Madeline Cooper
Mezzo-Soprano
Independent Study:
Madeline Cooper
Maddy Cooper is a mezzo-soprano, emerging director, producer and poet living in the quiet, east-end of Toronto. Since moving to the city in 2021 she has left no painted-stone unturned; peeking into the jazz, burlesque, choral and poetry scenes, among others. These days, she spends most of her time with the opera community in Toronto in various capacities or outside, gardening. Maddy’s greatest joy is to explore.
Yanik Gosselin
Tenor
Don Pasquale
(‘Ernesto’, August 29th & 31st)
Yanik Gosselin
Yanik Gosselin, hailed for “his masterful diction and his well-supported upper register which made for an evening of tenorial delights” (Opera Canada), is a tenor from the Lake Temiskaming region of northeastern Ontario, now based in Toronto. He is a passionate storyteller, sensitive musician, and dedicated collaborator. His repertoire spans early baroque opera, contemporary premieres, and even a background in rock, reflecting his versatility. An experienced recitalist, Yanik captivates audiences with his interpretations of art songs and chamber music, and continually seeks innovative approaches to storytelling.
In the 2025-2026 season, Yanik performed Blondel in Grétry’s Richard Cœur-de-lion with Opera in Concert, earning praise as an “exemplar of the French lyric tradition” (La Scena Musicale). Season highlights include Edoardo Milfort in La cambiale di matrimonio (Glenn Gould School), and Tonio in La fille du régiment (Grande Prairie Opera); guest appearances with the Choeur du Moulin, the Avanti Singers, and the Stratford Concert Choir; opera pub performances with Against the Grain Theatre and Opera Revue; and writing and performing a solo cabaret, BRAVA: A Cabaret of Devotions, at the 2026 Toronto Fringe Festival.
Other notable roles include Le Prince Charmant in Cendrillon (Grande Prairie Opera), Raimbault in Robert le diable (Opera in Concert), Marco in The Gondoliers (Toronto Operetta Theatre), Chevalier de la Force in Dialogues des Carmélites (Glenn Gould School), Philips (The Perfect Screw), Ernesto (Don Pasquale), and Ruggiero (La liberazione di Ruggiero).
As a soloist, Yanik has performed in Mozart’s Requiem, Honegger's Le Roi David, and Rossini’s Petite messe solennelle. His curated recitals include I give him songs…, exploring love, loss and legacy, and featuring Wind and Wood, a song cycle composed for him by John Gordon Armstrong on poetry by Seymour Mayne.
Yanik has participated in residencies with the Banff Centre, Manitoba Opera, Tapestry Opera, the Association for Opera in Canada, OPERA America, and the National Arts Centre. He
currently serves on the Board of Directors of the Canadian Art Song Project. He holds degrees from the University of Ottawa and McGill University.
Yanik is strongly committed to community engagement through stories and music.
Neil Hong
Baritone
Don Pasquale
(Malatesta cover: ‘Notary’ all performances)
Neil Hong
Described by Opera Canada as a “strong singer with excellent diction and a flair for comedy,” Neil Hong is a Baritone entering his fourth year of undergraduate studies in Opera Performance at UBC. This summer, Neil is performing the role of Malatesta (Don Pasquale) with the Mediterranean Opera Studio and Festival, and covering the same role at Highlands Opera Studio. Neil will also be participating in the Canadian Opera Company Summer Opera Intensive. Previous performance credits include Vicomte de Cascada (The Merry Widow) with the Highlands Opera Studio, Belcore (l’Elisir d’Amore) and Alessio (La Sonnambula) with the Mediterranean Opera Studio and Festival, and Papageno (Die Zauberflöte), Maximillian (Candide), Harry Easter (Street Scene), Captain Corcoran (H.M.S. Pinafore), First Minister (Cendrillon), and Don Alfonso (Così fan tutte) with UBC Opera.
