Jakobín Cast
Music Director - William Shookhoff
William Shookhoff is a noted conductor, pianist and vocal coach throughout Canada and abroad. He has conducted Canadian orchestras from coast to coast, as well as in the Netherlands and China. He has served on the music faculties of the Universities of Toronto, Alberta, Wilfrid Laurier, as well as the Banff Centre for the Arts and the Johannesen Summer Institute of Music. He has been on the Music Staff of the Canadian, Netherlands, Edmonton, and Portland (Oregon) Opera Companies.
Equally at home in Music Theatre, Mr Shookhoff was the Associate Conductor of the inaugural Canadian production of Les Miserables, and of the Canadian Tour and Toronto productions of Phantom of the Opera. He has been a guest Music Director with Neptune Theatre (Halifax), Persephone Theatre (Saskatoon), and Citadel Theatre (Edmonton).
Frequently in demand as coach and conductor, Mr. Shookhoff makes frequent appearances in those capacities throughout Western Europe and China, as well as maintaining an active coaching studio in Toronto. He is a regular guest conductor with the Bluebridge Festival and with Opera Kitchener. He has also devoted his efforts to the development and presentation of the Massed Piano or Monster Concert, and has conducted such events at Carnegie Hall, New York; Massey Hall and Nathan Philips Square, Toronto; the White House, Washington, DC; and the Castel Sant’Angelo, Rome. Mr. Shookhoff is Artistic Director Emeritus at Tryptych Productions.
William Shookhoff is a noted conductor, pianist and vocal coach throughout Canada and abroad. He has conducted Canadian orchestras from coast to coast, as well as in the Netherlands and China. He has served on the music faculties of the Universities of Toronto, Alberta, Wilfrid Laurier, as well as the Banff Centre for the Arts and the Johannesen Summer Institute of Music. He has been on the Music Staff of the Canadian, Netherlands, Edmonton, and Portland (Oregon) Opera Companies.
Equally at home in Music Theatre, Mr Shookhoff was the Associate Conductor of the inaugural Canadian production of Les Miserables, and of the Canadian Tour and Toronto productions of Phantom of the Opera. He has been a guest Music Director with Neptune Theatre (Halifax), Persephone Theatre (Saskatoon), and Citadel Theatre (Edmonton).
Frequently in demand as coach and conductor, Mr. Shookhoff makes frequent appearances in those capacities throughout Western Europe and China, as well as maintaining an active coaching studio in Toronto. He is a regular guest conductor with the Bluebridge Festival and with Opera Kitchener. He has also devoted his efforts to the development and presentation of the Massed Piano or Monster Concert, and has conducted such events at Carnegie Hall, New York; Massey Hall and Nathan Philips Square, Toronto; the White House, Washington, DC; and the Castel Sant’Angelo, Rome. Mr. Shookhoff is Artistic Director Emeritus at Tryptych Productions.
Bohuš of Harasov, the Count's son - Michael Robert-Broder (baritone)
Native to Vancouver, Michael Robert-Broder has established himself as one of Canada's most versatile young baritones. Equally at home with art song, oratorio, and opera, he has gained a reputation for engaging performances that perfectly join poet's text with composer's music, with the dramatic essence of a piece. Oratorio performances include Requiems my Mozart, Fauré, and Duruflé, major works by JS Bach, oratorios of GF Handel, and works that span from Buxtehude and Schütz to composers of the 21st century. As a strong advocate of contemporary music, Michael has been invited to premiere a number of pieces in
the past years. Among them were Cameron Wilson's The Oratorio to end all Oratorios, the role of The Jester in George Austin's The King Wouldn't Sing, and a concert of excerpts from Timothy Benton Roark's dramatic cantata based on the writings of WB Yeats Crazy Jane. Michael has presented recitals of staged 'nondramatic' works, which have included scenes from Goethe's Wilhelm Meister, using the art songs of Beethoven, Schubert, Schumann and Wolf. On the lyric stage,
Robert-Broder has recently portrayed the roles of Lescaut in Massenet's Manon, Il Conte in Mozart's Le Nozze di Figaro, the title role in Mozart's Don Giovanni Papageno in Die Zauberflöte, the title role of Bartok’s Bluebeard’s Castle, and Don Pizaro in Beethoven's Fidelio.
Michael's principal training has been under the guidance of Bruce Pullan, Gary Relyea and Patrick Raftery. Upcoming engagements include Handel's Messiah, a handful of Bach Cantatas, Bohus in Dvorak's Jakobin with the Canadian Institute for Czech Music, the Barone in Verdi's Traviata with Oshawa Opera, and concert performances of Lucia di Lamermoor, La Forza del Destino, and Madama Butterfly.
Native to Vancouver, Michael Robert-Broder has established himself as one of Canada's most versatile young baritones. Equally at home with art song, oratorio, and opera, he has gained a reputation for engaging performances that perfectly join poet's text with composer's music, with the dramatic essence of a piece. Oratorio performances include Requiems my Mozart, Fauré, and Duruflé, major works by JS Bach, oratorios of GF Handel, and works that span from Buxtehude and Schütz to composers of the 21st century. As a strong advocate of contemporary music, Michael has been invited to premiere a number of pieces in
the past years. Among them were Cameron Wilson's The Oratorio to end all Oratorios, the role of The Jester in George Austin's The King Wouldn't Sing, and a concert of excerpts from Timothy Benton Roark's dramatic cantata based on the writings of WB Yeats Crazy Jane. Michael has presented recitals of staged 'nondramatic' works, which have included scenes from Goethe's Wilhelm Meister, using the art songs of Beethoven, Schubert, Schumann and Wolf. On the lyric stage,
Robert-Broder has recently portrayed the roles of Lescaut in Massenet's Manon, Il Conte in Mozart's Le Nozze di Figaro, the title role in Mozart's Don Giovanni Papageno in Die Zauberflöte, the title role of Bartok’s Bluebeard’s Castle, and Don Pizaro in Beethoven's Fidelio.
