in Charpentier's Médée for Toronto's Opera Atelier. Shannon will be soprano soloist for Chorus Niagara when they perform Messiah under the baton of Sir David Willcocks.

Shannon has a Bachelor of Music with Honours in vocal performance and Honours in Early Music from McGill University in Montreal. While at McGill, Shannon's opera performances included her portrayal of Cleopatra in Handel's Giulio Cesare and the title role in Purcell's Dido and Aeneas. She also sang in Stravinsky's Les Noces, Bach's Magnificat and stepped in at short notice for an ailing soprano to sing an outstanding performance of Mahler's Symphony No. 4 for the McGill Symphony Orchestra. A regular member of Le Studio de musique ancienne de Montreal (SMAM). Shannon then went on to complete her training at the Opera School at the University of Toronto. At the Opera School Shannon appeared as Helena in Midsummer Night's Dream and as Lisette in La Rondine. Her experience as an oratorio singer includes performances in Bach's St. John Passion with the Cantata Singers of Ottawa, Vivaldi's Magnificat and Gloria with Montreal's St. Lawrence Choir, Eleanor Daly's Requiem with the Ottawa Choral Society, Bach's St. Matthew Passion, Rutter's Magnificat with the Choeur Classique de l'Outaouais, Mendelssohn' Elijah with the Brockville Community Choir and most recently Mozart's Missa Brevis in B for the Ottawa Choral Society.

Solomon (Handel)

Sharla Nafziger has been praised for her "clear soprano" (Globe and Mail) and "naturally beautiful voice" (Kitchener-Waterloo Record). Ms Nafziger's 1999-2000 season opened with Carmina Burana with the Winnipeg Symphony. Other engagements include Messiah with both the Calgary Philharmonic and Edmonton Symphony Orchestras, Barber's Knoxville Summer of 1915 with the Canadian Chamber Ensemble and Carmina Burana with the Kingston Symphony. She also appears with the Cellar Singers and will be heard in recital at Sutherland County College in New York. Her summer engagements include the Shenendoah Valley Bach Festival singing the Brahms Ein Deutsches Requiem and the role of Nannetta at the Tanglewood Festival.

Last season she was featured in the role of Norina (Don Pasquale) with Opera York and Viva Voci Concerts, Messiah with Symphony Nova Scotia, Handel's Ode to St Cecilia with the Windsor Symphony, Bach's St John Passion and Christmas Oratorio in Toronto, and Handel's Dixit Dominus in Waterloo. She debuted with Calgary Philharmonic singing Orff's Carmina Burana and reprised the roles of Countess Ceprano and Giovanna in Opera Hamilton and Opera Ontario's Rigoletto.

Other recent engagements include Haydn's Lord Nelson Mass with the Amadeus Choir, Bach's Mass in B Minor with the Aradia Ensemble, Debussy's La Damoiselle Elue and Poulenc's Stabat Mater in Florida and Brahms' Ein Deutsches Requiem at the Living Arts Centre. Recital appearances with Daniel Lichti, and guitarist Willie Wiebe also figured prominently along with several solo recitals.

Previous highlights include the Aldeburgh Festival and Sheldonian Theatre in Oxford, UK, Respighi's Laud to the Nativity, the Mozart and Fauré Requiems, Mozart's Solemn Vespers, Purcell's The Tempest, and the roles of Zerlina, Celidora, and Belinda. She has appeared with Tafelmusik and the Aradia Ensemble, with whom she recorded works by Lully for the Naxos label.

Ms Nafziger is currently pursuing her Master's Degree at the Manhattan School of Music and holds degrees from the University of Toronto, and Canadian Mennonite Bible College. She has attended the Britten-Pears School for Advanced Musical Studies where she studied Purcell with countertenor Paul Esswood, and 20th Century Song with Phyllis Bryn-Julson. She attended the Steans Institute for Young Artists at the 1997 Ravinia Festival, where she participated in master classes with Barbara Bonney, Christa Ludwig, Elisabeth Soderstrom and Roger Vignoles. She is also recipient of many awards, including the Chalmers Fund of the Ontario Arts Council and the Canada Council for the Arts.

Soprano Nathalie Paulin, a triumph in Montréal Opera's PELLEAS ET MELISANDE, adds Soeur Constance in LES DIALOGUES DES CARMELITES, the title role in SEMELE, Susanna in LE NOZZE DI FIGARO and Cleopatra in GIULIO CESARE to her repertoire this season for Calgary Opera, Chicago Opera Theater, Cincinnati Opera and Cleveland Opera. She debuted with the Toronto Symphony in MESSIAH and is well-regarded as an interpreter of contemporary works with a number of World Premieres to her credit. Recitals in New Brunswick, Toronto and Montreal dot her schedule and in addition to her CBC broadcasts, she can be heard on Sony's MESSIAH with Tafelmusik. Winner of the Dvorák Prize, Ms.Paulin has toured the Czech Republic and performed in Germany, the U.S. and Japan.

