An opera career comes with many challenges but the joy I felt performing this role and the deep inspiration I felt, was so much greater than any obstacles that were sure to come.
In the 2015 and 2016 seasons at NUOVA, I had the fortuitous opportunity of performing as Mrs. Gibbs in the Canadian premier of Our Town, as Jade Boucher in Dead Man Walking, and most notably as Romeo in I Capuleti e i Montecchi! This was my first leading role, my first real taste of the art form I would fall in love with. An opera career comes with many challenges but the joy I felt performing this role and the deep inspiration I felt, was so much greater than any obstacles that were sure to come.
In trying to figure out what my dream looked like I started on a journey with no real end.
The obstacles did come, but the joy remains for me today. I always knew that being an artist wouldn’t come with a road map, but NUOVA Vocal Arts was a pivotal start for me in trying to figure it all out. In trying to figure out what my dream looked like I started on a journey with no real end. A constant journey of deep and consistent learning, dedicated and determined self growth, and creativity in more ways than one. NUOVA was tremendously challenging, but equally rewarding and I learned more about myself than I could have imagined. What I wanted, what came naturally to me, what made me unique as an artist, I also began to create the platform for my stage craft and find my opera “legs”. However some of the hardest and most long lasting work that was being done, came easy, I was building connections.
Advice that I received from mentors there, still rings true, perhaps even truer now.
At NUOVA, you get to work with so many incredible people, coaches, fellow artists, designers, individuals that for me were pivotal in creating my initial artistic platform. Seven (omg Seven?!?) years later I am still drawing from these connections and reconnecting with performers and teachers from my time in the program. Advice that I received from mentors there, still rings true, perhaps even truer now. My time at NUOVA was invaluable to me and helped to inspire my career, I am very grateful to be among the lucky alumni of this program.
Most Recent engagements include: COC Ensemble studio completed in 2022, at the COC: Erste dame from Die Zauberflöte, Flora in La Traviata, La Ciesca from Gianni Schicchi, Contessa from Le nozze di Figaro (cover), Léa in Fantasma, Hansel from Hansel and Gretel (OYA Production), Wood nymph in Rusalka, among others. I also recently performed with Edmonton Opera in their Home for the Holidays concert, and as Pamina from Die Zauberflöte at the Dorset Opera Festival in the UK.
Upcoming highlights include: Fiordiligi in Così fan tutte at Manitoba Opera, and Contessa from Le nozze di Figaro location to be announced at a later date.
