Victoria Borg Soprano     Soprano Victoria Borg is thrilled to be joining Opera Kitchener as Second Lady. She is coming off of a busy summer, which included the Halifax Summer Opera Workshop, the Contemporary Opera Lab at the University of Manitoba, and performing in the “Art of the Aria” branch of the South Huron Bach Festival. Recent roles include Papagena in Die Zauberflöte, Mrs Gleaton in Susannah, and The Dietician, which she created for Michael Park's new Opera "Diagnosis Diabeties". Previous summer training includes the Halifax Summer Opera Workshop, Opera on the Avalon and the Hawaii Performing Arts Festival. A recent UWO graduate, Victoria is currently training at the University of Manitoba, under Tracy Dahl.     Jeff Boyd Tenor     Born in Ottawa, Jeff Boyd made his Carnegie Hall debut with the Ottawa Bach Choir in the summer of 2011. Jeff holds an undergraduate in vocal performance from McGill and an Mmus from UWO. In Montreal Jeff sang in many Opera McGill productions including Ravel's L'enfant et les Sortillèges and Offenbach's La Vie Parisienne. A year of study after graduation found Jeff with the McGill Savoy Society as Nanki-Poo in Gilbert & Sullivan's The Mikado and with the Montreal Symphony Orchestra's professional chorus. Jeff has featured as Enrico Carouser in UWO's production of Too Many Sopranos, with Niagara's Choralis Camerata for Handel's Messiah, in St. Thomas as the tenor soloist at Knox Presbyterian, and in the COC chorus for Aida. Jeff has also performed as a soloist with the Ottawa Bach Choir and in the chorus of Opera Atelier's Clemenza di Tito. In August Jeff appeared in the title role of les Contes de Hoffmann with Halifax Summer Opera Workshop.     Jennifer Carter Soprano     Soprano Jennifer Carter recently sang the role of Violetta in La Traviata with Opera by Request, where “from the moment she appeared, we believed Carter as a courtesan and bon vivant living under the shadow of her illness.” (Leslie Barcza, barczablog) This fall Ms. Carter returns to the role of Mimì in a concert performance of La bohème as a part of the Colours of Music Festival in Barrie, and in a concert of highlights of the opera at the Arts and Letters Club of Toronto. She also makes her role debut as Pamina in Mozart’s The Magic Flute with Opera Kitchener. Roles previously performed include Mimì/La bohème (Opera by Request), Mrs. Gobineau/The Medium (Little Opera Company), Countess Almaviva/Le Nozze di Figaro (Symphony & Opera Academy of the Pacific), Mother & Witch/Hansel & Gretel (U of Manitoba School Tour). She has also performed extended excerpts as Donna Anna/Don Giovanni, Nedda/Pagliacci, Pat Nixon/Nixon in China, Woglinde/Das Rheingold, Fiordiligi/Così fan tutte, and in the title roles of Vanessa and Madama Butterfly. Ms. Carter earned her M. Mus. degree from the University of Manitoba, where she studied with Tracy Dahl and Mel Braun. She has furthered her studies with the Canadian Operatic Arts Academy, Opera on the Avalon, and Queen of Puddings summer programs. She currently studies privately with Mary Morrison, O.C., in Toronto, and makes her home in the Niagara region of Ontario.     Andrea Cerswell Soprano     Hailed as the possessor of a "bright, pretty voice with surprising power" by Opera Canada's Paula Citron, Canadian soprano Andrea Cerswell is emerging as an exciting presence on opera and concert stages across the country. In August, Andrea sang the role of Antonia in Les Contes d'Hoffmann, and was praised as "one of the vocal glories of the opera…her voice is strong…superbly supported by her acting talent". Other Operatic roles include Lucia (The Rape of Lucretia), First Wood Sprite (Rusalka), La Chauve-Souris and Une Pastourelle (L'enfant et les Sortilèges), Concepçion (L'heure éspagnole), Pamina (Die Zauberflöte), Elisetta (Il matrimonio segreto), Ellen (Lakmé), and Servilia (La Clemenza di Tito). As an Oratorio soloist, Andrea has performed in Weber's Mass in E flat, Haydn's Mass in a Time of War, Schubert's Mass in G, Handel's Messiah, and Pergolesi's Magnificat. Andrea has also been featured as the soprano soloist in Carmina Burana with Brampton Symphony Orchestra. Ms. Cerswell has trained as a young artist at Opera NUOVA, Halifax Summer Opera Workshop, The Banff Centre, Toronto's Summer Opera Lyric Theatre, Queen of Pudding's Music Theatre, Opera on the Avalon, and Canadian Operatic Arts Academy. Andrea is ecstatic to be making her company debut with Opera Kitchener as The First Lady in The Magic Flute. Andrea graduated with a Masters of Music from the University of Toronto Opera Division. She resides in Toronto and continues to study with Mary Morrison, O.C.     