Michael's principal training has been under the guidance of Bruce Pullan, Gary Relyea and Patrick Raftery. Upcoming engagements include Handel's Messiah, a handful of Bach Cantatas, Bohus in Dvorak's Jakobin with the Canadian Institute for Czech Music, the Barone in Verdi's Traviata with Oshawa Opera, and concert performances of Lucia di Lamermoor, La Forza del Destino, and Madama Butterfly.
Julie, his wife - Michele Cusson (soprano)
Calgary born soprano, Michèle Cusson’s passion for music began when she joined the Calgary Children’s Choir at age 6. She went on to attend Westminster Choir College in Princeton, NJ for her Bachelor’s Degree, l’Université de Montréal for her Master’s Degree and Post Graduate Diploma in Music and The Saint Petersburg Conservatory in Russia for a specialist’s diploma.
Upcoming engagements include Julie in Dvorak’s Jakobin with Opera by Request in Toronto, concerts with the Jeunes Ambassadeurs Lyrique in Montréal, concerts with Calgary Concert Opera Company in Kimberly, BC and Airdrie, AB and Dvorak’s Gypsy songs with the Mountain View Connection Concert Series in Calgary. Recent engagements include orchestral concerts in China with the iSing! Festival in Suzhou, Hangzhou and at Beijing’s Great Hall of the People in Tian’anmen Square where she learned to speak and sing in Mandarin, orchestral concerts with The New York Concerti Sinfonietta and concerts in Burgundy, France at La Roche D'Hys Domaine des Arts. With the Mountain View International Chamber Festival she performed eight masterclasses with renowned vocal collaborator Rudolf Jansen and was invited to perform a recital of Russian Romances and Chamber works with the Mountain View Connection. Collaborating frequently with pianist Kathleen van Mourik, the duo have recently performed three recitals of Russian Romances in Red Deer, Bearspaw and Banff, Alberta as well as a dinner concert of opera favourites at the Glencoe Club Grille Room.
With the support of the Alberta Foundation for the Arts, Michèle spent the fall of 2013 in New York City studying Wagner and Verdi repertoire with Mignon Dunn and other coaches from the Metropolitan Opera. She recently completed a ten-week Artist’s Residency at the prestigious Banff Centre for the Arts where she prepared the music for a solo CD of all Russian Romances under the auspices of InvestYYC and The Calgary Arts Development. A recent finalist in the Liederkranz Wagner Division Competition 2013 and a semi-finalist in the Loren Zachary Competition in L.A, Michèle has also placed 4th in the Zara Dolukhanova International Art Song Competition in Kaliningrad, Russia where she was the only non-native Russian singer. She is a proud recipient of multiple grants from the Canada Council for the Arts, Alberta Foundation for the Arts, The Banff Centre and Calgary Arts Development-all for researching and performing Russian vocal music. Recent operatic roles include the title role in Jenufa with Toronto’s Opera by Request, Suor Angelica, Giorgetta in Il Tabarro and Micaëla with Calgary Concert Opera Company, Rosalinde with Vancouver Concert Opera Company, Liza in the Queen of Spades and Zemfira in Aleko with The Russian Opera Workshop at the Academy of Vocal Arts and Alice Ford with Opera Nuova. Other notable performances include Giulietta in Les Contes d'Hoffmann, The Countess and Susanna, Donna Elvira and Musetta in Bulgaria, Israel, Italy, Germany, Canada and the US.
Michèle’s vast choral experience includes Mahler’s Symphony No. 2 with Valery Gergiev and Wagner’s Parsifal with Pierre Boulez both at Carnegie Hall. Beethoven’s 9th Symphony with Lorin Maazel, La Damnation de Faust with Charles Dutoit, Handel’s Messiah with Alan Gilbert, and an Evening of Berlioz with Sir Colin Davis all with the New York Philharmonic as well as Brahms’ Requiem with the Dresden Philharmonic with Rafael Frühbeck de Burgos. Michèle toured with A Royal Christmas Tour staring Andrea Bocelli, Denyce Graves, the London Philharmonic and the Kiev Ballet performing at Madison Square Garden and other large venues across the U.S.
Calgary born soprano, Michèle Cusson’s passion for music began when she joined the Calgary Children’s Choir at age 6. She went on to attend Westminster Choir College in Princeton, NJ for her Bachelor’s Degree, l’Université de Montréal for her Master’s Degree and Post Graduate Diploma in Music and The Saint Petersburg Conservatory in Russia for a specialist’s diploma.
Upcoming engagements include Julie in Dvorak’s Jakobin with Opera by Request in Toronto, concerts with the Jeunes Ambassadeurs Lyrique in Montréal, concerts with Calgary Concert Opera Company in Kimberly, BC and Airdrie, AB and Dvorak’s Gypsy songs with the Mountain View Connection Concert Series in Calgary. Recent engagements include orchestral concerts in China with the iSing! Festival in Suzhou, Hangzhou and at Beijing’s Great Hall of the People in Tian’anmen Square where she learned to speak and sing in Mandarin, orchestral concerts with The New York Concerti Sinfonietta and concerts in Burgundy, France at La Roche D'Hys Domaine des Arts. With the Mountain View International Chamber Festival she performed eight masterclasses with renowned vocal collaborator Rudolf Jansen and was invited to perform a recital of Russian Romances and Chamber works with the Mountain View Connection. Collaborating frequently with pianist Kathleen van Mourik, the duo have recently performed three recitals of Russian Romances in Red Deer, Bearspaw and Banff, Alberta as well as a dinner concert of opera favourites at the Glencoe Club Grille Room.
