Jordan De Souza Named Conductor-in-Residence for Tapestry Opera's 2015-16 Season

Tapestry Opera has named Canadian musician Jordan de Souza as Conductor-in-Residence for its ambitious 2015-2016 season. De Souza joins Canada's foremost contemporary opera company in the same season that he accepts roles as Guest Conductor, Assistant Conductor, and Cover Conductor?with the?Canadian Opera Company and?the National Ballet of Canada.

At the age of 27, de Souza is one of the youngest and fastest-rising musical talents in Canada. He began conducting professionally at 12 years old, and by 25 had conducted several Bach oratorios for Montreal's Musée des Beaux Arts andTheatre of Early Music and made appearances with Trinity Wall Street (New?York). Recent highlights in the conductor's busy schedule have included engagements with the Ottawa Symphony Orchestra, the?Montreal Symphony Orchestra Players' Association and Saskatoon Opera.

"I'm very excited to join Tapestry Opera this year," says de Souza. "It presents a wonderful opportunity to cultivate our impassioned, living art form alongside composers, librettists and singers. I find the creative process in contemporary theatre electrifying, and am deeply grateful that I was invited to share my musical vision with a truly original and inspired Canadian institution."

De Souza made his Tapestry Opera debut as Music Director of M'dea Undone, which received its world premiere in May, 2015, after Tapestry Artistic Director Michael Mori invited de Souza to participate in a 2014 workshop of the piece. "Jordan has one of the most instinctive musical minds that I have come across. After that workshop, I knew that we had found someone special. I look forward to collaborating with him this season as we approach the genre of opera with fresh eyes and an ear to the ground."

De Souza joins Mori at the artistic helm of the "new" Tapestry Opera. Mori's bold vision for Canadian opera has earned him a rapidly growing following and several national headlines over the past year, including a "10 to Watch in 2015" profile in theToronto Star. He was appointed Artistic Director in 2014, succeeding Wayne Strongman, Tapestry's Founder and Artistic Director of 34 years.

Tapestry Opera's powerhouse directorial duo will make its mainstage debut this spring with the world premiere of Rocking Horse Winner, by Anna Chatterton and Gareth Williams, at the Berkeley St. Theatre Downstairs from May 26 to June 5, 2016.