Seven Young Artists to Join COC's Ensemble Studio During 2016-17 Season

The Canadian Opera Company Ensemble Studio, Canada's premier training program for young opera professionals, welcomes seven outstanding new artists for the 2016/2017 season: sopranos Danika Lorèn and Samantha Pickett, mezzo-sopranos Emily D'Angelo, Lauren Eberwein and Megan Quick, baritone Bruno Roy, and pianist Stéphane Mayer. The seven artists join the Ensemble Studio in August 2016 and become part of an illustrious program that, since its inception in 1980, has launched the careers of over 215 Canadian singers, opera coaches, mainstage directors and conductors.

D'Angelo, Eberwein and Roy were the top prize winners this past November at the COC's fifth annual Ensemble Studio Competition, a vocal showcase of young artists vying for a spot in the program. Pickett is a fellow 2015 competition finalist, and Lorèn and Quick are two singers who impressed the COC artistic administration during the preliminary auditions for the Ensemble Studio this past fall.

"We've assembled an exceptional group of artists to join the COC next season," says COC General Director Alexander Neef. "This group is young in their careers but are poised to take that next step in becoming Canada's future opera stars. It will be exciting to watch their talent grow and develop through the training and experience the Ensemble Studio has to offer."

Members of the Ensemble Studio receive a blend of advanced study and practical experience through an individually tailored, multi-year program, involving understudying and performing mainstage roles, intensive vocal coaching, language and acting studies, and career skills development, as well as participation in masterclasses with internationally renowned opera professionals. In addition, they appear in a showcase performance on the COC's mainstage, give several concert performances and perform in the COC's annual school tour.

The new and returning artists of the Ensemble Studio open the 16/17 season of the Free Concert Series in the Richard Bradshaw Amphitheatre with Meet the Young Artists in September 2016. Next fall, they'll also participate in the COC's annual Ensemble Studio School Tour, providing school-aged audiences throughout Ontario with an introduction to the world of opera. Then on February 23, 2017, the young artists have their moment to shine on the mainstage of the Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts, performing an evening of operatic scenes with COC Music Director Johannes Debus leading the celebrated COC Orchestra in the Ensemble Studio Showcase.

Lorèn, Pickett, D'Angelo, Eberwein, Quick, Roy and Mayer join four returning members of the Ensemble Studio for the 16/17 season: soprano Karine Boucher, tenors Aaron Sheppard and Charles Sy, and pianist Hyejin Kwon.

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