Louisa Cowie Mezzo-Soprano     Mezzo-soprano Louisa Cowie is very excited to return to Kitchener Opera singing The Third Lady in the Magic Flute. A music graduate of Queens University, she made her first international stage debut as the Mother Goose in The Rakes Progress opening the Aldeburgh Festival with the London Philharmonic Orchestra. A few of her past performances include the role of Flora and Annina in Opera York’s La Traviata, Sutton in Toronto Operetta Theater's Lady in the Dark, The Third lady in The Magic Flute, Ernesto in Il Mondo della Luna, Annio in La Clemenza di Tito and Dorabella in Cosi Fan Tutte for SOLT. A recipient of the ORMTA Provincial Voice Competition Award, Louisa’s past concert performances include Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony and Haydn’s Lord Nelson Mass. Louisa sang with Opera Kitchener in their 2009-2010 season, her roles included Suzuki in Puccini's Madame Butterfly, Orlofsky in Die Fledermaus, Gertrude in Hansel and Gretel and Tiesbe in Cinderella. This past fall she performed with Opera in Concert performing in her second Russian opera, the role of Ratmir after making her debut with OIC as Lel' in The Snow Maiden in 2008.     Caroline Dery Soprano     This vibrant Canadian lyrical coloratura soprano is delighted to make her first appearance with Opera Kitchener. She has performed her first concerts overseas this past summer with the Kitchener-Waterloo Community Orchestra uder the direction of Maestro Daniel Warren. Caroline is thrilled to join the cast of Mozart's Don Giovanni in such an exciting adventure here with Opera Kitchener. Miss Dery holds a Music degree in voice from Laval University- Quebec City, and is also a graduate from Wilfrid Laurier University in Ontario, with diplomas in opera and performance. Caroline has appeared in numerous professional productions including Pergolesi's Stabatt Matter, Mozart's Requiem, Vivaldi's Gloria, Haydn's Creation, Respighi's Lauda per la Nativita del nostro Signore, Vivaldi's Dixit Dominus, Schubert’s Der Hirt auf dem Felsen and Bach's Cantata Jauchzet Gott in Allen Landen. Some of Caroline’s opera solos include Purcell's Dido and Aeneas, Puccini’s Suor Angelica, Stravinsky’s Les Noces, Ravel’s L’heure Espagnol and Poulenc’s Le Dialogue des Carmelites. In addition, she recorded a new composition, Dejeuner du Matin, by Canadian composer Michael Purves-Smith with whom she will explore more of his repertoire this coming fall. Caroline wishes to express her gratitude to everyone who contributed to organizing this beautiful soiree!     Natalie Donnelly Soprano     Soprano Natalie Donnelly is quickly becoming one of Canada's bright young opera stars. She is in high demand for both solo performances and opera productions throughout Canada. Since completing her Bachelor of Music Degree in Voice Performance at the University of Toronto, Natalie has appeared as a soloist and guest artist with various Opera companies throughout the greater Toronto area. Within the past few years, Natalie has performed numerous operatic roles including the title roles in Suor Angelica, Madama Butterfly, Susannah, Violetta in La Traviata, Donna Anna in Don Giovanni, Contessa Almaviva in Le Nozze di Figaro and Mimì in La Bohème. Natalie had the honour of singing at the Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts in a gala commemorating Artistic Director Giuseppe Macina. She also had the opportunity to perform alongside Canadian baritone Russell Braun with the Brampton Lyric Opera Orchestra, and with acclaimed tenor Mario Zhang at the Toronto Centre for the Arts with Orchestra Toronto. Natalie just completed her Master's of Music at the University of Western Ontario under the tutelage of Dr. Sophie Roland. www.nataliedonnelly.com     Stefan Fehr Tenor     Stefan Fehr is a graduate of McGill University, where he completed both his B.A. and M.A. in music. Mr. Fehr has been featured in numerous operas while at McGill University including the title role in Mozart's Don Giovanni and Nick Shadow in Stravinsky's The Rake's Progress, and Figaro in Mozart's Le Nozze di Figaro. Mr. Fehr has been a young artist with the Toronto Summer Opera Lyric Theater, Opera North, the Banff Centre for the Performing Arts, and Seattle Opera, where he performed Don Alfonso in Mozart's Cosi fan tutte. In the Greater Toronto Area, he has appeared as a soloist with the Victoria Scholars, Opera in Concert, as well as numerous solo recitals.     