Soprano Charlene Pauls is rapidly moving to the forefront of the Canadian oratorio scene with her fine and sensitive oratorio performances. She has been lauded for her performances in Bach's Mass in B minor with Bramwell Tovey and the Vancouver Symphony, Pergolesi's Stabat Mater with Winnipeg's Musick Baroque, Handel's Messiah with Chorus Niagara, Imant Raminsh's Magnificat, Vivaldi's Gloria and Bach's Magnificat with the Ottawa Choral Society, Haydn's Creation, Schubert's Mass in E flat major with the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra under the baton of the late Robert Shaw, Israel in Egypt (Vancouver), Mendelssohn's St. Paul (Winnipeg), and Mendelssohn's Hear My Prayer and Te Deum (Winnipeg) with Frieder Bernius. Ms Pauls has also worked in Germany, with Helmuth Rilling and the Gächinger Kantorei, and most recently in Bach's Mass in B minor under Martin Lutz. This season, Ms Pauls was guest soloist with Ottawa's Thirteen Strings in their Christmas concert and made her début on tour with l'Orchestre symphonique de Laval in Vivaldi's Gloria and Bach's motet Jauchzet BWV 51. Ms Pauls teaches at the University of Manitoba and the Canadian Mennonite University and maintains an active private voice studio.

Baritone Mark Pedrotti has become a staple in the musical life of Canada since he emigrated from his native New Zealand in 1974. His appearances have included Carmina Burana, Sea Drift, Handel's Messiah, and Libuse at Carnegie Hall. He has also performed at the Lincoln Centre for the New York City Opera, Avery Fisher Hall for the New York Philharmonic Orchestra, The Kennedy Centre for Washington Opera, Symphony Hall for the Boston Symphony,as well as London's Southbank Centre, the Wexford Festival Opera, and The Mozarteum in Salzburg.

Recent performances include Lescaut in Manon, with New Zealand Opera, with whom he also performed Alfio in Cavelleria Rusticana, Tonio in I Pagliacci, Germont in La Traviata, Count di Luna in Il Trovatore, Enrico in Lucia Di Lammermoor, Dandini in La Cenerentola, and Marcello in La Boheme. Recently Mr. Pedrotti also performed in Edmonton Opera's Cosi Fan Tutte, and Vancouver Opera's Die Fledermaus as Eisenstein.

A former member of the Canadian Opera Company's Ensemble Studio, tenor David Pomeroy has caught the attention of directors and conductors in Canada, the U.S. and Europe. Hailed as the Novice in the Canadian Opera Company's BILLY BUDD, the young Newfoundlander won the Silver Medal at the Della Pergola Competition and has also been heard at the Aldeburgh Festival as Tamino in DIE ZAUBERFLÖTE. His coming season is highlighted by Rodolfo in LA BOHEME for Pacific Opera Victoria, and the role of Stefano in the world premiere of Estacio's FILUMENA for the Calgary Opera. Also on his schedule are Arturo in LUCIA DI LAMMERMOOR for Manitoba Opera plus Handel and Gilbert & Sullivan with the Newfoundland Symphony. He has appeared with major symphonic and choral organizations across Canada and can be heard on the recent recording of Harry Somers' SERINETTE.

Renowned for the richness of his voice and his compelling musical insights, bass-baritone Gary Relyea is one of the most distinguished artists currently before the public. Hailed by Andrew Porter as possessing "a voice of uncommon beauty", Mr. Relyea debuted with the Philadelphia Orchestra in GURRELIEDER at Carnegie Hall and repeated the work with the Toronto Symphony. He was seen on PBS's televised Verdi REQUIEM from Portland, Oregon and appeared in a staged production of this work at the National Arts Centre in Ottawa led by Bernardi. Rhombus Media's LEPORELLO'S REVENGE was recently released and his CDs include scenes from BORIS GODUNOV with Comissiona and the Vancouver Symphony and a Verdi/Rossini disc, both from CBC. Mr. Relyea holds dual US/Canadian citizenship and a Certificate of Patriality from the UK.

One of Canada's best known mezzo-sopranos, CATHERINE ROBBIN has established an international reputation, performing with many of today's leading conductors throughout the world. Miss Robbin is at ease in a wide range of vocal music but is particularly noted for her interpretations of Baroque and Romantic repertoire. She also gives regular Masterclasses at Universities all over Canada, at the Carmel Bach Festival and is President of the Canadian Aldeburgh Foundation, an organisation that supports young Canadian Artists performing at the Aldeburgh Festival in the UK.