With the support of the Alberta Foundation for the Arts, Michèle spent the fall of 2013 in New York City studying Wagner and Verdi repertoire with Mignon Dunn and other coaches from the Metropolitan Opera. She recently completed a ten-week Artist’s Residency at the prestigious Banff Centre for the Arts where she prepared the music for a solo CD of all Russian Romances under the auspices of InvestYYC and The Calgary Arts Development. A recent finalist in the Liederkranz Wagner Division Competition 2013 and a semi-finalist in the Loren Zachary Competition in L.A, Michèle has also placed 4th in the Zara Dolukhanova International Art Song Competition in Kaliningrad, Russia where she was the only non-native Russian singer. She is a proud recipient of multiple grants from the Canada Council for the Arts, Alberta Foundation for the Arts, The Banff Centre and Calgary Arts Development-all for researching and performing Russian vocal music. Recent operatic roles include the title role in Jenufa with Toronto’s Opera by Request, Suor Angelica, Giorgetta in Il Tabarro and Micaëla with Calgary Concert Opera Company, Rosalinde with Vancouver Concert Opera Company, Liza in the Queen of Spades and Zemfira in Aleko with The Russian Opera Workshop at the Academy of Vocal Arts and Alice Ford with Opera Nuova. Other notable performances include Giulietta in Les Contes d'Hoffmann, The Countess and Susanna, Donna Elvira and Musetta in Bulgaria, Israel, Italy, Germany, Canada and the US.
Michèle’s vast choral experience includes Mahler’s Symphony No. 2 with Valery Gergiev and Wagner’s Parsifal with Pierre Boulez both at Carnegie Hall. Beethoven’s 9th Symphony with Lorin Maazel, La Damnation de Faust with Charles Dutoit, Handel’s Messiah with Alan Gilbert, and an Evening of Berlioz with Sir Colin Davis all with the New York Philharmonic as well as Brahms’ Requiem with the Dresden Philharmonic with Rafael Frühbeck de Burgos. Michèle toured with A Royal Christmas Tour staring Andrea Bocelli, Denyce Graves, the London Philharmonic and the Kiev Ballet performing at Madison Square Garden and other large venues across the U.S.
Benda, the music teacher - Lenard Whiting (tenor)
Lenard Whiting, tenor, was born in Kenora, Ontario, and educated at the Faculty of Music at the University of Toronto. He is an alumnus of the Canadian Opera Company Ensemble and the University of Toronto Opera Division. As well, he had the honour of working with famed Canadian tenor Leopold Simoneau in the summer program Opera Piccola in Victoria, BC. He also spent two summers studying in the opera program at the Banff School of Arts. He has studied voice with Catherine McLeod, Mark DuBois, Mme Irene Jessner, Mark Pedrotti, Marlene Mallas, William Neil. His principle coach is Stuart Hamilton in addition to having worked regularly with William Shookhof and Brahm Goldhamer.
Lenard’s repertoire includes Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9, Bruckner's Mass in F minor, recitals in Emsworth, Eastbourne, Chichester and Portsmouth, England, the Klangfruehling Festivals in Austria, and a concert series with Princess Caroline Murat of Monaco, performances at Place des Artes, Montreal. In July 2002 Lenard was a featured soloist in a gala concert presented to Pope John Paul II during his visit to Toronto. He has performed in the Toronto International Chamber Music Festival, where, among other things, he sang the Canadian premiere of Andrew Ager's Campfire in the Sun song cycle. He has also performed with Consort Carititis' European tours performing in Hungary, Slovakia, Czech Republic and Austria.
Lenard has been a regular performer with Maritime Concert Opera since its inception singing the lead tenor roles in Cavelleria Rusticana, Madama Butterfly, Carmen and others. He has also been seen with Opera Nova Scotia in Mozart's Zaide and The Abduction from the Seraglio. As well as the popular show Opera Valenitine. He also regularly performs with Opera by Request in Toronto singing the lead roles in Tosca, Manon, La Forza del Destino, Jenufa, Das Rheingold, Die Walküre and Siegfried. He has regularly performed with TrypTych Concert and Opera. His many roles included the world premiere of Andrew Ager's Frankenstein in the role of Victor Frankenstein; Pete in Doolittle's Boiler Room Suite; Attila in Verdi's Attila, Der Corrigedor in the Canadian premiere of Wolf's Der Corrigedor; Ricardo in Verdi’s Oberto and many others. Lenard has also been on staff as a vocal coach with the Halifax Summer Opera Workshop for two seasons and the Yorkshire Opera Workshop in Great Britain.
Lenard Whiting, tenor, was born in Kenora, Ontario, and educated at the Faculty of Music at the University of Toronto. He is an alumnus of the Canadian Opera Company Ensemble and the University of Toronto Opera Division. As well, he had the honour of working with famed Canadian tenor Leopold Simoneau in the summer program Opera Piccola in Victoria, BC. He also spent two summers studying in the opera program at the Banff School of Arts. He has studied voice with Catherine McLeod, Mark DuBois, Mme Irene Jessner, Mark Pedrotti, Marlene Mallas, William Neil. His principle coach is Stuart Hamilton in addition to having worked regularly with William Shookhof and Brahm Goldhamer.
Lenard’s repertoire includes Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9, Bruckner's Mass in F minor, recitals in Emsworth, Eastbourne, Chichester and Portsmouth, England, the Klangfruehling Festivals in Austria, and a concert series with Princess Caroline Murat of Monaco, performances at Place des Artes, Montreal. In July 2002 Lenard was a featured soloist in a gala concert presented to Pope John Paul II during his visit to Toronto. He has performed in the Toronto International Chamber Music Festival, where, among other things, he sang the Canadian premiere of Andrew Ager's Campfire in the Sun song cycle. He has also performed with Consort Carititis' European tours performing in Hungary, Slovakia, Czech Republic and Austria.
