Stage Door News
Stage Door News
On November 25, 2014, the Canadian Opera Company presents its annual Centre Stage: Ensemble Studio Competition Gala at the Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts after its wildly successful inauguration in 2013.
Hosting the highly anticipated vocal competition is Canadian Ben Heppner, recognized internationally as one of the finest dramatic tenors in the world and one of this country’s distinguished operatic talents. Heppner helms an evening dedicated to discovering and celebrating the best of Canada’s up-and-coming opera stars, with the awarding of cash prizes ranging in value from $1,500 to $5,000. The festivities conclude with an exclusive gala dinner on the stage of R. Fraser Elliott Hall.
Competitors for this exciting annual vocal showcase are selected from nationwide auditions for the COC Ensemble Studio, Canada’s premier training program for young opera professionals. Since the program’s inception in 1980, over 180 young professional Canadian singers, opera coaches, stage directors and conductors have acquired their first major professional operatic experience through the Ensemble Studio. Former members include this year’s Centre Stage host Ben Heppner, Isabel Bayrakdarian, John Fanning, Wendy Nielsen, Joseph Kaiser, David Pomeroy, Lauren Segal and Krisztina Szabó. The 2014 preliminary auditions are currently underway in Toronto, Montreal, Vancouver and New York City.
Full details about this year’s Centre Stage gala and the COC’s vocal competition can be found online at http://us8.campaign-archive1.com/?u=e1ff6d171778fe96a2cf7eea5&id=9c02455691&e=%5bUNIQID%5d
Photo: Ben Heppner.
2014-10-28
Toronto: Ben Heppner hosts Centre Stage Ensemble Studio Competition Gala November 25