Elena Howard-Scott,
Soprano
Suor Angelica
(‘Suor Genovieffa’ August 22nd)
Elena Howard-Scott
Noted as "someone to watch" (LudwigVan Toronto), Elena Howard-Scott is a versatile soprano and actress across both opera and musical theatre. Recent highlights include her company debuts with Mirvish Productions in Natasha, Pierre, & the Great Comet of 1812, and the Canadian Opera Company in Verdi’s Rigoletto. Other performance highlights include Sophia in Sophia’s Forest (City Opera Vancouver), Into the Woods, A Little Night Music (Koerner Hall), A Starbright Christmas (Victoria Playhouse Petrolia), Sibella in A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder, Fiddler on the Loose (Drayton Entertainment), The Handmaid’s Tale (Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity), Blanche in Dialogues des Carmélites, Tina in Flight, Venus in Venus and Adonis, Svadba (Price Opera Program), Narnia (BadHats Theatre), Die Zauberflöte (Opera Nuova), Strike! The Musical, and Beauty and the Beast (Rainbow Stage).
Recent concert work includes her Maison Symphonique debut with l’Orchestre FILMharmonique for Frozen in Concert, the North American première of Bernard Foucrolle’s The Journal of Hélène Berr for voice and piano quintet, Knoxville: Summer of 1915 with the Royal Conservatory Orchestra, and appearances with Toronto’s Amici Ensemble, ARC Ensemble and Soundstreams.
In 2025/26, Elena joins Opera on the Avalon’s Emerging Artist Program, which includes a residency in Newfoundland, a sponsored cover of Eurydice in Orpheus & Eurydice (Pacific Opera Victoria), and a personally commissioned piece by celebrated Canadian composer, Ian Cusson. Coming up, Elena is excited to make her debuts with the Regina, Winnipeg and Kitchener-Waterloo Symphonies, cover the role Despina in Cosi Fan Tutte at the Canadian Opera Company, and sing the role of Johanna in Sweeney Todd and Toronto’s Koerner Hall.
Elena is grateful to spend the summer learning the beautiful music of Suor Angelica and growing alongside her inspiring colleagues at Highlands Opera Studio.
Ella Jeon
Soprano
Independent Study,
‘Suor Angelica’ various roles
Ella Jeon
Ella Jeon is a Korean Canadian Soprano entering her fourth year of undergraduate Opera Performance studies at the University of British Columbia.
This past summer, Ella participated in both the Highlands Opera Studio and the Mediterranean Opera Studio and Festival (MOSF). As an Independent Study Participant at Highlands, Ella refined her techniques under the guidance of the renowned faculty, including Nathalie Doucet, John Fisher, and Craig Rutenberg. She also jumped into the role of Olga in The Merry Widow under the baton of Kamna Gupta and the direction of Richard Margison. During her time at MOSF, she performed the role of Musetta in La bohème in public performances under the baton of Leonardo Catalanotto and the direction of Lyne Fortin. There, Ella made additional appearances in Donizetti’s l’Elisir d’Amore and Bellini’s La Sonnambula.
Ella began performing with UBC Opera in 2024 under the direction of Nancy Hermiston. She recently performed Pamina as an understudy in Die Zauberflöte and understudied Cleopatra in Giulio Cesare. She also participated in Kurt Weill’s Street Scene and Gilbert and Sullivan’s H.M.S. Pinafore. In the UBC Choral program, she sang in the choir for Tan Dun’s Buddha Passion, Verdi’s Requiem, and Mozart’s Coronation Mass. She was also featured as a soprano soloist in public performances.
This summer, Ella is excited to join the Summer Opera program at Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity, following a month at Highlands Opera Studio. She will be making appearances in workshop presentations of R.U.R. A Torrent of Light, Miroir de nos Peines, and Aarna and the Silver Cypress. She will also perform in Highlands Opera Studio’s production of Suor Angelica.
Ella has received awards acknowledging both her academic and artistic talents. She was given the David Spencer Memorial Award in Opera and has previously received the Vancouver Korean-Canadian Scholarship and the H. Colin Slim, Harry and Marjorie Anne Slim Memorial Scholarship in Music.
Ella has received awards acknowledging both her academic and artistic talents. She was given the David Spencer Memorial Award in Opera and has previously received the Vancouver Korean-Canadian Scholarship and the H. Colin Slim, Harry and Marjorie Anne Slim Memorial Scholarship in Music.