Lenard has been a regular performer with Maritime Concert Opera since its inception singing the lead tenor roles in Cavelleria Rusticana, Madama Butterfly, Carmen and others. He has also been seen with Opera Nova Scotia in Mozart's Zaide and The Abduction from the Seraglio. As well as the popular show Opera Valenitine. He also regularly performs with Opera by Request in Toronto singing the lead roles in Tosca, Manon, La Forza del Destino, Jenufa, Das Rheingold, Die Walküre and Siegfried. He has regularly performed with TrypTych Concert and Opera. His many roles included the world premiere of Andrew Ager's Frankenstein in the role of Victor Frankenstein; Pete in Doolittle's Boiler Room Suite; Attila in Verdi's Attila, Der Corrigedor in the Canadian premiere of Wolf's Der Corrigedor; Ricardo in Verdi’s Oberto and many others. Lenard has also been on staff as a vocal coach with the Halifax Summer Opera Workshop for two seasons and the Yorkshire Opera Workshop in Great Britain.
Terinka, Benda's daughter - Danielle Dudycha (soprano)
Soprano Danielle Dudycha, originally from Kitchener-Waterloo, will sing the role of Terinka from Dvořak’s Jakobin Oct 24th 2014 with the Canadian Institute for Czech Music. She has sung the roles of Leïla from Pearl Fishers with Opera By Request, Jano and Barena from Janáček’s Jenufa, Queen of Sheba with Victoria’s Early Music Society conducted by Lawrence Cummings, Constança from Ines with Queen of Puddings, Bastienne from Mozart`s Bastien und Bastienne with Boris Brott’s McGill Chamber Orchestra, Musetta from La Boheme with Opera Burgas, Bulgaria, Pamina from Die Zauberflöte in Naples and Casserta with the Amalfi Music Festival, covered Zerlina from Don Giovanni at Opera Lyra Ottawa, performed Dortchen from the Brothers Grimm and Annina from La Traviata also with Opera Lyra Ottawa; covered Echo and Naiad in Ariadne auf Naxos at Calgary Opera, sung “Rosie” (Rosina), from English adaptation of the Barber of Seville, Le Feu, Le Rossignol and La Bergère from L` Enfant et les sortilèges, and role of Cunegonde (scenes) from Candide also with Calgary Opera. She also helped workshop with Bramwell Tovey, the role of Mary from his opera the inventor.
Other performances include soloist in Bach Cantata’s 140 conducted by Lawrence Green, Bach’s St. John’s Passion, Soloist in “Taste of France” Popera Concert with Bay of Islands Musical Arts, soprano soloist in Lauda per Nativita del Signor with Spiritus Chamber Choir, Vivaldi’s Gloria and Fauré’s requiem, along with Opera Concerts singing different scenes including the roles of Giulietta from I Capuleti e i Montecchi, Sophie from Der Rosenkavalier and Lucia from Lucia di Lammermoor with Opera on the Avalon, and was invited to tour with the Bourgas Symphany Orchestra for series of Popera concerts. She has also sung many recitals across North America, spanning all repertoire, with a special focus in Russian and Czech music, as with her Eastern European background, it is music close to her heart.
Danielle completed her B.Mus and M.Mus degrees in Voice Performance at McGill University, and before attending McGill, she was a violinist and was fortunate to have studied briefly with violinist Jerzy Kaplanek from the Penderecki String Quartet. She was the recipient of a Scholarship from the Schulich school of Music, and recipient of grants from Yes Montreal, Canada Council of the Arts, Les Conseils des Arts, and Ontario Arts Council.
Soprano Danielle Dudycha, originally from Kitchener-Waterloo, will sing the role of Terinka from Dvořak’s Jakobin Oct 24th 2014 with the Canadian Institute for Czech Music. She has sung the roles of Leïla from Pearl Fishers with Opera By Request, Jano and Barena from Janáček’s Jenufa, Queen of Sheba with Victoria’s Early Music Society conducted by Lawrence Cummings, Constança from Ines with Queen of Puddings, Bastienne from Mozart`s Bastien und Bastienne with Boris Brott’s McGill Chamber Orchestra, Musetta from La Boheme with Opera Burgas, Bulgaria, Pamina from Die Zauberflöte in Naples and Casserta with the Amalfi Music Festival, covered Zerlina from Don Giovanni at Opera Lyra Ottawa, performed Dortchen from the Brothers Grimm and Annina from La Traviata also with Opera Lyra Ottawa; covered Echo and Naiad in Ariadne auf Naxos at Calgary Opera, sung “Rosie” (Rosina), from English adaptation of the Barber of Seville, Le Feu, Le Rossignol and La Bergère from L` Enfant et les sortilèges, and role of Cunegonde (scenes) from Candide also with Calgary Opera. She also helped workshop with Bramwell Tovey, the role of Mary from his opera the inventor.
Other performances include soloist in Bach Cantata’s 140 conducted by Lawrence Green, Bach’s St. John’s Passion, Soloist in “Taste of France” Popera Concert with Bay of Islands Musical Arts, soprano soloist in Lauda per Nativita del Signor with Spiritus Chamber Choir, Vivaldi’s Gloria and Fauré’s requiem, along with Opera Concerts singing different scenes including the roles of Giulietta from I Capuleti e i Montecchi, Sophie from Der Rosenkavalier and Lucia from Lucia di Lammermoor with Opera on the Avalon, and was invited to tour with the Bourgas Symphany Orchestra for series of Popera concerts. She has also sung many recitals across North America, spanning all repertoire, with a special focus in Russian and Czech music, as with her Eastern European background, it is music close to her heart.
Danielle completed her B.Mus and M.Mus degrees in Voice Performance at McGill University, and before attending McGill, she was a violinist and was fortunate to have studied briefly with violinist Jerzy Kaplanek from the Penderecki String Quartet. She was the recipient of a Scholarship from the Schulich school of Music, and recipient of grants from Yes Montreal, Canada Council of the Arts, Les Conseils des Arts, and Ontario Arts Council.
