Interplay Opera Workshop: Excerpts From St. Matthew's Passion - July 11

Joel is known for pushing the boundaries of opera, and has been called “Canadian opera’s enfant not-so-terrible.” In 2010, he founded Against the Grain Theatre in Toronto and served as its Artistic Director until 2023. Joel has adapted and translated over ten operas presented in unexpected venues, and was named an Arts Hero by The Globe and Mail in 2020 for his work directing the critically-acclaimed digital Messiah/Complex. He has also directed over 50 productions for opera companies across North America and Europe including The Canadian Opera Company, Vancouver Opera, and Minnesota Opera.  He is currently Artistic Director for Edmonton Opera.

Born in Acadia, soprano Suzie LeBlanc is internationally recognized for her expressive performances of early music, art song, Acadian repertoire, and contemporary works. She began her career in London with the Consort of Musicke and went on to perform worldwide with leading ensembles and orchestras.

She has performed on major stages and at prestigious festivals around the world and appears on more than 75 recordings, including a Grammy Award for Lully’s Thésée and an ECMA for her album I Am in Need of Music, featuring Canadian settings of Elizabeth Bishop’s poetry. Suzie is also the co-creator of mouvance, a JUNO-nominated multimedia work combining Acadian poetry and music by Jérôme Blais.

An inspiring educator, Suzie served as Artistic Director of Cappella Antica and vocal coach at McGill University from 2017 to 2020. Since 2021, she is the Artistic and Executive Director of Early Music Vancouver, where she curates a vibrant season of historically informed performances and continues to sing occasionally. She was appointed to the Order of Canada in 2015 and named Chevalier of the Ordre des Arts et des Lettres by the French Republic in 2024.

The internationally renowned keyboard artist Alexander Weimann has spent his life enveloped by the therapeutic power and beauty of making music.

Alex grew up in Munich. At age three he became fascinated by the intense magic of the church organ. He started piano at six, formal organ lessons at 12 and harpsichord at university (along with theatre theory, medieval Latin and jazz piano.)

Today he is in huge demand as a director, soloist and chamber player, traveling the world with leading North American and European ensembles. He is Artistic Director of the Pacific Baroque Orchestra in Vancouver and has appeared on more than 100 recordings, including the Juno-award-winning album “Prima Donna” with Karina Gauvin and Arion Baroque orchestra.

Alex offers master classes at European and North American universities and is on faculty at the University of British Columbia.

More than anything, he loves to improvise - something, he says, humans do all the time, just by making conversation.

Spencer Kryzanowski is a passionate crossover artist working as a conductor, music director, répétiteur, and vocal coach in both musical theatre and opera.

Spencer is the assistant conductor and pianist for Edmonton Opera; a staff member in the University of Toronto Opera department; resident music director for Good Mess Opera Theatre; and resident music director for Pop Goes the Opera in Edmonton, Alberta. On top of these regular positions, Spencer maintains a busy freelance schedule.

As a conductor and music director, Spencer has worked on numerous opera and musical theatre productions across Canada. His recent opera credits include Wagner’s Die Walküre (Edmonton Opera), Bartok's Bluebeard's Castle (Edmonton Opera), Strauss Jr's Die Fledermaus (Edmonton Opera), Puccini's Il tabarro (Pop Goes the Opera), Massenet's Cendrillon (UofT Opera), Hank and Gremlin (Good Mess Opera), and La bohème (Mercury Opera). Spencer's recent musical theatre credits include Newsies, Mean Girls: The Musical, and Beauty and the Beast with Bravo Academy.

Spencer's recent répétiteur credits include Guerrero's El huésped del sevillano with Toronto Operetta Theatre, Nino Rota's Il cappello di paglia di Firenze, and a comedic triple-bill of Hindemith's Hin und zurück, Offenbach's Monsieur Choufleuri, and Douglas Moore's Gallantry. Other credits include Humperdink's Hänsel und Gretel with Berlin Opera Academy; Copland's The Tender Land; Rossini's Il barbiere di Siviglia; Puccini’s Suor Angelica & Gianni Schicchi; and Tchaikovsky's Eugene Onegin. Spencer had the pleasure of workshopping Melancholia, an opera based on the Lars von Trier film, by Mikael Karlsson and Royce Vavrek in 2023 for the Royal Swedish Opera. Additionally, Spencer assisted as a répétiteur and vocal coach in a workshop of Indians on Vacation by Ian Cusson and Royce Vavrek in 2024 as part of a collaboration with Against the Grain Theatre and Edmonton Opera.

