Dr. John Holland - Founder and President
B.Mus, Artist Diploma (Performance), M.Mus (Performance), PhD (Musicology)
Author: The Lost Tradition of Dvořák's Operas: Myth, Music, and Nationalism
Musicologist and opera singer Dr. John Holland founded the C.I.C.M. in 2013 to help promote Czech Music studies in Canada.
Czech-Canadian Bass-Baritone John Holland has embarked on a diverse career of opera, oratorio, and art song. In 2020, John won a JUNO award as a member of the Ottawa Bach Choir. His Operatic credits include Figaro in Le Nozze di Figaro at the Mozarteum in Salzburg, Leporello and Masetto in Don Giovanni at the Estates Theatre in Prague, Vodník in Rusalka in the Czech Republic, Taddeo in L’Italiana in Algeri at Casa Loma, Purkrabi in Dvořák’s Jakobin, Caspar in Der Freischütz, Achilla in Giulio Cesare, Belcore in L’Elisir d’Amore, Henry VIII in Anna Bolena, Baron Ochs in Der Rosenkavalier, and Alberich in Der Ring Des Nibelungen with Toronto’s Opera by Request.
He has sung at such locales as the Canadian Opera Company, Mozarteum in Salzburg, Bachfest in Leipzig (2014, 2022), Smetana Hall and the Estates Theatre in Prague, and San Marco in Venice, and has shared the stage with the likes of Placido Domingo, Sherrill Milnes, Rene Pape, and Lorin Maazel. Recent performances include, Bass Soloist for a CD recording of Bach’s Motets on ATMA Classique, Bartolo in Il Barbiere di Siviglia with Mississauga Symphony, Leporello in Don Giovanni with Toronto City Opera, Papageno in Die Zauberflöte with Opera York, Escamillo in Carmen with No Strings Theatre, and Bass Soloist in Haydn's Creation.
He was a winner of the 2002 CBC Radio Opera Quiz Competition, and a finalist in the London Opera Guild Competition in 2001 and 2003. A respected academic, John is a three-time lecturer for the Canadian Opera Company’s London guild, a regular lecturer at the Royal Conservatory of Music, and a nine-time judge for the JUNO Awards. He is also an alumnus of the University of Windsor and Western University music faculties.
Dr. Holland completed his PhD in Musicology at York University in 2018. His scholarly work reaches over many genres, but is focused on the study of Czech Opera, Art Song, and Choral Works. His book, The Lost Tradition of Dvořák's Operas: Myth, Music, and Nationalism, critically analyzes these operas, and views them through the lenses of social, cultural, and political history, and pieces together the answers to why these operas are essentially lost works within the Czech lands, and abroad. It is available through the publisher, Amazon, Indigo, Prestomusic, and other book retailers.
In the fall of 2014, he produced the Canadian premiere of Dvořák’s opera Jakobin. He is also the founding director of the Canadian Institute for Czech Music, and continues to be in demand as a performer, choral conductor, and lecturer, as well as being a member of the contract faculty at York University. Currently, John is working on Canadian Premieres of Czech operas, and coordinating with the Czech Ministry of Culture on the Canadian component of 'The Year of Czech Music' project.
http://www.johnhollandmusic.ca
Czech-Canadian Bass-Baritone John Holland has embarked on a diverse career of opera, oratorio, and art song. In 2020, John won a JUNO award as a member of the Ottawa Bach Choir. His Operatic credits include Figaro in Le Nozze di Figaro at the Mozarteum in Salzburg, Leporello and Masetto in Don Giovanni at the Estates Theatre in Prague, Vodník in Rusalka in the Czech Republic, Taddeo in L’Italiana in Algeri at Casa Loma, Purkrabi in Dvořák’s Jakobin, Caspar in Der Freischütz, Achilla in Giulio Cesare, Belcore in L’Elisir d’Amore, Henry VIII in Anna Bolena, Baron Ochs in Der Rosenkavalier, and Alberich in Der Ring Des Nibelungen with Toronto’s Opera by Request.
He has sung at such locales as the Canadian Opera Company, Mozarteum in Salzburg, Bachfest in Leipzig (2014, 2022), Smetana Hall and the Estates Theatre in Prague, and San Marco in Venice, and has shared the stage with the likes of Placido Domingo, Sherrill Milnes, Rene Pape, and Lorin Maazel. Recent performances include, Bass Soloist for a CD recording of Bach’s Motets on ATMA Classique, Bartolo in Il Barbiere di Siviglia with Mississauga Symphony, Leporello in Don Giovanni with Toronto City Opera, Papageno in Die Zauberflöte with Opera York, Escamillo in Carmen with No Strings Theatre, and Bass Soloist in Haydn's Creation.
He was a winner of the 2002 CBC Radio Opera Quiz Competition, and a finalist in the London Opera Guild Competition in 2001 and 2003. A respected academic, John is a three-time lecturer for the Canadian Opera Company’s London guild, a regular lecturer at the Royal Conservatory of Music, and a nine-time judge for the JUNO Awards. He is also an alumnus of the University of Windsor and Western University music faculties.
Dr. Holland completed his PhD in Musicology at York University in 2018. His scholarly work reaches over many genres, but is focused on the study of Czech Opera, Art Song, and Choral Works. His book, The Lost Tradition of Dvořák's Operas: Myth, Music, and Nationalism, critically analyzes these operas, and views them through the lenses of social, cultural, and political history, and pieces together the answers to why these operas are essentially lost works within the Czech lands, and abroad. It is available through the publisher, Amazon, Indigo, Prestomusic, and other book retailers.