Kcenia Koutorjevski,
Mezzo-Soprano
Suor Angelica
(La Badessa/La Suora Zelatrice/La Maestra delle Novizie)
Kcenia Koutorjevski
Kcenia Koutorjevski is “a force to be reckoned with” (NCOC). The young Russian-Canadian mezzo-soprano, praised for her “rich vocal tones” (The Beach Metro), is rapidly establishing herself within Canada's opera scene. She has performed an impressive range of roles across the country including Carmen (Carmen - Bizet), Dorabella (Così fan tutte, Mozart), Julius Caesar (Julius Caesar, Handel), Ruggiero (Alcina, Handel), and Madame de la Haltière (Cendrillon, Massenet).
She is the recipient of numerous distinctions, including the London Opera Guild Scholarship, the Adrianne Pieczonka Award for Vocal Excellence, the Ontario Graduate Scholarship, and in 2025 was a finalist in the National Capital Opera Competition. She was also a semifinalist in the Neue Stimmen Competition and George & Nora London Foundation Competition. She is an excited participant of Highlands Opera Studio 2026 and will participate in the Rebanks Family Fellowship Program at the Glenn Gould School for the 2026-2027 season.
Drawn to classical music from an early age, Kcenia continues to channel that early spark into her artistic life. Beyond the stage, she teaches voice and piano in Toronto. Kcenia is dedicated to making opera and classical music accessible, connective, and relevant to today’s audiences. Kcenia holds an ARCT in piano performance and completed her Master’s in Operatic Performance at the University of Toronto in 2025 under the mentorship of Elizabeth McDonald.
Simi Luttrell
Apprentice Piano
Simi Luttrell
A storyteller at heart, Canadian pianist Simi Luttrell strives to evoke thoughtful and sensitive communication with his audiences. Simi has performed as a recitalist and chamber musician in various festivals including the Victoria Summer Music Festival, Christ Church Cathedral
Summer Recital Series, UVic Music Faculty Series and Performing Arts BC and has appeared as soloist with the Victoria Conservatory of Music Orchestra and the Cowichan Consort.
Simi is an active chamber musician, and he thrives off the connections and knowledge he gains through collaboration. Simi has appeared in concert with renowned artists including Benjamin Butterfield, Marion Newman, and Anne Grimm. Simi has a special passion for art song and opera which led him to program a recital of Schubert’s masterwork Die schöne Müllerin with tenor Tim Carter in the fall of 2024 and undertake an artist residency at Pacific Opera Victoria in 2025.
Simi has worked with pianists including André Laplante, Charles Richard-Hamelin, David Jalbert, Francis Perron, and Liz Upchurch, and has attended the Mozarteum International Summer Academy, the Sicily Musical Festival and Competition, Orford Musique, and Domaine Forget de Charlevoix. Simi is looking forward to his residencies at the Institut Canadien d’Art Vocale and Highlands Opera Studio as an apprentice collaborative pianist this summer.
Simi is currently in his Master of Music degree (Interpretation) at the University of Montréal under the tutelage of Dr. Henry Kramer and holds a Bachelor of Music (Performance) with Distinction from the University of Victoria where he studied with Professor May Ling Kwok.
Lauren Margison
Soprano
Suor Angelica
(‘Suor Angelica’)
* guest artist (CAEA)
Maria Milenic
Mezzo-Soprano
Suor Angelica
(‘La Zia Principessa’)
Maria Milenic
Serbian-Croatian-Canadian mezzo-soprano Maria is a sought-out multidisciplinary artist from Newmarket Ontario. She is looking forward to making her debut with The Highlands Opera Studio as La Zia Principessa in Suor Angelica. She has performed across all sides of Canada, Italy, Germany, and beyond. She is a current member of Calgary Opera’s McPhee Young Artist Development Program. Her season highlight includes singing the role of Sandman in Humperdinck’s Hansel and Gretel during which “she made a strong impression, delivering the opera’s most appealing music with evident enjoyment.” (The Calgary Herald).