Emma Hammond (she/her) is a west coast based stage manager who has been working in theatre and opera for over 10 years. She thrives on being calm under pressure, pastries, and calling perfect cues. Emma has worked with a variety of companies such as: Vancouver Opera, Pacific Opera, City Opera, The Firehall, Ruby Slippers, Sticks and Stones, Theatre Under the Stars, Theatre Replacement, and The Cultch. 

Coming up next for Emma is working on Rigoletto at Vancouver Opera. She would like to thank Justin for his love, support, and for always pretending to be impressed when she says “places” in real life.

Aemilia Moser is a Canadian-Austrian soprano from Edmonton, Alberta. She has performed both principal and supporting roles in a diverse array of works, ranging from Schoenberg’s Pierrot Lunaire to Massanet’s Cendrillon. Her repertoire includes roles such as Despina (Così fan tutte), Nora (Riders to the Sea), Ariel (The Tempest Songbook), La Fée (Cendrillon), La Modista and Minardi (Il capello di paglia di Firenze), Virtù (L'incoronazione di Poppea), Pierrot (Pierrot Lunaire), and Nymph (The Fairy Queen).

Equally adept in concert repertoire, Aemilia has performed as a soloist with the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra, the Chamber Orchestra of Edmonton, the Alberta Baroque Society, the Lavinia Ensemble, the University of Manitoba Wind Ensemble, and the River City Chamber Orchestra. In 2023, she was selected to be a young artist in Manitoba Opera's Digital Emerging Artist Program, where she created the short film Sovra il sento.

Other notable accomplishments include an Encouragement Award at the Metropolitan Opera Laffont Competition (North Dakota district), first place at the CFMTA National Voice Competition, and second place in the University of Manitoba Concerto Competition.

Aemilia holds a master’s degree from the University of Toronto, studying under Elizabeth McDonald. Previous teachers include Tracy Dahl, Mel Braun, Elizabeth Turnbull, and Robert Uchida (violin).

Aemilia Moser was generously supported by the Banff Centre Artists' Awards.

Contralto Nicole Percifield has featured in concert performances with New Haven Symphony (Messiah), Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra (D. Scarlatti’s Salve Regina and Pergolesi’s Stabat Mater), UTSO (Beethoven’s Mass in C) and Minnesota Orchestra. Recently, Percifield performed Elgar’s Sea Pictures with North Bay Symphony, and workshopped Mahler’s Symphony no. 2 with Mandle Philharmonic. A skilled interpreter of art song, Percifield won the 2024 Norcop Prize in Song, was a 2024 Fellow with both Toronto Summer Music and Académie Francis Poulenc, performed Debussy’s Chansons Baudelaire at Carnegie Hall, and featured on CBC’s Tapestry program. A graduate of Yale Opera, Percifield has worked with Minnesota Opera, Santa Fe Opera, Central City Opera, and Opera Theatre of St. Louis, and was a finalist at the Metropolitan Opera New England Regionals. She can be heard singing the roles of Cathleen (Riders to the Sea), and Hostess (At the Boar’s Head), recorded live at the Beethoven Festival in Warsaw, Poland. The International Classical Music Awards nominated the recording for Best Opera Album, 2017.

Nicole Percifield was generously supported by the Ruby Mercer Endowment.

Christian Matta is a rising Italian-Canadian tenor currently pursuing a Master’s of Opera at the University of Toronto under the tutelage of Wendy Nielsen. He has been recognized for his warm tenor sound and clear top register. Christian has appeared in several productions in Toronto including Gastone in La Traviata, Ferrando in Così fan tutte, and Raymond Massey in The Avenue of Avarice.

Christian has had the privilege of participating in masterclasses with renowned artists and educators such as Jason Ferrante, Alain Coulombe, and Ambur Braid. His versatile repertoire spans from early music to contemporary opera, as he has performed everything from Monteverdi to works composed within the last decade. He has performed a multitude of Oratorio works as a soloist, including Handel’s Esther, Mozart Requiem, and Vivaldi’s Gloria.

Christian looks forward to workshopping as Paul Lucas in The Book of Tales, Mithri in Aarna and the Silver Cypress, and St Matthew's Passion here at Banff this summer. He is excited to learn from esteemed faculty alongside talented colleagues in a growing artistic community like Banff.

Christian Matta was generously supported by the Banff Centre Artists' Awards.

A frequent "audience favorite (onStage Pittsburgh)", lauded for her versatility and commitment to performance building, soprano Wallis Lucas has quickly proven herself to be a young artist to watch.