Jiří, a young game-keeper - Ryan Harper (tenor)
Torontonian tenor Ryan Harper earned his Bachelor in Voice performance from the University of Toronto and his Master of Music in Voice Performance from Florida State University. Further training was received while attending the Tanglewood Institute, The Highlands Opera Studio, The Royal Conservatory of Music, The Malcolm Martineau Masterclasses’ in Crear, Scotland, and The Aterlier Lyrique (Montreal Opera’s young artist program.) Ryan has performed with the Montreal Opera, the Toronto Bach Festival, The Mendelssohn Choir, The Elmer Eisler Singers, Festival of the Sound, Against the Grain Theatre, Cowtown Opera, and the Canadian Opera Company. In September of 2014 Ryan sang the Magic Flute in Chilliwack, British Columbia with the Chilliwack Opera. Ryan is truly excited to be performing the Czech masterpiece, Jakobín, and hopes that it may prove to be deserved of future Canadian performances.
Torontonian tenor Ryan Harper earned his Bachelor in Voice performance from the University of Toronto and his Master of Music in Voice Performance from Florida State University. Further training was received while attending the Tanglewood Institute, The Highlands Opera Studio, The Royal Conservatory of Music, The Malcolm Martineau Masterclasses’ in Crear, Scotland, and The Aterlier Lyrique (Montreal Opera’s young artist program.) Ryan has performed with the Montreal Opera, the Toronto Bach Festival, The Mendelssohn Choir, The Elmer Eisler Singers, Festival of the Sound, Against the Grain Theatre, Cowtown Opera, and the Canadian Opera Company. In September of 2014 Ryan sang the Magic Flute in Chilliwack, British Columbia with the Chilliwack Opera. Ryan is truly excited to be performing the Czech masterpiece, Jakobín, and hopes that it may prove to be deserved of future Canadian performances.
Filip, the Count's Burgrave - John Holland (Baritone)
Baritone John Holland completed his Masters Degree in Performance and Literature at the University of Western Ontario studying with acclaimed baritone Theodore Baerg. He also holds an Honours Bachelor of Music from the University of Windsor as well as an Artist Diploma in Performance from the University of Western Ontario. His Operatic credits include Vodník in Rusalka in the Czech Republic, Belcore in L’Elisir D’Amore and Alberich in Das Rheingold with Toronto’s Opera by Request, Figaro in Le Nozze di Figaro with Opera Nuova, Peter Quince in a Midsummer Night’s Dream with Opera Nuova, and Baron Zeta in The Merry Widow with Orchestra London. On the Oratorio side of things, John has been Bass Soloist in Handel’s Messiah with the Stratford Symphony, Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony with the Hamilton Symphony, Mozart’s Requiem and Haydn’s Nelson Mass with the London Singers and Orchestra, Beethoven’s Mass in C with Toronto Orpheus Choir, and Bach’s Cantata 182 with the Ottawa Bach Choir. He has shared the stage with the likes of Placido Domingo, Rene Pape, Lorin Maazel, Marvin Hamlisch, the London Symphony Orchestra, and Adrienne Pieczonka. His abilities as a soloist have been well reviewed; ‘It was a pleasure to hear baritone John Holland (one of the fine guest soloists) singing Haydn all the way in the balcony’.
John was a winner of the 2002 CBC Radio Opera Quiz Competition, a finalist in the London Opera Guild Competition in 2001 and 2003, and sang for Prime Minister Chretien when he visited London. In demand also as a conductor, John is the music director at Blessed Trinity Church in North York, and has acted as music director for the West Elgin Choral Society for four years, and for London Musical Theatre Productions’s Iolanthe and The Gondoliers. John has been conductor of some of the choirs at York University. A respected academic, John is a three-time lecturer for the Canadian Opera Company’s London guild, a four-time judge for the Juno Awards, a music reviewer for Toronto Life Magazine and Side Street Review arts magazine, and also a published composer.
This spring, John sang as Bass Soloist in Bach’s St. John Passion, as well as continuing the role of Alberich in Wagner’s Siegfried. This past summer, he sang in the Bach Festival in Leipzig, as well as concerts in Venice and Amsterdam. In the fall of 2014, He is co-producing the Canadian premiere of Dvořák’s opera Jakobin. His scholarly work reaches over many genres, but is focused on the study of Czech Opera, Art Song, and Choral Works. He is also the founding director of the Canadian Institute for Czech Music. John is in his third year in his PhD in Musicology at York University, and hopes to continue a career in performance and teach at the university level.
Baritone John Holland completed his Masters Degree in Performance and Literature at the University of Western Ontario studying with acclaimed baritone Theodore Baerg. He also holds an Honours Bachelor of Music from the University of Windsor as well as an Artist Diploma in Performance from the University of Western Ontario. His Operatic credits include Vodník in Rusalka in the Czech Republic, Belcore in L’Elisir D’Amore and Alberich in Das Rheingold with Toronto’s Opera by Request, Figaro in Le Nozze di Figaro with Opera Nuova, Peter Quince in a Midsummer Night’s Dream with Opera Nuova, and Baron Zeta in The Merry Widow with Orchestra London. On the Oratorio side of things, John has been Bass Soloist in Handel’s Messiah with the Stratford Symphony, Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony with the Hamilton Symphony, Mozart’s Requiem and Haydn’s Nelson Mass with the London Singers and Orchestra, Beethoven’s Mass in C with Toronto Orpheus Choir, and Bach’s Cantata 182 with the Ottawa Bach Choir. He has shared the stage with the likes of Placido Domingo, Rene Pape, Lorin Maazel, Marvin Hamlisch, the London Symphony Orchestra, and Adrienne Pieczonka. His abilities as a soloist have been well reviewed; ‘It was a pleasure to hear baritone John Holland (one of the fine guest soloists) singing Haydn all the way in the balcony’.