Jennifer Elisabetta Fina Mezzo Soprano     Jennifer Elisabetta Fina is a graduate of the Honours Bachelor in Opera Performance Degree from the University of Toronto. She has appeared in numerous professional musicals, operas, oratorios, concerts with such companies as Theatre Orangeville, Opera Western, Resurgence Theatre, The Brampton Symphony Orchestra, The University of Toronto Opera School, The Toronto Festival Orchestra, The Headwaters Symphony Orchestra, Brampton Lyric Opera, Opera Lirica Italiana, Opera York and the new Opera Kitchener. Her dynamic performances have all received glowing reviews, including "Jennifer Fina’s lush mezzo soprano voice is one of the most exquisite sounds you’ll hear..." Memorable performances include Rosina (Barber of Seville), Lola (Cavalleria Rusticana), Dorabella (Cosi fan Tutte), Prince Orlofsky (Die Fledermaus), Zelatrice (Suor Angelica), Julia (The Drunkard), The Ayah (The Secret Garden), Amy (Charlie’s Aunt), Anne (Anne of Green Gables), Nanette (No No, Nanette!), L’Écureuil (Les Enfants et les Sortilèges), Polly (The Boyfriend), Madame Rosa (Il Campanello di Notte), Second Spirit (The Magic Flute), The Mother (Hansel and Gretel). and Cherubino (The Marriage of Figaro). This season she recently performed the title role of Rossini’s Cinderella, and the Witch in Hansel and Gretel. Presently, Jennifer can most often be found singing in the kitchen while baking organic confections with daughters Alessia and Paris Isabella.     Catherine Gardner Soprano     Soprano Catherine Gardner, a native of Stratford, Ontario, began her vocal studies at the University of Western Ontario where she completed her Bachelor of Music in Voice Performance. She continued her education at the Peabody Conservatory of Johns Hopkins University where she completed her Masters degree, followed by a Graduate Performance Diploma. She has earned several awards and honours including Young artist of the Year (London Arts Plus), the George Castelle Memorial Award (Peabody Conservatory), first place in the Baltimore Music Club’s Voice Competition, Professional Division, two Peabody Career Grants and first place in Andrews University’s International Voice Competition. Operatic roles include The Countess (Le Nozze di Figaro), Mother (Amahl and the Night Visitors), Pamina (Die Zauberflöte), Teresa (The Reunion), Cercatrice (Suor Angelica), Gertrude (in Toronto composer Mark Richard’s Hamlet) and Ophelia (in the premier of Amy Kirsten’s Ophelia Forever). Highlights from her concert repertoire include Handel’s Messiah, Faure’s Requiem, Rutter’s Magnificat and Mozart’s Mass in C minor, which she performed as part of the Stratford Summer Music Festival. She is very fond of recital work and has performed numerous concerts with chamber groups, including an all-Grieg program with the Oslo String Quartet. Catherine is also a member of the Stratford-based trio “The Poet Sings” with pianist Sandra Mogensen and baritone Mark Gardner which has performed in various venues, including the Glenn Gould Studio in Toronto. Last season she performed opera arias and duets at the Stratford Symphony Orchestra’s “Five Star Opera Gala”. Recent performances include singing the role of Countess Almaviva in Mozart’s Le Nozze di Figaro in Sulmona, Italy as part of “The Centre for Opera Studies in Italy”, and performing for the Bel Canto Foundation’s Annual Gala. Her first place win at the Andrews University International Voice Competition allowed her the opportunity to perform Barber’s “Knoxville: Summer of 1915” with their orchestra this past fall. Catherine is thrilled to be making her operatic debut with Opera Kitchener as Donna Anna in this production of Don Giovanni.     