In May, Wallis received an Advanced Music Studies certificate at Carnegie Mellon University, where she worked with voice, orchestra, and composition faculty to workshop new chamber and orchestral pieces. This season, she also reprised her role as Morgana in Alcina, as well as made her mainstage and touring debuts with Pittsburgh Festival Opera (Adriana Lecouvreur, Hansel and Gretel). Other recent roles include Albina (La donna del lago), Lucy (The Telephone), Elle (La voix humaine), Caio Silio (Ottone in villa), Zerlina (Don Giovanni), Barbarina (Le nozze di Figaro).

Wallis holds a Bachelor of Music from Furman University, where she was the first to receive a Musical Theatre minor, and a Master's from Carnegie Mellon University, where she studied under Jennifer Aylmer. A Georgia native, Wallis was a state champion 2-baton twirler three years in a row. 

Wallis Lucas was generously supported by the Virginia Middelberg Scholarship.

Mezzo/Alto, Hillary Tufford is a versatile and engaging performer, noted for her “rich, velvety tone,” (Dawn Martens, Opera Canada).

Last season, Hillary performed Duruflé’s Requiem with the Victoria Philharmonic Choir and she sang the title role in Bizet’s Carmen with Toronto City Opera. This season Hillary made her debut with The Hamilton Philharmonic Orchestra, singing Handel’s Messiah, and she sang Canadian composer Romulo Delgado's oratorio, The Cross of Christ.

A Graduate of Western University (Masters in Literature and Performance), Hillary was invited to join the Yulanda M. Faris Young Artist Program at Vancouver Opera where she sang Hermia in A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Hebe in HMS Pinafore, and “almost stole the show” as Lola in their concert performance of Cavalleria Rusticana (David Gordon Duke, Vancouver Sun).

Other highlights include singing Olga in Eugene Onegin (Highlands Opera), Flora in La Traviata (Brott Opera), and Nadia in Oksana G (Tapestry Opera).

Hillary was a District Winner (Metropolitan Opera Competition), finalist in The Mozart Project and IRCPA Singing Stars, and a Semi-Finalist at the Concours Internationale de Chant de Marmande.

Hillary Tufford was generously supported by the Banff Centre Artists' Awards.

Yanik Gosselin, a tenor from the Lake Temiskaming area in northeastern Ontario, is much more than just a singer. He is a passionate storyteller, a sensitive musician, and a committed collaborator. His repertoire encompasses a wide range of music, from early baroque operas to world premiere performances and a background in rock music, showcasing his versatility. As an experienced recitalist, Yanik captivates audiences with his interpretations of art songs and chamber music. He excels at discovering innovative storytelling methods through musical and multidisciplinary projects and is always eager to collaborate and bring fresh perspectives to his artistry.

Recently, he sang the role of Marco in The Gondoliers (Toronto Operetta Theatre) and the Chevalier de la Force in Dialogues des Carmélites (Glenn Gould School). Yanik has participated in several development programs and residencies, notably with the Banff Centre, Manitoba Opera, Tapestry Opera, the Association for Opera in Canada, and the National Arts Centre. These have empowered him to be a multi-hyphenated artist committed to the growth of the Canadian opera sector.

Yanik's commitment to engaging with communities through music and the arts goes beyond the stage, as he also works as a project coordinator for a non-profit arts organization.

Yanik Gosselin was generously supported by the Banff Centre Artists' Awards.

Mihnea Nitu is a Romanian-Canadian bass-baritone acclaimed for his “booming and robust vocals” (Opera Canada). In the fall of 2024, he made his debut as a soloist in Handel’s Messiah with the McGill Choral Society and portrayed the title role in Judith Weir’s Blond Eckbert with Opera McGill, serving as the Alumni Artist-in-Residence. His versatile performances include the role of the Father in Humperdinck’s Hansel and Gretel with Manitoba Underground Opera, Somnus in Handel’s Semele, as well as Tom and John in Henry Mollicone’s The Face on the Barroom Floor with Opera McGill. Additionally, he portrayed Nardo in Mozart’s La Finta Giardiniera with Western University’s Accademia Europea dell’Opera.

Mihnea has also covered the roles of Don Magnifico in Rossini’s La Cenerentola and Pigmalione in the world premiere of Dean Burry’s Il Giudizio di Pigmalione. Beyond the classical canon, he has recently contributed to Théâtre Prospero’s devised work Surveillée et Punie with singer-songwriter Safia Nolin, which has been performed in Ottawa, Montreal, Quebec City, and Paris. Additionally, he participated as a singer in Operatika, a unique recital that merges pole dance and opera. Mihnea holds a Master of Music from McGill University and a Bachelor of Music from the University of Calgary.

Mihnea Nitu was generously supported by the T.C Hargrave Scholarship in Voice Endowment.