She is regularly involved in contemporary opera and one of her most iconic roles to date is Minskwoman in Dove’s Flight, which she performed on the Koerner Hall stage. She has also been a featured artist in the 21C Festival, where she premiered Chaya Czernowin’s piece The Habekhi (The Crying), written for mezzo-soprano, ensemble, and electronics. Other stage highlights include Cio Cio San’s Mother (Madama Butterfly), Mrs. Splinters (The Tender Land), Mrs. Mc.Lean (Susannah), Mercedes (Carmen), Cherubino (Le Nozze di Figaro), Hänsel (Hänsel und Gretel), Ljubica (Svadba), Ada (The Shop Girl), Mrs. Hildebrand (Street Scene), and Javotte (Manon). A University of Toronto alum, Maria holds a double major in both voice performance and French language studies. She is also a graduate from the Glenn Gould School at the Royal Conservatory, having completed an Advanced Artist Diploma.
Her achievements include recognition in several prestigious competitions. Last year, she was a finalist in the Homage to Maria Callas international competition and was a special prize award winner. In 2024, she was the first-place prize winner in the OMFA provincials in the open voice category for singers aged under 28 in Ontario. She has been a featured soloist with the York Symphony Orchestra, the Kindred Spirits Orchestra, the Arcady Ensemble, and the Untitled Ensemble. Maria is also part of a voice-guitar duo entitled MileBib, with classical guitarist, Christ Habib. The two enjoy performing early music transcribed for voice and guitar together, as well as Slavic art-song, which reflects her Serbian-Croatian cultural heritage. This past April, Maria performed with Christ in the Toronto Guitar Weekend Festival where they brought a contemporary Canadian piece commissioned by the Toronto Guitar Society to life.
Maria is always seeking opportunities to work with new composers in Canada. Last summer, she took part in the Opera from Scratch mini-opera program in Halifax, where she premiered Homa Samiei’s one-woman opera The Light Remains. In her pursuit of contributing to the new music collaborative process, Maria has had her own original poem titled Aisling set to music by composer Kevin Zi-Xiao He. This upcoming summer, she is looking forward to taking part in the 2026 Banff Opera Program at the Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity, where she will be singing the role of Helena in R.U.R. A Torrent of Light in collaboration with Tapestry Opera.
Noé Moreno
Tenor
Independent Study
(Amistad Artist)
Noé Moreno
Mexican tenor Noé Moreno is a passionate performer whose musical career has flourished both in his native country and on international stages. Born in Mexico City, he began his musical journey studying piano at the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM) under organist Miguel Reyes Gil. However, his true passion lay in singing, which led him to pursue vocal training with the renowned Polish soprano Halina Nadi.
His professional development continued at the National Conservatory of Music of Mexico, where he earned his Bachelor’s degree in Opera and Concert Singing under the guidance of distinguished tenor Alfredo Portilla. Throughout his vocal formation, he has had the privilege of working with celebrated artists such as Patrizia Ciofi, Celso Albelo, Ramón Vargas, Chris Merritt, Octavio Arévalo, and Anne Elgar Kopta.
Noé made his solo debut performing Mozart’s Requiem at the Silvestre Revueltas Auditorium of the National Conservatory. Since then, he has appeared in a variety of operatic productions, including La Bohème with the National School of Theatrical Arts. He later gained recognition for his portrayal of Felipe Montero, the leading role in the revival of Aura by Mexican composer Mario Lavista, performed with the Philharmonic Orchestra of the Mexican Navy under Germán Tort. In 2019, he was invited to celebrate the 85th anniversary of Chapultepec Castle with a gala of Mexican music, accompanied by the Symphony Orchestra of the National Conservatory of Music.
His artistry has taken him to some of Mexico’s most prestigious venues, including the Palacio de Bellas Artes, the Teatro Metropolitan, Sala Nezahualcóyotl, Auditorio Silvestre Revueltas, and Blas Galindo Hall at the National Center for the Arts.
Moreno’s international career began in 2023, with performances at the Teatro Manuel A. Segura in Lima (Peru), Teatro Sérgio Cardoso in São Paulo (Brazil), Teatro Municipal Ariano Suassuna in Jacareí (Brazil), and the Lattuada Auditorium in Milan (Italy). In 2024, he made his debut at the Teatro Amazonas in Manaus, Brazil, performing with the Amazonas Philharmonic Orchestra under the baton of Otávio Simões.