Mark Gardner Baritone     Mark Gardner, Baritone, originally from Detroit MI, graduated with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Theatre and a Bachelor of Music in Voice from Wayne State University in 2001. In 2004 Mark received a Masters degree in Voice from the Peabody Conservatory at Johns Hopkins University. Opera roles include Giorgio Germont in “La Traviata”, Belcore in “L’Elixir d’Amore”, Sharpless in “Madam Butterfly” (Opera Kitchener), Keith/Earl/Father in Lee Hoiby's “This is the Rill Speaking'”, Marco in “Gianni Schicchi”, Sid in “Albert Herring”, Bob in “The Old Maid and the Thief” (Opera Peabody), Dimitri Petrovski in “The Music Shop” (Baltimore Artscape), and Pish-Tush in “Mikado”. Mark has premiered two Canadian works; Mark Richard's' "Hamlet" as part of the Stratford Summer Music Festival, and “A Stronger Thought of Love” with Orpheus Productions. Mark has been the recipient of many awards including a Peabody Career grant, a Peabody talent scholarship, the David Adamany Scholarship, and placed second in the Richardson vocal competition and the Andrews University International Voice Competition. He also performed with the Stratford Symphony Orchestra as part of their “Five Star Opera Gala”. Recent engagements include singing as a baritone soloist for “A Place to Sing” (a concert for the Stratford chapter of Pal) with tenor Roger Honeywell, baritone Phillip Addis and baritone James Western, as well as the role of Marcello in Opera York’s production of La Boheme. This fall Mark is looking forward to playing the role of Le Comte in Essential Opera’s Cherubin, and is very pleased to be back with Kitchener Opera as Don Giovanni.     Shane Glabb Tenor     Tenor Shane Glabb is very excited to return to Opera Kitchener this season. Past performances with the company include the role of Alfred in Die Fledermaus and Goro in Madama Butterfly. Shane has appeared as Licinio Mureno in the Canadian Premiere of Mercadate's La Vestale and as Letelier in the world premiere of Charles Wilson's Kamouraska with Opera In Concert. With Toronto Operetta Theatre he has appeared in Carl Zeller's The Birdseller, Gilbert and Sullivan's Iolanthe, and also played General Poffenburgh in the Canadian premier of Kurt Weill's Knickerbocker Holiday. With Summer Opera Lyric Theatre he appeared in the role of Gerald in Lakme. This season sees the tenor singing such diverse roles as Parpignol in La Boheme, Kaspar in Amahl And The Night Visitors and Don Ottavio in Don Giovanni.     Teiya Kasahara Soprano     Canadian lyric coloratura soprano Teiya Kasahara is becoming known to audiences for her "flair for drama and blazing high notes" (La Scena Musicale). With Japanese and German heritage, Teiya hails from Vancouver, BC. Her talents have already taken her abroad to Opéra Toulon, BAM in New York, the Aspen Music Festival and School, Vancouver Opera, and the Rudolfinum in Prague. This season marks her debut with Opera Kitchener as the Queen of the Night (Magic Flute). Other performance credits include Tytania in A Midsummer Night's Dream (Aspen), and at the Canadian Opera Company (COC) Echo in Ariadne auf Naxos, Lucy in The Telephone, the solo in Two Poems by Constantin Balmont (The Nightingale), Frasquita in Carmen, Serpina in La serva padrona and Despina in Così fan tutte. Notable understudies at the COC include Zerbinetta (Ariadne auf Naxos), Madame Mao (Nixon in China), Maria Stuarda, and The Nightingale. She is a graduate of the COC Ensemble Studio and the University of British Columbia. For more information please visit www.teiyakasahara.com     Elizabeth Rogalsky Lepock Soprano     Elizabeth Rogalsky Lepock graduated in June 2009 from Wilfrid Laurier University cum laude with her Honours Bachelor of Music in Voice Performance and Music History studying under Kimberly Barber. Her performing experience at Laurier includes the roles of Second Woman in Purcell’s Dido and Aeneas and Sister Constance de Saint-Denis in Poulenc’s Dialogues of the Carmelites. Excerpts include Alexandra Giddens in Blitzstein’s Regina and Moth in Britten’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Chorus singing at Laurier includes L’enfant et les soritlèges, Cendrillon, L’elisir d’amore, and Le Nozze di Figaro. Elizabeth also performed several recitals while at Laurier with repertoire by Purcell, Handel, Poulenc, Liszt, Raminsh, R. Strauss, Bellini, Rossini, and more. Since graduation, Elizabeth has been pleased to study voice with Victor Martens. She has become involved with local arts organizations such as SNATS (Student National Association of Teachers of Singing), The Museum, and Opera Kitchener. She performed as a chorus member with Opera Kitchener in their productions of Cosí fan tutte and Die Fledermaus, and sang the role of The Aunt in their production of Madama Butterfly. Other recent opera roles include the title role of Amahl, in a