Miss Robin's concert highlights include appearances with John Eliot Gardiner and the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra in Elgar's The Dream Of Gerontius, at London's South Bank Centre and New York's Lincoln Center with Roger Norrington and the London Classical Players, in Janacek's Glagolitic Mass at the Salzburg Festival and BBC Proms with Simon Rattle and the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, the 250th anniversary performance of Messiah with John Eliot Gardiner at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden with Gardiner and Beethoven's Choral Symphony with Gardiner and the Norddeutscher Rundfunk Symphony and with Libor Pesek and the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra. In recent seasons Miss Robbin has performed Bach's St John's Passion with Nicholas Kraemer and the Rotterdamas Philharmonisch Orkest, Bach with Nicholas McGegan and the BBC National Orchestra of Wales, Berlioz with the Liège Philharmonic Orchestra, Bach's St Matthew Passion with Trevor Pinnock in Ottawa, Elgar with Gardiner and The Philharmonia, Mozart and Bach with Christopher Hogwood and the Academy of Ancient Music.

Catherine's many recordings include Haydn's Stabat Mater with Trevor Pinnock and The English Concert for Archiv which received the Grand Prix du Disque, Annio La Clemenza Di Tito with Gardiner for DG, Beatrice and Benedict with John Nelso for Erato, the Pergolesi and Vivaldi Stabat Mater with Bernard Labadie and Les Violons du Roy for Dorian which was nominated in the Cannes Classical Awards, Mahler Songs with Raffi Armenian and the Kitchener Waterloo Symphony Orchestra and Schumann song cycles with Michael McMahon for CBC Records, Mozart's Coronation Mass and Beethoven's Symphony No 9 with Christopher Hogwood and the Academy of Ancient Music for Decca, Handel's Belshazzar and Haydn Masses with Trevor Pinnock and The English Concert for Archiv, Berlioz' Romeo And Juliette with Gardiner and the Monteverdi Choir and Orchestra for Philips, Britten's Spring Symphony with Gardiner and The Philhamonia for DG, Mozart's Requiem with Roger Norrington and the London Classical Players for EMI and Eduige in Handel's Rodelinda with Nicholas Kraemer for Virgin Classics.

Vicki St. Pierre's voice has been described as "rich with both darkness and brilliance", and "a strong meaty voice that conveys a myriad of nuance." Earlier this year, this exciting young artist made her debut performance in Japan with Opera Atelier, performing in Mozart's Don Giovanni.

Last season, Vicki's performances included Handel's Messiah in Eugene, Oregon, and in Thunder Bay and London, as well as Handel's Judas Maccabbeus with Chorus Niagara. She also sang the roles of Arnalta and Nutrice in Monteverdi's Coronation of Poppea with the Toronto Consort.

Other highlights include performances of Handel's Messiah with the Peterborough Symphony, and in London with Baroque Orchestra, Bach's B Minor Mass and Handel's Dixit Dominus in Toronto. She was featured in Handel's Chandos Anthem #9 with the Bell 'Arte Singers, and with the Aradia Ensemble, performing Handel's Coronation Anthem "The King Shall Rejoice."

Opera roles include the role of Urbain in Meyerbeer's Les Huguenots, the role of Malcom in Rossini's La Donna Del Lago, and the role of Isabella in Rossini's L'Italiana in Algerie. In addition, Ms. St. Pierre has sung the lead role of Dinah in Leonard Bernstein's Trouble in Tahiti, as well as the role of Lady Sangazure in Gilbert & Sullivan's The Sorcerer.

This season's engagements include appearing as a featured soloist with the London Fanshawe Symphonic Chorus in Honegger's King David, Handel's Messiah with the Woodstock Strings, the Stanford Requiem with the Toronto Orpheus Choir, and Schubert's Mass in A flat with the Eugene Concert Choir.

Ms. St. Pierre holds a master's degree in performance from the University of Western Ontario, and is the recipient of several national and international awards. Vicki is also the current conductor of the Woodstock Fanshawe Singers.

Soprano Jennie Such received her Honours Bachelor of Music degree from the University of Western Ontario, and postgraduate diplomas in Oratorio and Advanced Opera from the Royal College of Music in London, England.