His talent has been recognized in international competitions, notably earning second place at the 11th Latin American Opera Singing Competition in Lima, Peru (2023), and winning the Encuentro de Tenores Award at the Teatro Amazonas in Brazil (2024), as part of the 22nd Maria Callas International Singing Competition.
Mihnea Nitu
Bass-Baritone
Don Pasquale
(‘Don Pasquale’, August 27th & 30th)
Mihnea Nitu
Romanian-Canadian baritone Mihnea Nitu has been praised for his “booming and robust vocals” (Opera Canada) and his “burnished sound and charismatic presence marked him as a name to watch” (Bachtrack). He is a current member of Vancouver Opera’s Yulanda M. Faris Young Artist Program, where he has recently performed the role of Marullo in their production of Verdi's Rigoletto, and the Donkey in Dean Burry's The Bremen Town Musicians, and has understudied the title role in Rigoletto, Guglielmo in Così fan tutte, and Marcello in La Bohème. In June 2026, Mihnea performed the role of Pandolfe in Massenet’s Cendrillon, with Edmonton’s Comic (book) Opera, and is incredibly excited to tackle the title role in Don Pasquale with Highlands Opera Studio. In October 2026, he will be performing as Sciarrone in Puccini's Tosca, with Vancouver Opera.
Additional roles include Somnus in Handel’s Semele, the title role in Judith Weir’s Blond Eckbert, and the Father in Humperdinck’s Hansel and Gretel. In concert, he has been a featured soloist in both Handel’s Messiah and Orff’s Carmina Burana with the McGill Choral Society and in Bach’s St. Matthew Passion at the Banff Centre. Mihnea received his Masters of Music from McGill University and his Bachelors of Music from the University of Calgary.
Dante Mullin-Santone
Baritone
Don Pasquale
(‘Malatesta’, August 29th & 31st)
Luke Noftall
Bass-Baritone
Don Pasquale
(‘Don Pasquale’, August 29th & 31st)
Luke Noftall
Canadian Bass-Baritone Luke Noftall is a recent graduate of the McPhee Artist Development Program at Calgary Opera. This season, Luke performed the roles of Fiorello in Il Barbiere di Siviglia, The Registrar in Madama Butterfly, and the roles of the Wolf and Woodsman in Calgary Opera’s school tour show: Little Red Riding Hood. Last year, Luke made his Calgary Opera main stage debut as Guccio in Gianni Schicchi. Last summer, Luke was part of Brott Opera’s production of Carmen, singing the role of Zuniga, and prior to that, spent two summers at the prestigious Banff Centre for Arts Creativity in both the Chamber Music and Opera: Interplay, and Opera in the 21 st Centuries programs.
Other recent engagement include: Leporello in Don Giovanni (Benevolence Opera), and the Bass Soloist in Handel’s Messiah with both Brott Opera and the Fredericton Choral Society. Hailing from Fredericton, New Brunswick, Luke holds both a Masters of Music in Opera Performance, as well as a Bachelor of Voice Performance with Honors from the University of Toronto.
Maeve Palmer
Soprano
Don Pasquale
(‘Norina’, August 29th & 31st)
Maeve Palmer
Dora award-winning “triple-threat … coloratura” (Opera Canada) Maeve Palmer has performed with such organizations as the Stratford Symphony Orchestra, Tapestry Opera, Opera Atelier, Off Centre Music Salonga, New Music Concerts, Continuum Contemporary Music, Opera Atelier, the Brampton Rose Orchestra, and on tour with the Eckhardt-Gramatté National Music Competition. A lauréat of the Jim and Charlotte Norcop Prize in Song (UofT) (2021 winner), Maeve is known for her interpretation of contemporary song, and Irish art music. Maeve is also an interpreter of many classic opera roles including Susanna (Le Nozze di Figaro), Zerbinetta (Ariadne auf Naxos), Sandrina (La Finta Giardiniera), Zerlina (Don Giovanni), Queen of the Night (Die Zauberflöte), and Adina (L’Elisir d’Amore).