St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church/Christ Lutheran Church joint production of Amahl and the Night Visitors, the roles of the Rich Girl and the Match Girl in the SNATS/The Museum sponsored production of The Happy Prince, and the role of Pied Person in Peter Hatch's MyAudia, a new opera produced by Inter Arts Matrix and performed at Stratford Summer Music Festival and at Les Escales Improbables in Montreal. In fall 2010 she enjoyed the opportunity to return to exploring recital repertoire in St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church Noon Recital Series and will continue this venture at the Cambridge Galleries in November 2011 and Conrad Grebel University College in February 2012. Additionally, after competing in April, Elizabeth was honoured to be presented in June 2011 with the Art Vogt Memorial Scholarship for Voice. Teaching has also been a rewarding post-graduation endeavour. Elizabeth held the Voice Director position with Ontario Mennonite Music Camp in August 2009 and Choir Director in August 2009 and 2011. She teaches voice and piano at several local private music schools while also maintaining a private studio. Elizabeth looks forward to pursuing more opportunities to perform locally in opera, oratorio, and recital while continuing her fruitful studies with Victor Martens.     William Lewans Bass-Baritone     Praised by Ken Winters in The Globe and Mail (2010) for his "compact, vibrant, rock-steady sound," bass-baritone William Lewans is a Masters graduate from the University of Western Ontario. Recent operatic roles include Don Alfonso in Cosi fan tutte, Frank in Die Fledermaus, Doctor Bartolo in Il Barbiere di Sivilglia, and The Bonze in Madama Butterfly; all with Opera Kitchener, Marquese D'Obigny in La Traviata and Antonio in Le Nozze di Figaro with Saskatoon Opera as well as the title role in Le Nozze di Figaro with Halifax Summer Opera Workshop. Other operatic credits include Bottom in A Midsummer Night's Dream, Crespel in Les Contes d'Hoffmann, and Mr. Olsen in Street Scene. Orchestra appearances include the role of Pan in Bach's Die Streit zwischen Phoebus und Pan with Orchestra London. William Lewans, a native of Saskatchewan, returned to his home province this May to sing recitals at the Lyell Gustin Recital Series and Marysburg Recital series with well-known Saskatoon pianist Gregory Schulte. Future engagements include a tour of China with Opera Jeunesse and the title role of King Arthur with Saskatoon Opera. In addition to a Masters in Voice, Saskatchewan native William Lewans holds a Masters in Piano Performance from the University of British Columbia.     Kyle Macdonald Bass-Baritone     Kyle Macdonald, bass-baritone, hails from Whitehorse, Yukon. While living in the Great White North, he performed many roles in both dramatic and musical theatre. Highlights include: Bobby Strong in Urinetown and Rev. David Marshall Lee in The Foreigner with the Guild Theatre; Vince Fontaine in Grease with MAD Theatre; and Fenris Ulf in Narnia with Goldenhorn Musical Theatre. His jazz quartet 4 Below Normal was featured at the Canada Winter Games in 2007. In 2008 Kyle made the trek to Ontario and turned his talents towards classical singing with eight months of intensive study with\ internationally renowned bass, Gary Relyea. Kyle made his operatic debut with Opera By Request in 2010 singing the role of Colline in La Boheme. Since then other roles have included, Zamiel/Hermit in Der Freishutz, Capelio in I Capuleti e i Montecchi, Don Basilio in The Barber of Seville, Betto in Gianni Schicchi, Marchese D'Obigny in La Traviata, The Page in Amahl and the Night Visitors, he reprised the role of Colline in La Boheme, he sang Fasolt in Das Rheingold, and Sam in Un Ballo in Maschera. Kyle is singing Colline in La Boheme for the Colours of Music Festival in Barrie, Ontario and the role of The Speaker in The Magic Flute with Opera Kitchener in October.     