About

Our Mission Statement

NUOVA Vocal Arts develops, nurtures and champions a passion for the vocal arts (primarily operatic and musical theatre art forms) by emerging and newly professional Canadian performers and Metro Edmonton audiences.

NUOVA Vocal Arts is committed to eliminating the barriers that prevent people from attending and enjoying the vocal arts and more specifically live opera and musical theatre performances.

NUOVA Vocal Arts is committed to the promotion and creation of professional opportunities and advanced professional development for emerging and newly professional Canadian vocalists and pianists.

NUOVA Vocal Arts produces a unique blend of innovative concerts, operas and musical theatre productions at the highest professional, artistic and musical standards in intimate, casual and accessible settings.

Executive Board Members

Nadia Ivanchikov

President

A parent of four very artistic children, Nadia came to the board to support the availability of a world-class voice and theatre instruction for the youth that NUOVA has to offer. A teacher and a counsellor, Nadia has been serving on many boards, from parent associations to gym clubs to private schools. She is looking forward to be part of Nuova Vocal Arts.

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Mitchell Norenberg

Vice President

Mitchell Norenberg (he/him) is a historian, traveler, tea enthusiast, and bon vivant. He received his Library and Information Technology diploma from MacEwan University in 2019 followed by his Bachelor of Arts degree with a major in History from the same institution in 2022. During his time at MacEwan, Mitchell's executive leadership skills in volunteer cultural settings were enhanced as President for the History and Classics Club and as the Executive Treasurer for the InQueeries gay-straight alliance. His time in these roles reaffirmed his belief and commitment towards letting and supporting people thrive through openly being able to live as their genuine selves. Aside from NUOVA, Mitchell is the Coordinator for the Edmonton Historical Board (EHB), an advisory board to City Council, helping to encourage, promote and advocate for the preservation and safeguarding of historical properties, resources, communities, and documentary heritage.

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Michelle van der Molen

Past President

Michelle graduated from the University of Alberta in 1988 with a Bachelor’s degree in pharmacy. She has practiced pharmacy in both community and hospital settings in Alberta, Nunavut and British Guyana (as a volunteer with Canadian Crossroads International) and currently owns her own Medicine Shoppe Pharmacy in northeast Edmonton. She has been a volunteer much of her adult life, with stints on many church and community boards and committees, including seven years with Options Edmonton (previously Planned Parenthood Edmonton). She is the proud mother of two adult children, whose passion for arts and culture continues to inspire and challenge her. Michelle’s current leisure activities include curling, reading, learning to tango and wine-tasting.

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Helen Hassinger

Treasurer

Ms. Hassinger's recent stage appearances include Donna Anna in Don Giovanni (Chautauqua Opera), Ninfa in L'Orfeo (Chautauqua Opera), Mélisande in Pelléas et Mélisande (Boston University Opera Institute), the title role in Emmeline (BUOI), Fiordiligi in Così fan tutte (BUOI, Opera Memphis), and Helen in A Midsummer Night's Dream (BUOI). Concert work includes appearances as the soprano soloist in Beethoven's Symphony No. 9 (Columbus Symphony Orchestra, Chautauqua Symphony Orchestra), Beethoven's Missa solemnis (Choral Society of Northeastern Pennsylvania), and Brahms' Ein deutsches Requiem (Brookline Chancel Choir).

Ms. Hassinger has served as a young artist for Chautauqua Opera, Opera Memphis, Promenade Opera Project, and the Fall Island Vocal Arts Seminar, among others. Competition placements include third in the Classical Voice Division of the Music International Grand Prix Competition, Semi-Finalist in the Opera Tampa D'Angelo Vocal Competition, and third in the International Clara Schumann Competition. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Ms. Hassinger made her directorial debut, producing a virtual performance of Don Giovanni with Opera on the Rocks.

Ms. Hassinger is a graduate of St. Olaf College (BA Music, Women's Studies), Boston University (MM Vocal Performance), and the Boston University Opera Institute.

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Virginia Briggs

Secretary

Virginia Briggs is a second year student at the University of British Columbia’s Sauder School of Business in Vancouver, where she is deepening her interest in the music industry through her classroom learning, internships and experience as a musician. Virginia is happy to contribute to the NUOVA Vocal Arts board, bringing the unique perspective of a university business student and singer herself. She studied classical voice with Kim Mattice Wanat during her school years and continues to sing today with the University of British Columbia Choral Union.