Recent performances include the title role in The Czardas Princess, with Toronto Operetta Theatre (TOT), soprano soloist in Haydn’s Lord Nelson Mass with the Collingwood Chorale, Adele in Die Fledermaus with the Stratford Symphony Orchestra, Aunt Lydia in The Handmaid’s Tale by Ruders, arr Schlossberg, at the Banff Centre, and Adina in Donizetti’s Elixir of Love, with Highlands Opera.
World premieres include “Vita Brevis” for soprano and chamber ensemble by Norbert Palej, and R.U.R. A Torrent of Light by Nicole Lizée. Maeve’s voice is featured in the Hollywood film The Space Between Us, (2017).
Upcoming performances include Ava in the opera Missing by Brian Current, and the Dew Fairy and Sandman in Pacific Opera Victoria’s Hansel and Gretel.
An alumna of the University of Toronto Opera School, and the Rebanks Family Fellowship and International Performance Residency at the Glenn Gould School, Royal Conservatory of Music,, Maeve holds a Doctor of Musical Arts in Voice Pedagogy and Performance from UofT during which time she resided as a Junior Fellow at Massey College. In her academic career, Dr. Palmer researches vocal function in sean-nós singing, and Irish song traditions within contemporary compositional idioms, and has taught English Song at UofT.
Emily Rocha
Soprano
Don Pasquale
(‘Norina’, August 27th & 30th)
Emily Rocha
Soprano Emily Rocha is a 2nd Prize Winner of the Canadian Opera Company Centre Stage Competition, and a recent member of the COC Ensemble Studio. During the summer of 2026, she joins the Verbier Festival’s Atelier Lyrique, returns to Highlands Opera Studio to sing Norina (Don Pasquale), and joins Brott Opera for their “Quanto Amore” concert. Next spring Emily returns to the COC to sing Adina (L’elisir d’amore). Her 2025-2026 season at the COC included performances as Countess Ceprano (Rigoletto) and covering Gilda, Juliette (Roméo et Juliette), Euridice (Orfeo ed Euridice), and Sophie (Werther).
During the summer of 2025, she joined the National Ballet of Canada as soprano soloist in Anna Karenina, sang Laurie Moss (The Tender Land) with Toronto City Opera and the title role in The Merry Widow with Highlands Opera Studio. Last season, Emily made her COC mainstage debut as Kate Pinkerton (Madama Butterfly). Recent concert highlights include Mahler’s Resurrection Symphony, Orff’s Carmina Burana, and Mahler’s Rückert-Lieder (University of Toronto Symphony Orchestra as the Concerto Competition Winner).
She was a 2024 Tanglewood Music Center Vocal Fellow and is a recent graduate of the University of Toronto (Honours BMus, MMus in Opera).
Elias Theocharidis
Tenor
Don Pasquale
(‘Ernesto’, August 27th & 30th)
Elias Theocharidis
Toronto-born tenor Elias Theocharidis is recognized for his ardent stage presence, lyric warmth, and expressive musicality. A laureate of the Metropolitan Opera’s Laffont Competition, he received Encouragement Awards in both the Buffalo/Toronto District (2025) and the Western Canada District (2024), where he was also awarded the Audience Choice Prize.
For the 2025/26 season, he joins Edmonton Opera as an Emerging Artist, appearing as Spoletta in Puccini’s Tosca and covering Mime in Wagner’s Siegfried. Engagements in 2026/27 include his role debuts as Ernesto in Donizetti’s Don Pasquale with Highlands Opera Studio and Rodolfo in Puccini’s La bohème, as well as the tenor solo in Martinů’s The Epic of Gilgamesh with the Kingston Symphony.
His repertoire encompasses Don José (Carmen), Tamino (Die Zauberflöte), Nemorino (L’elisir d’amore), and Froh (Das Rheingold). He is a former Young Artist with Calgary Opera and a Rebanks Family Fellow of The Glenn Gould School.
eliastheocharidis.com
George Theodorakopoulos
Baritone
Don Pasquale
(‘Malatesta’, August 27th & 30th)
George Theodorakopoulos
George Theodorakopoulos is a Greek-Canadian baritone from Toronto, Ontario. Described as having a “powerful stage presence and a rich baritone voice”(Opera Canada), upcoming performances include Marcello in La Boheme with Brott Opera, and Dr.Malatesta in Don Pasquale with Highlands Opera Studio. In the 2026-27 season, George is looking forward to his second year in the Calgary Opera McPhee program, where he will be singing Sciarrone, Jailer, and Sacristan (c) in Tosca, Prime Minister, Superintendent, and Pandolf (c) in Cendrillon, Montano and A Herald in Otello, as well as Piper in The Pied Piper of Hamelin.
