We are excited to announce the roster of talented composers and librettists selected for its 2025 Composer-Librettist Laboratory (LIBLAB). 

This marks the 30th anniversary of the acclaimed program, a cornerstone of new opera creation in Canada.

From July 15 to 25, 2025, the intensive program will take place at Tapestry Opera’s new creative hub, the Nancy & Ed Jackman Performance Centre. 

This year's LIBLAB will bring together four librettists (top row, left to right): Rachel Gray, Sarah Henstra, Pierre-André Doucet, and Christene Adina Browne. They will collaborate with four composers (bottom row, left to right): Rebecca Gray, Saman Shahi, Roydon Tse, and Prokhor Protasoff.

Three Decades of Fostering Operatic Excellence:

Since its inception in 1995, LIBLAB has been the creative hotbed at the heart of Tapestry Opera’s commitment to new work. It addresses a critical need in the growing field of opera by providing a unique platform for writers and composers to forge creative partnerships and refine their collaborative skills. This focus on practical, hands-on development is essential for companies venturing into new opera, ensuring the creation of successful and impactful works.

“For 30 years, LIBLAB has been an unparalleled incubator for operatic talent, fostering the collaborations that lead to groundbreaking new works,” says Michael Hidetoshi Mori, Tapestry’s Artistic Director. “We’re thrilled to welcome this exceptional group of artists to our new home at the Nancy & Ed Jackman Performance Centre, and we look forward to seeing the innovative projects that emerge from this milestone year.”

How LIBLAB Ignites New Opera:

LIBLAB is a 10-day intensive program where four composers and four writers engage in a cycle of collaborative discovery. The artists create sixteen 5-minute scenes, with each scene written, composed, and performed within a tight 48-hour cycle. This process is repeated four times, allowing each writer to work with every composer, maximizing creative interaction and diverse perspectives.

Guiding the participants throughout the process are composer James Rolfe and director Michael Hidetoshi Mori. They will be supported by some of Canada’s most versatile contemporary performers, including soprano Reilly Nelson, mezzo-soprano Adanya Dunn, tenor Keith Klassen, baritone Jorell Williams, and collaborative pianists Jennifer Tung and Hyejin Kwon.

LIBLAB works with both established and emerging artists over a two-week period to experiment and form lasting collaborations. The best pieces developed at the 2025 LIBLAB will be showcased at Tapestry Briefs in October 2025.

For more information about Tapestry Opera, please visit tapestryopera.com.

For more details on LIBLAB, visit tapestryopera.com.