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Board Members

Elliot Harder

Director

Elliot Harder is a performer who has been studying and performing opera across Canada for over a decade. He received a Bachelor of Music from UBC in 2015 and a Master of Music from McGill in 2020. His time at these institutions and out in the professional world has provided him a rich education into the history of this wonderful artform, as well as insight into its evolving future. As a performer he is drawn to this music for the way it magnifies and stretches moments in life that are often seen as fleeting, and finds it so compelling to explore these moments and try to understand them. He has recently appeared with Edmonton Opera, Pop Goes the Opera, and Good Mess Opera Theatre.

Outside of his performance work, Elliot has experience as a theatre technician, event coordinator, barista, and mixologist. He lives in Camrose, AB with his wife and daughter and he is incredibly proud to make his home in Alberta, helping to create beautiful art and promoting theatrical music to the communities that he grew up around.

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Dorian Block

Director

Dorian Block (he/him/his) is a trans-masculine performing arts leader of Hispanic and Native American heritage. He grew up attending, performing in, and eventually marketing for The Santa Fe Opera, contributing to multiple publications including the '2017 Season Program Book' and the Grammy Award Winning 'The Revolution of Steve Jobs' CD booklet. Dorian defined the role of Digital Marketing and Social Media Manager at The Dallas Opera, serving two seasons and strategically planning content through 2023. He sits on the Alumni Board of Directors for McMurry University, where he holds a B.A. in English and Arts Administration. Dorian is in the Rosza Arts Management Program's thirteenth Cohort and an alumnus of the fifth SphinxLEAD cohort for Black and Latinx Arts Administrators, the 2022‒23 OPERA America (OA) Mentorship Program for Opera Leaders of Color, and serves on the ‘Opera Canada’ Board of Directors. He is on the Steering Committee for launching OA’s LGBTQIA+ Network and recently co-founded a directory of gender-diverse operatic professionals.

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Alyssa Zukiwski

Director

Alyssa Zukwiski graduated with honors from the School of Hope in Vermillion, Alberta in 2021 and is currently working within the education system as part of the custodial staff. She is currently working towards her level one in early childhood education and is planning to do her schooling in the occupational health and safety sector at the University of Alberta. She is involved in her local town as she is a board member of the Vegreville Regional Historical Society where they work to preserve the stories, artifacts, and buildings of old Vegreville. In addition to this, she is going to be a part of the upcoming SOARING project (Strengthening Opportunities for Adolescent Resilience, Inclusion and Growth) that is funded by the Alberta Health Services, which provides the opportunity for youth to come together and create a local program that will address barriers of living safe, active, and healthy lives. Alyssa has always loved theatrical and operatic performances and is excited to learn and expand her knowledge of the arts.

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Kirsten Castro-Wunsch

Director

Kirstin has hosted many Nuova billets over the years giving her a unique insight to the needs of these emerging artists. Each wants an opportunity to prove themselves, and the Nuova program delivers. Providing a challenging intensive filled with professional training, movement, master classes and a rigorous schedule to see if you can cut it and give your best in the final performance. Nuova is a transformative life changing experience for these you persons. Kirstin is a professional engineer coming from an entrepreneurial background working in composting and property management businesses. She strives to bring fresh ideas to the program to help build longlasting strength. Innovation in all brings us a better tomorrow.

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Staff Members

Kim Mattice Wanat

Artistic & Managing Director: Founder of NUOVA Vocal Arts

Kim Mattice Wanat is a performer, teacher and director. She founded Opera NUOVA in 1998 and has acted as the Artistic and Managing Director since its inception. She has produced and directed several of Opera NUOVA’s productions including Bock & Harnick's Fiddler on the Roof, Smetana’s The Bartered Bride, Offenbach’s La Périchole, Britten’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream, the Canadian Première of Mark Adamo’s Little Women and all of NUOVA’s school touring productions, most notably, a Canada Council commissioned opera written by NUOVA alumnus Isaiah Bell entitled The Lives of Lesser Things; and Dean Burry’s Isis and the Seven Scorpions & and The Brothers Grimm. She is presently an instructor at the University of Alberta in the drama department and regularly works as a clinician for voice and choral teachers and as a musical director for musical theatre productions. Her commitment to sharing her expertise with young singers, actors, teachers and choral directors has earned her extensive recognition including Global Edmonton Television’s Woman of Vision Award, The City of Edmonton’s Salute to Excellence in the Arts Award and The YWCA’s Woman of Distinction in Arts and Culture Award.

