Toronto Tenor Charles Sy Garners Win at COC's Annual Vocal Competition

Toronto - Tenor Charles Sy of Toronto took home first prize and the Audience Choice Award at the Canadian Opera Company's Ensemble Studio Competition on November 25, 2014, at the Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts. The competition is the feature event of the COC's annual fundraising gala, Centre Stage, an evening dedicated to the discovery and celebration of the next generation of opera stars. Sy was selected from seven finalists to receive the $5,000 award. Baritone Dimitri Katotakis of Toronto, won the second prize of $3,000,and tenor Aaron Sheppard of St. John's, N.L.., was awarded the third prize of $1,500. In addition, Sy was selected by the audience as the winner of the Audience Choice Award, worth $1,500.

Canadian Ben Heppner, recognized worldwide as the finest dramatic tenor of his generation, hosted an exhilarating vocal showcase featuring singers selected from this year's nationwide auditions for the COC Ensemble Studio - Canada's premier training program for young opera professionals, of which Heppner is an alumnus. Further adding to the excitement of the evening was the surprise performance by one of Canada's reigning opera stars, soprano Adrianne Pieczonka. As the judges deliberated the winners of the competition, COC Music Director Johannes Debus masterfully conducted the critically acclaimed COC Orchestra as Pieczonka sang "Ebben...Ne andrò lontana" from Catalani's La Wally, "Pace, pace" from Verdi's La forza del destino, and Zueignung by Richard Strauss.

"We heard from seven fantastic singers at Centre Stage this year, some of whom will go on to have careers like those of Ben Heppner and Adrianne Pieczonka, whose names are associated with the world's foremost opera houses, festivals and performance halls," says COC General Director Alexander Neef. "Canada's emerging opera singers deserve to be heard and celebrated, and it's an honour to be able to showcase the promise that these talented young artists represent."

The seven finalists were chosen from a pool of 175 applicants for the 2015/2016 COC Ensemble Studio, of which 150 were invited to sing in preliminary auditions in Toronto, Vancouver, Montreal and New York. On November 25, the seven singers each performed two arias accompanied by the COC Orchestra, conducted by Debus, before an audience of more than 900 Centre Stage patrons and a five-person COC adjudication panel. This year's judges included COC General Director Alexander Neef, COC Artistic Administrator Roberto Mauro, COC Music Administrator Sandra Gavinchuk and Head of the COC Ensemble Studio Liz Upchurch, as well as Ensemble Studio alumna and COC vocal consultant, Canadian soprano Wendy Nielsen.

In addition to competing for the four cash prizes, the finalists are also hoping to secure a highly coveted position in the 15/16 COC Ensemble Studio. The 2014 competition is a showcase of the opera talent the COC has scouted from across the country on its national audition tour and features those artists from the final round of auditions for the prestigious program.

COC artistic staff will confirm the lineup of the 15/16 Ensemble Studio over the next few weeks. The 15/16 Ensemble Studio members will join an illustrious program that, since its inception in 1980, has launched the careers of over 180 young professional Canadian singers, opera coaches, stage directors and conductors, including Heppner, Isabel Bayrakdarian, John Fanning, Wendy Nielsen, Joseph Kaiser, David Pomeroy, Lauren Segal and Krisztina Szabó.

The Ensemble Studio Competition finalists were generously outfitted by Hudson's Bay Company (HBC)for their onstage debut at Centre Stage, and have been gifted with their HBC gowns and suits for use in future performances. This is the second year that the COC has partnered with HBC as part of an initiative to help prepare the artists for their professional opera careers.

During the pre-competition cocktail reception, Centre Stage guests enjoyed a sumptuous cheese and charcuterie spread by Cheese Boutique and a selection of wines from Trius Wines. Following the competition, 330 Centre StageGala Dinner guests went on to enjoy an elegant formal dinner from the Four Seasons Centre stage, joined by competition finalists and winners, notable COC artists, Centre Stage host Ben Heppner, Canadian soprano Adrianne Pieczonka and key supporters of the opera company.

Among the highlights of the gala affair was a surprise performance by current members of the COC Ensemble Studio. Performing with piano accompaniment, the nine singers of the 2014/2015 Ensemble Studio launched into a rousing rendition of "Brindisi" from La Traviatawhile circulating through the gala dinner crowd before going on to sing "Brüderlein" from Die Fledermaus. The uniqueness of the evening was further highlighted with a culinary experience curated by critically acclaimed chef David Lee, a rare opportunity to enjoy his gastronomic creations outside of dining at Nota Bene where Lee is the executive chef.

Proceeds from Centre Stage on November 25 were raised in support of the COC and will go towards the company's Ensemble Studio.

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