Timothy Richard Baritone     Timothy Richard is currently the Artistic Director and a founding member of Opera2Go, a premier all-Canadian touring Opera ensemble. Mr. Richard received his formal training in voice in both the United States and in Canada, most notably at the University of Western Ontario under the tutelage of Theodore Baerg. Graduating with a Bachelors of Music Honours Vocal Performance in 2008, he continued his study of opera into graduate studies, and received a Masters of Music in Literature and Performance in 2010. Most recently, Mr. Richard has been featured in concert with groups such as the London Concert Band, performing a selection of Copland and jazz standards, and performing as a solo artist for gala events across Ontario. In the summer of 2010, Mr. Richard attended the prestigious Opera NUOVA program in Edmonton, Alberta, where he performed the role of Ford in Verdi's Falstaff. He has also made numerous appearances with Opera Kitchener, performing in the spring of 2010 as the L'Imperial Commissario in Puccini's Madama Butterfly, and Peter, the Father, in Humperdink's Hansel und Gretel in 2009. While studying at UWO, Mr. Richard performed several roles, including Frank in Kurt Weill's Street Scene, St. Peter in Edwin Penhorwood's Too Many Sopranos, and even flexed his musical theatre and dance muscles in Smokey Joe's Café. Mr. Richard anticipates performances with Opera Kitchener's production of Die Zauberflote as the Armed Guard/Second Priest, and in concert with the Sudbury Symphony Orchestra in 2012. As an avid performer of art song and oratorio as well as opera, he has performed Copland's Old American Songs, Vaughan Williams' House of Life and Five Mystical Songs, and several other song cycles. He has also performed solos with chamber orchestra on a number of occasions, including works by Bach. Additionally, he is regularly employed as a church musician, and frequently performs sacred works in a service or concert setting. Mr. Richard also frequently performs for charitable causes, and maintains a small private studio in London, Ontario.     William Shookoff Conductor     William Shookhoff is a noted conductor, pianist and vocal coach throughout Canada and abroad. He has conducted Canadian orchestras from coast to coast, as well as in the Netherlands and China. He has served on the music faculties of the Universities of Toronto, Alberta, Wilfrid Laurier, as well as the Banff Centre for the Arts and the Johannesen Summer Institute of Music. He has been on the Music Staff of the Canadian, Netherlands, Edmonton, and Portland (Oregon) Opera Companies. Equally at home in Music Theatre, Mr Shookhoff was the Associate Conductor of the inaugural Canadian production of Les Miserables, and of the Canadian Tour and Toronto productions of Phantom of the Opera. He has been a guest Music Director with Neptune Theatre (Halifax), Persephone Theatre (Saskatoon), and Citadel Theatre (Edmonton). Recent guest appearances as opera coach and orchestra conductor have taken him to Chichester, England, Burgundy, France, Sieggraben, Austria; and Wuhan, China. He has also devoted his efforts to the development and presentation of the Massed Piano or Monster Concert, and has conducted such events at Carnegie Hall, New York; Massey Hall and Nathan Philips Square, Toronto; the White House, Washington, DC; and the Castel Sant'Angelo, Rome. Mr. Shookhoff is Artistic Director Emeritus at Tryptych Productions.     Lesley Smith Mezzo-Soprano     Mezzo-soprano and registered nurse Lesley Smith is recognized for her professional, academic, and artistic diversity. She began singing at an early age with the Kitchener-Waterloo Philharmonic Youth Choir where she was honoured to have been chosen as a soloist for the Unisong Canadian Choir Festival. Lesley also placed in various categories of the Kiwanis Music Festival. She began her undergraduate music studies at the University of Western Ontario (UWO) where she received a Bachelor of Musical Arts under the tutelage of coloratura soprano Jackalyn Short. Lesley also spent a semester at The University of Toronto where she worked with acclaimed mezzo-soprano Jean MacPhail. She performed in numerous recitals at UWO where she was also a member of the St. Cecilia Singers and chorus for Cosi fan Tutte and Gala Night at the Opera. In addition, Lesley performed the lead role of Mrs. Herring in UWOpera's Albert Herring, as well as the role of Mother and Grandmother in a production of Little Red Riding Hood. She also sang as a soloist with the Canadian Conservatory of Music, and was a chorus member in a Jeans and Classics show with Orchestra London. Since then, Lesley has been a member of Toronto's Opera in Concert chorus and the Cantiamo Singers in Kitchener. While presently pursuing her PhD in the Arthur Labatt Family School of Nursing at UWO, she also works as an RN at the Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto. She is very excited to be making her debut with Opera Kitchener.     