$12,500 in Prizes offered through inaugural
VANDA TREISER OPERA COMPETITION
Toronto, ON – June 16th, 2026
Highlands Opera Studio/Theatre General & Co-Artist Director, Valerie Kuinka, and Co-Artistic Director, Richard Margison, are thrilled to announce the inaugural VANDA TREISER OPERA COMPETITION taking place on October 11th, 2026.
This new annual competition for opera singers of all voice types is possible through a generous donation by VANDA TREISER INITIATIVES. It will be open to CANADIAN CITIZENS and LANDED IMMIGRANTS born after December 31st, 1985, and will offer multiple prizes totalling $12,500. Competition registration will be through video application. The registration portal will be available on the Highlands Opera Studio website (highlandsoperastudio.com) between June 22nd and August 21st.
The LIVE FINAL ROUND will take place on Sunday, October 11th, 2:30pm at Trinity-St.Paul’s United Church, 427 Bloor Street West, Toronto.
Preliminary assessment of the video applications will be conducted by the Co-Artistic Directors of Highlands Opera Studio. Up to 8 Finalists will be notified by email by September 12th, 2026, and will be expected to present 2 arias in the live Final Round on October 11th for a jury of 5 judges (TBA). Each finalist will be given 30 minutes of rehearsal time onstage at Trinity-St. Paul’s United Church with the competition accompanist prior to the final round. (TBD).
The following prizes will be awarded on October 11th after the performances and judges' deliberation:
- $5,000 - 1st Prize
- $3,000 - 2nd John Bailey Memorial Prize
- $1,500 - 3rd Prize
- $500 - Audience Choice Award
- $500 - 5 Finalist Prizes (awarded to finalists not awarded one of the top three
prizes)
"We are absolutely thrilled to honour Vanda Treiser, cherished friend and longstanding member of the Highlands Opera Theatre Board of Directors, in this meaningful way on the occasion of the 20th Anniversary Year of Highlands Opera Studio," says Valerie Kuinka. "This new annual competition will add another opportunity to showcase the incredible talent of Canadian operatic artists and offer some financial support to a few of the many accomplished Canadian classically trained singers striving to make a career at home and abroad."
"The impact of Vanda Treiser's commitment to young Canadian opera singers and the many years of support she has provided for Highlands Opera Studio and other organizations in her home province of Quebec cannot be overstated," Kuinka goes on to say. "The investment by Mme.Treiser in this new opportunity is in addition to her many years of sustaining support for the concentrated 4-5 weeks of professional training and career development opportunities offered annually by Highlands Opera Studio in July/August. We are deeply grateful for this remarkable and visionary woman."
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Operating in Haliburton, Ontario, since its founding in 2007, Highlands Opera Studio is an organization dedicated to providing excellent & relevant arts experiences through innovative performances and inclusive interactive activities for both top level emerging operatic professionals during the 4-week summer intensive and year round for the permanent residents of the rural region of Haliburton County, Ontario, through the Highlands Opera Community School, established in 2011. Both Highlands Opera Studio and the Highlands Opera Community School are operated by the Canadian registered charity, Highlands Opera Theatre, established in 2010.
Celebrating the 20th Anniversary in 2026, Highlands Opera Studio provides specialized professional training and career development opportunities for a select number of highly qualified primarily Canadian emerging professional operatic artists, including singers, pianists, composers, and production personnel through a concentrated 4-week summer professional training and career development program. The 2026 season, August 3rd -31st , will feature 18 program participants in 13 public events/performances including Puccini's 'Suor Angelica' and Donizetti's 'Don Pasquale' presented in Haliburton County. Canadian program participants attend the program (including housing and meals) at no charge or receive remuneration.
Press contact: Valerie Kuinka – valerie@highlandsoperastudio.com