John was a winner of the 2002 CBC Radio Opera Quiz Competition, a finalist in the London Opera Guild Competition in 2001 and 2003, and sang for Prime Minister Chretien when he visited London. In demand also as a conductor, John is the music director at Blessed Trinity Church in North York, and has acted as music director for the West Elgin Choral Society for four years, and for London Musical Theatre Productions’s Iolanthe and The Gondoliers. John has been conductor of some of the choirs at York University. A respected academic, John is a three-time lecturer for the Canadian Opera Company’s London guild, a four-time judge for the Juno Awards, a music reviewer for Toronto Life Magazine and Side Street Review arts magazine, and also a published composer.
This spring, John sang as Bass Soloist in Bach’s St. John Passion, as well as continuing the role of Alberich in Wagner’s Siegfried. This past summer, he sang in the Bach Festival in Leipzig, as well as concerts in Venice and Amsterdam. In the fall of 2014, He is co-producing the Canadian premiere of Dvořák’s opera Jakobin. His scholarly work reaches over many genres, but is focused on the study of Czech Opera, Art Song, and Choral Works. He is also the founding director of the Canadian Institute for Czech Music. John is in his third year in his PhD in Musicology at York University, and hopes to continue a career in performance and teach at the university level.
Count Vilém of Harasov - Andrew Tees (bass-baritone)
Baritone Andrew Tees is one of the most dynamic and charismatic singers of his generation. Blessed with a rich chocolate toned baritone, he is at home whether singing opera, oratorio, or pops.
On the operatic stage Tees has performed the title role in the Nozze di Figaro for many companies including Opera Ontario and Pacific Opera. The swarthy baritone made a seductive Don Giovanni for Ottawa’s Opera Lyra. He debuted for Edmonton Opera as Silvio in Leoncavallo’s I Pagliacci. He sang a robust Escamillo for Manitoba Opera. Andrew was a moving Sonora for Vancouver Opera in La Fanciulla del West. He was given top vocal honours by Opera Canada for his portrayal of Marcello in Opera York’s La Boheme. He sang a charming Danilo for Orchestra London’s Merry Widow. For Zweigroschen Oper in Germany Andrew made a vengeful Monterone in Rigoletto. Andrew debuted with Opera York as Rossini’s Figaro, since then he has returned to sing many roles including Don Giovanni, Mozart’s Figaro, Escamillo, Gianni Schicchi, While a member of the Canadian Opera Company’s Ensemble Studio Tees made frequent appearances on the main stage. He won praise for the as the rapist Tarquinius (Rape of Lucretia) Donald in Billy Budd, Sonora in La Fanciulla del West, as well as Fiorello in Il Barbiere di Siviglia. While with the COC he covered many roles including Marcello, Belcore, Don Giovanni, Figaro, Billy Budd, and Krusina. While with the COC he sang Papageno in their Magic Flute tour and Peter in their Hansel and Gretel tour. Since leaving the Ensemble Studio Andrew has returned to the COC to sing several roles including the Mill Hand in Lady McBeth of Mtstensk and Marquis D`Aubigny in La Traviata. Mr. Tees’ repertoire is broadening into more dramatic roles. He made a commanding Scarpia in Maritime Concert Opera’s Tosca as well as Giorgio Germont in Verdi’s La Traviata for the same company and Golaud in Pelleas et Melisande for Toronto’s Opera by Request.
No stranger to debuting new works, Tees has premiered Ian McAndrew’s Cassandra for Amphion Opera. He sang the role of the unprincipled Oil Executive Walter Swenson in Isa Suarez’ Carpe Diem to be aired on Bravo Television this fall. He played Gandalf in Dean Burry’s The Hobbit with the Canadian Children’s Opera Chorus. For the Stratford Summer Music Festival he depicted a tyrannical Claudius in the Premier of Mark Richard’s Hamlet. He was a Madrigalist in Henze’s Venus und Adonis for the Canadian Opera Company, a role he repeated at Amsterdam’s Concertgebou. He made a sympathetic Stash in the North American premiere of And the Rat Laughed by Israeli composer Ella Milch-Sheriff.
He made a swashbuckling Pirate King for Cleveland Opera. He won rave reviews as Private Willis for Toronto Operetta Theatre’s Iolanthe. His other Gilbert and Sullivan roles include Pooh bah (Mikado) and Giuseppe (The Gondoliers) both for Montreal’s Savoy Society. Andrew played Old Bill in Rogers and Hammerstein with Hart for Hamilton’s Theatre Aquarius. He was a slightly dim Karl Magnus for Second Company’s A Little Night Music Other theatrical roles include Sky Masterson (Guys and Dolls) Lun Tha (The King and I) Maximillian (Candide). For Bravo Television he recorded an Evening with Cole Porter. His film credits include John Masterson in Film 4’s True Blue and Polar Bear in Masato Harada’s Rowing Through.
Andrew has been a frequent guest of many choirs and symphonies singing Handel’s Messiah. He was praised for his portrayal of the title character in Handel’s Saul for the Grand River Choir. He has been well received for his Carmina Burana . He has sung Brahms Requiem for the Oakville Symphony and Kitchener’s Grand Philharmonic Choir. He has performed the Duruflé Requiem with Hamilton’s Bach Elgar Choir and the Kingston Chamber Choir. Andrew made a majestic Elijah for the Northumberland Symphony and sang a moving St Paul for Toronto’s Pax Christ Chorale. A great admirer of the works of Haydn, Tees has performed The Creation, The Seasons, Mass in a Time of War and the Nelson Mass. He received great praise for his interpretation of Verdi’s Requiem for Masterworks of Oakville. No stranger to the works of Vaughn Williams he has performed both the haunting Five Mystical Songs as well as the Fantasia on Christmas Carols. For Hamilton’s Redeemer College Choir he sang Jean Gilles haunting Requiem. He sang his first Beethoven’s 9th Symphony with the Brantford Symphony. He has performed Beethoven’s Mass in C with many organizations most recently with Sarnia’s International Symphony. Among his other highlights are Arvo Pärt’s Passio with Toronto’s Mendelssohn Choir and Christos Hatzis' Kyrie with Soundstreams Canada.