While abroad Jennie Such performed various Handel roles such as Seleuce in Tolomeo, Tigrane in Radamisto, and Achille in Deidamia with the London Handel Society and the Broomhill Opera, Belinda in Dido and Aeneas and Lucia in The Rape of Lucretia for the Aldeburgh Festival, conducted by Steuart Bedford. Jennie recently performed the role of Adonis in Scarlatti's opera Il Giardino d'Amore in London, England as part of the Battersea Opera Festival; the production was broadcast on BBC Radio 3.

As a member of Vancouver Opera's Touring Ensemble, Jennie sang the role of Mabel in The Pirates of Penzance. She was immediately re-engaged and made her mainstage debut in their 1999-2000 season as Gianetta in L'Elisir d'Amore.

A winner of several prestigious competitions Jennie was most recently a finalist in the 1999-2000 Young Canadian Singers' Mozart Competition and her performance was featured on CBC Radio's In Performance. Her recital in the "Debut Concert Series" was also broadcast on Westcoast Performance.

Jennie joined the prestigious Canadian Opera Company Ensemble for their 2000-2001 season singing in their baroque workshop production of Sartorio's Giulio Cesare in Egitto and understudying Esmerelda, in Bartered Bride. She joined Pacific Baroque Orchestra for their production of The Choice of Hercules and the London Fanshawe Symphonic Chorus for Honegger's King David in London.

Jennie debuted with the Pacific Opera as Bianca in Gianini's The Taming of the Shrew and with the Vancouver Symphony and the Vancouver Chamber Choir, as soprano soloist in the Brahms Requiem. Her 2001 season included the Stanford Requiem with the Orpheus Choir, and the Canadian Opera Company touring production of Hansel and Gretel.

Her 2002-2003 season includes a critically acclaimed debut as Susanna with opera Ontario's Marriage of Figaro, Handel's Solomon, Brahm's Ein Deutsches Requiem, a tour with the National Ballet of Canada in Micahel Torke's The Contract and a recording of a new work by Ivant Raminsh

Baritone Andrew Tees is a past member of the Canadian Opera Company's Ensemble Studio, heard both in mainstage productions such as LA FANCIULLA DEL WEST and on tour.  Hailed for his "full-bodied baritone", the billingual Ontarian makes his role debuts this season as Escamillo in CARMEN (Manitoba Opera), the title role in LE NOZZE DI FIGARO (Opera Ontario) and the Pirate King in PIRATES OF PENZANCE for CLeveland Opera.  The Canadian Chamion rower has been feature across Canada by symphonies including those of Toronto, Thunder Bay, Windsor and Oshawa.

On the international stages of opera, concert, and recital, Canadian John Tessier has gained the attention and praise of conductors and audiences alike for the beauty and honesty of his voice, a refined style and artistic versatility, and for his handsome, youthful presence in the lyric tenor repertoire.

The 2001-02 season featured performances of Tamino in Die Zauberflöte both with Toronto's Opera Atelier and the Edmonton Opera, as Laurie in Minnesota Opera's presentation of Little Women, as Almaviva in Il Barbiere di Siviglia at L'Opéra de Québec, and in Haydn's Orlando Paladino for a return engagement at Glimmerglass Opera. On the concert stage he appeared with Les Violons du Roy and Bernard Labadie in performances of Haydn's Lord Nelson Mass and Mozart's Requiem at Lincoln Center and on tour elsewhere, with the Toronto Symphony Orchestra in Messiah, and with the Naples Philharmonic in Mendelssohn's Symphony No. 2, "Lobgesang". Future seasons see Mr. Tessier with Vancouver Opera for Il Barbiere di Siviglia and as Tonio in La Fille du Régiment and at Manitoba Opera as Ferrando in Così fan tutte.

Operatic highlights from the recent past include his New York City Opera debut as Damon in a new Mark Lamos production of Acis and Galatea (a role which also served as his debut for Glimmerglass Opera) his debut with the Opera Company of Philadelphia as Tamino in Die Zauberflöte, and Il Barbiere di Siviglia with Manitoba Opera. He also has been seen as Don Ottavio in Don Giovanni with San Francisco Opera's Western Opera Theater tour and in Japan with Opera Atelier, as Nanki-Poo in The Mikado with Pacific Opera Victoria, and as Lysander in Britten's A Midsummer Night's Dream at the Aldeburgh Festival.