Recent operatic highlights include Danilo (The Merry Widow), Moralès & Le Dancaïre (Carmen), Guglielmo (Così fan tutte), Sacristan (Tosca), Pandolfe (Cendrillon), Marullo (Rigoletto), Officer (Il Barbiere di Siviglia), Yakusidé (Madama Butterfly), Dr.Pangloss (Candide). He holds a BMus in Voice Performance and a MMus in Opera from the University of Toronto
Teresa Tucci
Independent Study,
‘Suor Angelica’ various roles
Teresa Tucci
Italian-Canadian soprano Teresa Tucci is recognized for her vibrant stage presence, vocal agility, and versatility across the operatic repertoire.
In the 2026–27 season, Teresa joins Edmonton Opera as an Emerging Artist, participating in the Dawson City Summer Residency and Yukon Arts Centre outreach tour while making her company debut as Erste Dame and covering Pamina in Die Zauberflöte.
Recent and upcoming engagements include joining Manitoba Opera's Digital Emerging Artist Program, making her role debut as Eurydice in Orpheus in the Underworld with Toronto City Opera, and appearing as the soprano soloist on Sound the Alarm's Canadian tour of Music of the Night: The Music of Andrew Lloyd Webber. Highlights from earlier this season include Moira in The Handmaid's Tale at the Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity and serving as a Studio Artist with Opera Neo in San Diego, where she covered the role of Asprano in Vivaldi's Motezuma.
On the concert stage, Teresa has appeared as the soprano soloist in Handel's Messiah with both the Toronto Choral Society at Koerner Hall and the Guelph Chamber Choir. A recent alumna of the Rebanks Family Fellowship and International Performance Residency Program at The Royal Conservatory of Music, she performed Handel's dramatic cantata Armida abbandonata, HWV 105, and Vivaldi's In furore iustissimae irae, RV 626, with members of Tafelmusik Baroque Orchestra.
Teresa was recently a semi-finalist in the Lyndon Woodside Oratorio-Solo Competition presented by the Oratorio Society of New York and is a past Arizona District Winner of the Metropolitan Opera Laffont Competition. Her additional distinctions include an Encouragement Award from the Camille Coloratura Awards, recognition as a Laureate of Jeunes Ambassadeurs Lyriques, and First Prize in the Nouvelles Étoiles Vocal Competition in Paris..
Teresa holds an Artist Diploma in Opera from the University of Toronto, a Master of Music in Vocal Performance from the New England Conservatory, and an Honours Bachelor of Music Theatre Performance from Sheridan College.
Maxwell Whitaker
Composer-in-Residence
Max Whittaker
Max Whittaker (b. 2003) is an American Composer, drummer, bassist, and producer who’s dedicated his craft to blending the aesthetics of classical music and metal. As a drummer, Max attended the Kinder High School for the Performing and Visual Arts for Jazz drum set, where he discovered his love for classical music and consequently, composition. In addition, he has drummed in rock and metal bands since his youth. This combined experience has established his aesthetic of imbuing elements of metal music into his classical work (and vice versa), in hopes of bringing a renewed interest in classical music to rock and metal audiences.
Max studied his Bachelor's at the Meadows School of the Arts at Southern Methodist University for music composition, and is currently studying for his masters at the Shepherd School of Music at Rice University. He has had his music performed internationally by ensembles such as SYZYGY, Viano Quartet, Voces Intimae, Ensemble PHACE, AMF Contemporary Ensemble, Rice Percussion Ensemble, the Irving Symphony Orchestra, and more. He has also received accolades for his work, such as the HSPVA Harris Whittles Artistic Scholarship, three ASCAP Morton Gould Awards Finalist Recognitions, and a residency at the Irving Symphony Orchestra in collaboration with SMU.
Currently, Max is working on an electroacoustic opera exploring the darkest aspects of AI and its relationship with humanity.