Valerie Kuinka (she/her)

STAGE DIRECTOR | CAREER CONSULTANT | DRAMATIC & MUSICIANSHIP COACH

Having worked for over 30 years within the realm of alternative multi-disciplinary theatre to grand opera, Canadian stage director/violist, Valerie Kuinka, brings a wealth of experience and unique creativity to her work. As a member of the stage directing staff at the Metropolitan Opera, New York, ('04–'08), Kuinka was on the stage directing team of the first Met HD Broadcast, Romeo et Juliette ('05–'06) and its revival ('07–'08) as well as the revivals of Samson et Dalilah ('04–'05, '05–'06), Idomeneo ('06–'07) and Cavalleria Rusticana/Pagliacci ('06–'07).

Over the past three decades, Kuinka has directed productions for Edmonton Opera, Manitoba Opera, Opera de Quebec, Pacific Opera Victoria, l'Atelier lyrique de l'Opera de Montreal, Opera Hamilton, Opera Lyra Ottawa, Quartetto Gelato, International Vocal Arts Insitute (Tel-Aviv), The Banff Centre, Universite de Montreal, The Glenn Gould School (Toronto), Opera Mississauga, 0The Canadian Childrens’ Opera Company (Toronto), and since 2007, twenty productions at Highlands Opera Studio. She started her directing career as an assistant at the New York City Opera, the Vlaamse Opera in Antwerp, and the Canadian Opera Company.

In 1996, Valerie established her own Toronto-based multi-disciplinary theatre company, COLLABORATIONS, and during its nine-year existence wrote, produced, directed, and often performed in 14 productions. “Kuinka has established no small reputation for creating exciting seamless theatrical collage” – Geoff Chapman (Toronto Star, 2003); “It was Kuinka’s instinct for elision that held everything together.” – William Littler (Toronto Star, 2004)

July/August 2025 marks the 19th season of Highlands Opera Studio where Kuinka holds the position of General and Co-Artistic Director. In 2017 she initiated a collaborative relationship with l'Atelier lyrique de l'Opera de Montreal through the first opera commissioned by Highlands Opera Theatre (producers of Highlands Opera Studio), presented in partnership with L'Atelier Lyrique de l'Opera de Montreal. The work, entitled 'Mishaabooz's Realm/Le Royaume de Michabous', was created, written and composed by Cree First Nation composer, Andrew Balfour, and stage directed by Kuinka. This ground breaking, innovative work, combining Indigenous artists and traditional western opera, was funded by Canadian Heritage: Canada 150 Fund, and Canada Council for the Arts New Chapter. The world premiere performances took place in December, 2017, in Montreal and Haliburton, and was revived in the 2024 summer season of Highlands Opera Studio.

Beginning her professional career as a classical violist, Kuinka has been active as a chamber, orchestral, studio, and performance artist for over forty years. She was a member of the orchestras of the Canadian Opera Company (joined 1986) and the National Ballet of Canada (joined 1984), playing every position from section to principal before her retirement from the Canadian Opera Company Orchestra in 2005. She is currently a member of the National Ballet of Canada Orchestra.

In recent years, in addition to stage directing and performing, Kuinka has been devoting her time to working with emerging professional operatic artists as a career consultant and dramatic/musicianship coach and to building and running Highlands Opera Studio.