A natural on the pops stage, he has sung with the Toronto Symphony, the National Arts Center Orchestra, Windsor Symphony, Oakville Symphony, Thunder Bay Symphony, Hamilton Philharmonic, Oshawa Symphony, and Guelph Symphony and has been a frequent guest of the Canadian Opera Company’s Orchestra in their Altamira Outdoor Concerts.
Baritone Andrew Tees is one of the most dynamic and charismatic singers of his generation. Blessed with a rich chocolate toned baritone, he is at home whether singing opera, oratorio, or pops.
On the operatic stage Tees has performed the title role in the Nozze di Figaro for many companies including Opera Ontario and Pacific Opera. The swarthy baritone made a seductive Don Giovanni for Ottawa’s Opera Lyra. He debuted for Edmonton Opera as Silvio in Leoncavallo’s I Pagliacci. He sang a robust Escamillo for Manitoba Opera. Andrew was a moving Sonora for Vancouver Opera in La Fanciulla del West. He was given top vocal honours by Opera Canada for his portrayal of Marcello in Opera York’s La Boheme. He sang a charming Danilo for Orchestra London’s Merry Widow. For Zweigroschen Oper in Germany Andrew made a vengeful Monterone in Rigoletto. Andrew debuted with Opera York as Rossini’s Figaro, since then he has returned to sing many roles including Don Giovanni, Mozart’s Figaro, Escamillo, Gianni Schicchi, While a member of the Canadian Opera Company’s Ensemble Studio Tees made frequent appearances on the main stage. He won praise for the as the rapist Tarquinius (Rape of Lucretia) Donald in Billy Budd, Sonora in La Fanciulla del West, as well as Fiorello in Il Barbiere di Siviglia. While with the COC he covered many roles including Marcello, Belcore, Don Giovanni, Figaro, Billy Budd, and Krusina. While with the COC he sang Papageno in their Magic Flute tour and Peter in their Hansel and Gretel tour. Since leaving the Ensemble Studio Andrew has returned to the COC to sing several roles including the Mill Hand in Lady McBeth of Mtstensk and Marquis D`Aubigny in La Traviata. Mr. Tees’ repertoire is broadening into more dramatic roles. He made a commanding Scarpia in Maritime Concert Opera’s Tosca as well as Giorgio Germont in Verdi’s La Traviata for the same company and Golaud in Pelleas et Melisande for Toronto’s Opera by Request.
No stranger to debuting new works, Tees has premiered Ian McAndrew’s Cassandra for Amphion Opera. He sang the role of the unprincipled Oil Executive Walter Swenson in Isa Suarez’ Carpe Diem to be aired on Bravo Television this fall. He played Gandalf in Dean Burry’s The Hobbit with the Canadian Children’s Opera Chorus. For the Stratford Summer Music Festival he depicted a tyrannical Claudius in the Premier of Mark Richard’s Hamlet. He was a Madrigalist in Henze’s Venus und Adonis for the Canadian Opera Company, a role he repeated at Amsterdam’s Concertgebou. He made a sympathetic Stash in the North American premiere of And the Rat Laughed by Israeli composer Ella Milch-Sheriff.
He made a swashbuckling Pirate King for Cleveland Opera. He won rave reviews as Private Willis for Toronto Operetta Theatre’s Iolanthe. His other Gilbert and Sullivan roles include Pooh bah (Mikado) and Giuseppe (The Gondoliers) both for Montreal’s Savoy Society. Andrew played Old Bill in Rogers and Hammerstein with Hart for Hamilton’s Theatre Aquarius. He was a slightly dim Karl Magnus for Second Company’s A Little Night Music Other theatrical roles include Sky Masterson (Guys and Dolls) Lun Tha (The King and I) Maximillian (Candide). For Bravo Television he recorded an Evening with Cole Porter. His film credits include John Masterson in Film 4’s True Blue and Polar Bear in Masato Harada’s Rowing Through.
Andrew has been a frequent guest of many choirs and symphonies singing Handel’s Messiah. He was praised for his portrayal of the title character in Handel’s Saul for the Grand River Choir. He has been well received for his Carmina Burana . He has sung Brahms Requiem for the Oakville Symphony and Kitchener’s Grand Philharmonic Choir. He has performed the Duruflé Requiem with Hamilton’s Bach Elgar Choir and the Kingston Chamber Choir. Andrew made a majestic Elijah for the Northumberland Symphony and sang a moving St Paul for Toronto’s Pax Christ Chorale. A great admirer of the works of Haydn, Tees has performed The Creation, The Seasons, Mass in a Time of War and the Nelson Mass. He received great praise for his interpretation of Verdi’s Requiem for Masterworks of Oakville. No stranger to the works of Vaughn Williams he has performed both the haunting Five Mystical Songs as well as the Fantasia on Christmas Carols. For Hamilton’s Redeemer College Choir he sang Jean Gilles haunting Requiem. He sang his first Beethoven’s 9th Symphony with the Brantford Symphony. He has performed Beethoven’s Mass in C with many organizations most recently with Sarnia’s International Symphony. Among his other highlights are Arvo Pärt’s Passio with Toronto’s Mendelssohn Choir and Christos Hatzis' Kyrie with Soundstreams Canada.
A natural on the pops stage, he has sung with the Toronto Symphony, the National Arts Center Orchestra, Windsor Symphony, Oakville Symphony, Thunder Bay Symphony, Hamilton Philharmonic, Oshawa Symphony, and Guelph Symphony and has been a frequent guest of the Canadian Opera Company’s Orchestra in their Altamira Outdoor Concerts.