In the fall of 2014, he produced the Canadian premiere of Dvořák’s opera Jakobin. He is also the founding director of the Canadian Institute for Czech Music, and continues to be in demand as a performer, choral conductor, and lecturer, as well as being a member of the contract faculty at York University. Currently, John is working on Canadian Premieres of Czech operas, and coordinating with the Czech Ministry of Culture on the Canadian component of 'The Year of Czech Music' project.
http://www.johnhollandmusic.ca
Todd Holland - Vice-President
B.Mus, M.Mus (Performance)
Trumpeter Todd Holland is one of the up-and-coming leaders in the performance and research of Czech Trumpet repertoire. He holds a Bachelor of Music degree from the University of Windsor, and a Masters of Music in Orchestral Trumpet Performance from McGill University in Montreal. He has experience as an orchestral/symphonic player, in chamber ensembles, and as a soloist. His main area of focus is the trumpet and brass repertoire from the Czech Baroque, specifically the works of Vejvanovský, Biber, Rittler, Tolar, and Finger. He also has extensive knowledge and performance experience in the Czech Classical era trumpet concertos of Neruda, Hummel through to the contemporary works of Kucera, Martinu, Eben and Trojan. He has studied with the finest trumpeters in Canada and abroad, including Paul Merkelo and Russell DeVuyst (Orchestre Symphonique de Montreal), Andrew McCandless (Toronto Symphony Orchestra), and Omar Tomasoni (Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra). In addition, he has also worked with Miroslav Kejmar and Ladislav Kozderka, principal trumpet players of the Czech Philharmonic. Performing engagements have taken Mr Holland to not only the most famous concert halls in Canada, but also the United States and Europe. Major Orchestral concerts have been given at Smetana Hall and Rudolfinum in Prague, the Mozarteum in Salzburg, as well as Orchestra Hall in Detroit Michigan, Maison Symphonique in Montreal and The Glenn Gould Studio and Saint Lawrence Centre for the Arts in Toronto. In addition Mr. Holland has performed at the World Renowned Estates Theatre in Prague, the only hall in the world still in operation in which Mozart conducted and played. The Estates housed other famous musicians such as Liszt, Paganini, Beethoven and where Mahler was Opera Director. Mr Holland has shared the stage with such notable ensembles and performers as the Prague Summer Nights Orchestra, Orchestre Philharmonique des musiciens de Montreal, and the world famous Hannaford Street Silver Band along with soloists Joseph Alessi (New York Philharmonic), Amit Peled (international Cello Soloist), Walter Seyfarth (Berlin Philharmonic), and Ladislav Kozderka (Czech Philharmonic).
https://www.toddhollandtrumpet.ca
https://www.toddhollandtrumpet.ca
Grace Quinsey - Projects Co-Producer, Marketing & Website Design
B.A. (English & Computer Science)
Soprano Grace Quinsey, born and raised in Windsor, Ontario, has quickly established herself as a force to be reckoned with on the opera stage. Praised for her sparkling voice and vibrant stage presence, Grace is also lauded by colleagues and audiences alike for her brilliant characterizations. She has sung with SOLT, No Strings Theatre, Opera York, Opera By Request, Opera In Concert, and many other professional ensembles in Canada. Recent stage credits include Susanna in Le Nozze di Figaro with No Strings Theatre, Fiordilidgi in Cosi fan tutte with Opera By Request, and Papagena in Die Zauberflöte with Opera York. Other opera credits include Zerlina in Don Giovanni, Norina in Don Pasquale, Zulma in L’italiana in Algeri, and Helen/Robin in A Northern Lights Dream. She is also a specialist in Gilbert & Sullivan, having sung a variety of lead roles with various societies. In the early music scene, Grace is a member and regular soloist with the prestigious, JUNO-winning, Ottawa Bach Choir, on the oratorio stage. Upcoming 2023-24 performances include Micaela in Carmen with No Strings Theatre, Terinka in Dvořák’s Jakobín, Mařenka in Smetana The Bartered Bride (both with the Canadian Festival of Czech Opera), and soprano soloist for Haydn’s The Creation. When she finally has time off from the stage, Grace is a servant to her cat, Funya, and works as a software developer and is a video game aficionado.
https://gracequinsey.ca/
B.A. (English & Computer Science)
Soprano Grace Quinsey, born and raised in Windsor, Ontario, has quickly established herself as a force to be reckoned with on the opera stage. Praised for her sparkling voice and vibrant stage presence, Grace is also lauded by colleagues and audiences alike for her brilliant characterizations. She has sung with SOLT, No Strings Theatre, Opera York, Opera By Request, Opera In Concert, and many other professional ensembles in Canada. Recent stage credits include Susanna in Le Nozze di Figaro with No Strings Theatre, Fiordilidgi in Cosi fan tutte with Opera By Request, and Papagena in Die Zauberflöte with Opera York. Other opera credits include Zerlina in Don Giovanni, Norina in Don Pasquale, Zulma in L’italiana in Algeri, and Helen/Robin in A Northern Lights Dream. She is also a specialist in Gilbert & Sullivan, having sung a variety of lead roles with various societies. In the early music scene, Grace is a member and regular soloist with the prestigious, JUNO-winning, Ottawa Bach Choir, on the oratorio stage. Upcoming 2023-24 performances include Micaela in Carmen with No Strings Theatre, Terinka in Dvořák’s Jakobín, Mařenka in Smetana The Bartered Bride (both with the Canadian Festival of Czech Opera), and soprano soloist for Haydn’s The Creation. When she finally has time off from the stage, Grace is a servant to her cat, Funya, and works as a software developer and is a video game aficionado.
https://gracequinsey.ca/