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Benjamin W. Smith

Associate Artistic Director

Benjamin W. Smith (he/him) is a bi-lingual theatre-maker, educator, and artistic leader from Fredericton, New Brunswick / Wəlastəkwewiyik. Primarily a director, Benjamin is also a producer, performer, violence designer/fight director, and intimacy coordinator. For the past 10 years, he has worked with theatres and cultural organizations across Canada including, Theatre New Brunswick (TNB), The New Brunswick Drama Festival, NotaBale Acts Summer Theatre Festival, the Edmonton International Fringe Festival, and Studio Theatre.

He is the founding artistic director of Impulse Productions, an independent project-based theatre company, and is currently an instructor in the Department of Theatre at MacEwan University. Ben holds an MFA in directing from the University of Alberta and a BA with Honours from St. Thomas University, where he became the first student to propose and graduate with an interdisciplinary degree in artistic direction, creating and completing a sold-out director's thesis in the provincial capital. He is a certified member of the Academy of Fight Directors Canada, recognized in various weapon styles and disciplines, and has also trained with Theatrical Intimacy Educators based in Nashville, TN to integrate trauma-informed practices into their approach.

Since 2020, Ben has collaborated with Broadway’s Tony LePage and Justin Matthew Sargent on the development of a new musical entitled, Sweet Dreams. The musical is a comedic, modern-day adaptation of William Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream, set to the timeless music of Air Supply. He has been artist-in-residence at Theatre New Brunswick and the Fredericton Playhouse Inc.

Recent directing credits include: Indecent (Studio Theatre), Something Rotten! (Grant MacEwan University), East of Berlin (University of Alberta), The 39 Steps (Bleviss Laboratory Theatre), Tough! (University of Alberta), Sweet Dreams (InterMISSION), Matilda The Musical (Impulse Productions), Annie and The Wizard of Oz (Theatre New Brunswick) Scooter Thomas Make it To The Top of The World (Theatre St. Thomas).

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Mel Bahniuk

Artistic Administrator

Mel Bahniuk is a queer second-generation Ukrainian Canadian multi-disciplinary artist who currently resides on Treaty 6 territory (amiskwacîwâskahikan - Edmonton). She is an actor, producer, arts administrator, and educator. Mel has been fortunate to work with The Edmonton Fringe, The Citadel, Catalyst Theatre, Pyretic Productions, and NextFest to hone in on her skills as an administrator, and producer in the arts. Their primary education is in performing arts, but they have really loved diving into the behind the scenes of companies around Alberta to further understand what it means to run an organization in the arts sector.

Mel has a Bachelor of Fine Arts from the University of Alberta, and a Diploma in Theatre Arts from MacEwan University where they studied Musical Theatre. They are also a graduate of the Rosza Foundation's RAMP Leadership Program. In 2022, she produced her first documentary titled OMA, which followed retired registered nurse Sandy Moser who has sewn 5000+ masks for the local theatre community that was shutdown during the covid-19 pandemic. She was also featured in the film They Who Surround Us- a film about grief and intergenerational trauma of a Ukrainian family which won the Audience Award for Best Dramatic Feature at the Edmonton International Film Festival.

Her favourite select theatre credits include Ava in Mermaid Legs (SkirtsAFire) which won 7 Sterling awards including Best Ensemble, and Best New Play, Patty Simcox in Grease (WCT), Romeo & Juliet and A Midsummer Night's Dream (Theatre Calgary/Shakesbow), Rose in The Flick (BLT), Bobbie James in Concord Floral, Alina (Producer for Pyretic Productions), OMA (Producer for TELUS Storyhive) Is My Microphone On? (Assistant Director for the Citadel Young Acting Company), Bad Hats Peter Pan (Assistant Director for the Citadel Young Musical Company) and Maria in Ukrainian film They Who Surround Us (Troy Ruptash).

Aside from NUOVA, Mel is the new Executive Director for the Alberta Youth Theatre Collective, is the Program Assistant for the Citadel Young Company program, and is a sessional instructor in the Arts and Cultural Management Program at MacEwan University.

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Past Productions

Past Faculty

The heart and soul of any school lies in its faculty members; our past faculty are a testament to the incredible talent that has graced our stages over the years. Many of these relationships live on in guest visits, mentorships, and as part of our closely knit community.

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