Adolf of Harasov, the Count's Nephew - Domenico Sanfilippo (baritone)Domenico Sanfilippo began his musical training in Kingston, Ontario. He holds a Bachelor of Music degree from Queen's University and an ARCT diploma in voice performance from the Royal Conservatory of Music. Since 2007, he has been actively training as a bass-baritone, receiving private vocal instruction from Geoffrey Sirett, Barbara Dever and Dr. Michael Warren. In the last two seasons, Domenico has become a regular cast member with VOICEBOX: Opera in Concert and Toronto Operetta Theatre. He has performed several operatic roles including Colline in Summer Opera Lyric Theatre's 2013 production of Puccini's La Boheme and Dr. Bartolo in Accademia Europea dell'Opera's 2014 production of Mozart's Le Nozze di Figaro. Domenico currently studies voice with Tina Torlone at Pro Voce Studios in Toronto.
Lotinka, keeper of the castle's keys - Jenny Cohen (mezzo-soprano)
A native of Hamilton, Ontario, Jenny completed her B.Mus and M.Mus degrees at McGill University. Some of Jenny's operatic roles include Erica in Barber’s Vanessa (Toronto’s Summer Opera Lyric Theatre), Rinaldo in Handel’s Rinaldo (SOLT); Sesto in Mozart’s La Clemenza di Tito (Summer SOLT); Irene in Handel’s Tamerlano (Toronto Opera in Concert with the Aradia Ensemble); Mère Marie de l’Incarnation in Poulenc’s Les Dialogues des Carmelites (OIC); Lizetta in Haydn’s Il mondo della luna (OIC with the Aradia Ensemble); Aurélie in Charles Wilson’s Kamouraska (OIC with Esprit Orchestra); Leila in Gilbert and Sullivan’s Iolanthe (Toronto Operetta Theatre); Zenobia in Handel’s Radamisto (Opera McGill). Jenny has a special love for Art Song. She has given recitals for Sons et Brioches Desjardins (Repentigny, QC), CAMMAC (Harrington, QC), Art Song Toronto and Hamilton’s Emerging Artist series. She was thrilled to make her first foray into the world of Bizet’s Carmen with Opera By Request.
A native of Hamilton, Ontario, Jenny completed her B.Mus and M.Mus degrees at McGill University. Some of Jenny's operatic roles include Erica in Barber’s Vanessa (Toronto’s Summer Opera Lyric Theatre), Rinaldo in Handel’s Rinaldo (SOLT); Sesto in Mozart’s La Clemenza di Tito (Summer SOLT); Irene in Handel’s Tamerlano (Toronto Opera in Concert with the Aradia Ensemble); Mère Marie de l’Incarnation in Poulenc’s Les Dialogues des Carmelites (OIC); Lizetta in Haydn’s Il mondo della luna (OIC with the Aradia Ensemble); Aurélie in Charles Wilson’s Kamouraska (OIC with Esprit Orchestra); Leila in Gilbert and Sullivan’s Iolanthe (Toronto Operetta Theatre); Zenobia in Handel’s Radamisto (Opera McGill). Jenny has a special love for Art Song. She has given recitals for Sons et Brioches Desjardins (Repentigny, QC), CAMMAC (Harrington, QC), Art Song Toronto and Hamilton’s Emerging Artist series. She was thrilled to make her first foray into the world of Bizet’s Carmen with Opera By Request.
Villagers - The University of Toronto Scarborough Campus Choir, Lenard Whiting dir.
School Children - Music Moves Kids children's choir, Erin Armstrong dir.
Lyric soprano, Erin Armstrong is native to Windsor/Essex County and is known for her ability to captivate an audience with her warm, rich voice as well for her constant community driven performances and creative initiatives.
She is the founder and director of Music Moves Kids, a summer programming initiative who have seen over 600 children since its’ inaugural year in 2010 and children’s choir who have been invited to join Toronto’s, Opera By Request for the Canadian premier of Czech national opera, Jakobin, by Dvorak this fall. For more information on Music Moves Kids please visit www.musicmoveskids.com
This season will see Erin as Mrs. Andrews in Winsor Light Music Theatre’s production of Mary Poppins and in the spring, Voices of Light by Richard Einhorn with the Windsor Symphony Orchestra as well as Fiordiligi with a school touring production of Cosi fan tutte by Mozart next spring. Erin is an alumni of Calgary Opera’s Emerging Artist Program and a graduate of the Universities of Windsor and British Columbia. Her opera credits include, Violetta in La Traviata, Fiordiligi in Cosi fan tutte, High Priestess in Aida, La Contessa in La nozze di Figaro, Ortlinde in Die Walkure, Giulietta in I Capuletti ed I Montecchi, Beth in Little Women, Juliette in Romeo et Juliette, Alice Ford in Falstaff, Rosalinda in Die Fledermaus and Donna Anna in Don Giovanni.
Lyric soprano, Erin Armstrong is native to Windsor/Essex County and is known for her ability to captivate an audience with her warm, rich voice as well for her constant community driven performances and creative initiatives.
She is the founder and director of Music Moves Kids, a summer programming initiative who have seen over 600 children since its’ inaugural year in 2010 and children’s choir who have been invited to join Toronto’s, Opera By Request for the Canadian premier of Czech national opera, Jakobin, by Dvorak this fall. For more information on Music Moves Kids please visit www.musicmoveskids.com
This season will see Erin as Mrs. Andrews in Winsor Light Music Theatre’s production of Mary Poppins and in the spring, Voices of Light by Richard Einhorn with the Windsor Symphony Orchestra as well as Fiordiligi with a school touring production of Cosi fan tutte by Mozart next spring. Erin is an alumni of Calgary Opera’s Emerging Artist Program and a graduate of the Universities of Windsor and British Columbia. Her opera credits include, Violetta in La Traviata, Fiordiligi in Cosi fan tutte, High Priestess in Aida, La Contessa in La nozze di Figaro, Ortlinde in Die Walkure, Giulietta in I Capuletti ed I Montecchi, Beth in Little Women, Juliette in Romeo et Juliette, Alice Ford in Falstaff, Rosalinda in Die Fledermaus and Donna Anna in Don Giovanni.