On the concert stage he has bowed with The Philadelphia Orchestra, the Calgary Philharmonic, and with the Toronto Symphony Orchestra in Messiah, with the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra in Bach's Magnificat, and has sung both Evangelist and Arias in Bach's St. Matthew Passion for Chorus Niagara. Mr. Tessier will make his H&H debut in these performances

A winner in the Metropolitan Opera Auditions and recipient of a grant from the Chalmers Foundation, dramatic mezzo Elizabeth Turnbull has a growing reputationin the U.S. and Canada. Hailed as "one of this country's finest young singers, luminous and rich-voiced", she appeared at the Ravinia Festival in recital with Christoph Eschenbach. Ms. Turnbull recently added CARMEN and Mussorgsky's SONGS AND DANCES OF DEATH to her repertoire and this season will be the Old Prioress in DIALOGUES for Calgary Opera and debuts for the Chicago Opera Theatre in SEMELE. She has recorded with Helmuth Rilling and the Toronto Bach Consort.

Previous engagements include Carmina Burana with le Choeur de la Montagne in Montreal. He sang in Israel in Egypt with the Ottawa Choral Society under the baton of Iwan Edwards, cm and Bach’s Christmas Oratorio with l’Orchestre de Laval. More recently, he sang Puccini’s Messa di Gloria for Ottawa’s Centennial Choir. His operatic repertoire includes title roles in Le nozze di Figaro, Gianni Schicchi and Don Giovanni, and his oratorio repertoire includes works by Handel, Schubert and Mendelssohn.

Lyric soprano Laura Whalen holds a Bachelor's Degree in Music from the University of Victoria and is a graduate of the Opera Division at the University of Toronto with further studies at the Britten/Pears School in Aldeburgh. Featured in the World Premiere of SIRENS for Toronto's Queen of Puddings Theatre, she won a Vancouver Opera Guild Career Grant and an award in the Canadian National Music Festival Competition. With Mario Bernardi as conductor, she debuts with the Calgary Philharmonic in Mahler's Symphony No. 4 and will also make her role debut as the Countess in LE NOZZE DI FIGARO with Opera Hamilton during the current season.

Style and musical elegance combined with an intuitive theatrical sense bring distinction to appearances by soprano Monica Whicher. Of her performance in Lully's PERSÉE for Opera Atelier, Opera Magazine noted that "Monica Whicher's Merope was outstanding; vocally assured, with an engaging stage presence, she carried the three arias Lully assigned to her with power and wit".   This season she stars as Cleopatra in GIULIO CESARE for Pacific Opera Victoria. Heard with symphonies and opera companies in Spain, Scotland, England, Canada and the U.S. Ms. Whicher's concerts and recitals are broadcast regularly by CBC Radio 2 and her recordings of Bach, Schubert, Somers and Hatzis are available on Marquis Classics, CBC and other labels.

Young Canadian counter-tenor Matthew White has, within a very short span of time, achieved a career that is rapidly expanding worldwide. Within the last few years he has appeared on numerous occasions in Europe, Canada, the United States and New Zealand. Auspicious international débuts last season included the role of Ottone in Monteverdi's L'Incoronazione di Poppea for the Houston Grand Opera, and Bach's St. Matthew Passion for the Nederlands Bachvereniging. This season marked his début with Glyndebourne Opera in the role of Unulfo in Handel's Rodelinda and his début with Pacific Opera Victoria in the title role of Handel's Giulio Cesare. He reprised the role of Ottone in L'Incoronazione di Poppea with Toronto's Opera Atelier. Continuing his opera career, he will sing the role of Tolomeo in Handel's Giulio Cesare for Cleveland Opera next season and return in 2004 to the Houston Grand Opera to sing in their production of Giulio Cesare. In Europe, he has sung with the Utrecht Early Music Festival, Le Concert Spirituel, Le Parlement de Musique in France, Poland's Arte dei Suonatori and the Festival of Sacred Arts in Reykjavik, Iceland. Even further afield will be his débuts with the Israel Camerata and the Bach Collegium of Japan. A frequent collaborator with Canada's prestigious Tafelmusik Baroque Orchestra, Matthew has appeared with the Edmonton Symphony, Nova Scotia Symphony, the Vancouver Chamber Choir and l'Orchestre symphonique de Québec. A founding member of Montreal's Les Voix Baroques, he sings regularly with Ensemble Arion, le Studio de Musique Ancienne de Montréal and has appeared at the Festival de musique baroque de Lamèque. In demand in the United States, he has made guest appearances with the Portland Baroque Orchestra, New York's Four Nations Ensemble and the Carmel Bach Festival. A highlight amongst his many Messiah performances was a recent invitation to sing with the Christchurch Symphony Orchestra and City Choir in New Zealand. Last season, Matthew sang Messiah with the Portland Baroque Orchestra, Tafelmusik Baroque Society and Symphony Nova Scotia. Last summer Matthew made his Violons du Roy début in both Montréal and Québec and appeared at both the Festival international de musique baroque de Lamèque and the Ottawa International Chamber Music Festival.. Matthew studies with Jan Simons in Montreal.