Jay Stephenson Baritone     Jay Stephenson is much sought after for his rich, sonorous baritone and performs regularly in the United States and Canada. Last season, he sang Barone Douphol in La Traviata for Center Stage Opera in Canoga Park, California, and a month later, he flew to Ontario, Canada to sing Schaunard in La Boheme with Opera Kitchener. In March 2011, he understudied the role of Dr. Grenvil in La Traviata for Opera Santa Barbara, and immediately afterwards performed the role in Long Beach. In April, he performed the title role of Gianni Schicchi for the Celestial Opera Company in South Pasadena, and in June, he created the role of Anthony Chevalier in world premiere of Marie's Orchard by Philip Weston. Other recent highlights include Gernot in the North American staged-premiere of Richard Wagner's, first opera, Die Feen, with the Lyric Opera of Los Angeles, as well as the role of the Priest in the world premiere of El Canguro at the AT&T Center Theater in Los Angeles this September. Jay is very excited to be back in Canada singing Papageno with Opera Kitchener. Other recent roles include: Guglielmo, Belcore, Rigoletto, Valentin, and Germont. www.operajay.com     Douglas Tranquada Baritone     This warm and charming Canadian baritone is abundantly talented with a natural affinity for stage work. He started formal music and voice training as a young choirboy at St. Michael's Choir School and later studied with Giuseppe Macina and the late Louis Quilico, who described him as having a voice of 'exceptional beauty'. Douglas has performed numerous roles with Opera Mississauga, Opera York, Brampton Lyric Opera, Opera Kitchener and others including Don Giovanni and Leporello from Don Giovanni and Dandini in La Cenerentola to name but a few. In 2009, Opera Canada described his Sacristan in Opera York's 2009 Tosca as 'scene stealing' and in Kitchener, his Dr. Falke from Die Fledermaus 'showcased his rich voice.' The 2010 season saw him performing Benoit/Alcindoro with both Opera York and Opera Kitchener and in April 2011, he sang Figaro in the Barber of Seville with Opera Kitchener, where Ontario Arts Review wrote 'The rich baritone voice of Douglas Tranquada was almost overshadowed by his arrogantly strutting before and among his audience as he gave one outstanding rendition of the 'largo al factotum'. He also performed his Figaro at the Holders Season Performing Arts Festival in Barbados in March of 2011. In the spring of 2012, he will be singing Leporello with the Opera Kitchener production of Don Giovanni and Frank with the Opera York production of Die Fledermaus. He has also collaborated with Toronto Operetta Theater in concert performances of Gilbert and Sullivan highlights as well as contemporary opera works. Included in his repertoire is Handel's Messiah, Requiems by Mozart, Faure and Durufle as well as sacred works by Bach, Vaughan Williams which he has performed with the Northumberland Symphony Orchestra, National Youth Orchestra, Etobicoke Symphony, and others. Mr. Tranquada is also a performer of national anthems and is well known to the Toronto Maple Leafs, Toronto Raptors, Toronto Blue Jays and the Toronto Rock. He is a member of The Mistletones, an acappella Christmas group and also directs a church choir.     Daniel Warren Conductor     Daniel Warren has most recently been Artistic Advisor and conductor for Orchestra London Canada (2010-2011) and Resident Conductor of the Kitchener-Waterloo Symphony in Ontario, Canada. (1998-2011) He is in frequent demand as a guest conductor and has done so with the Toronto Symphony Orchestra, the National Arts Centre Orchestra, The Edmonton Symphony Orchestra, Symphony Nova Scotia, Orchestra London Canada, the Windsor Symphony, Symphony New Brunswick, The ERGO and Continuum ensembles and the Canadian Chamber Ensemble. Until it's utter demise, he was heard conducting regularly on the CBC. For the past eight years he has been conducting at the "Westben Arts Festival Theatre" in Campbellford, Ontario, performing repertoire with orchestra and full chorus with soloists both operatic and instrumental, all in a wide variety of orchestral and operatic programs including a run of fully staged performances of Mozart's opera Die Zauberflote at Westben. (2010) He is pleased to be conducting Opera Kitchener's Zauberflote this fall (2011) He has conducted in Austria, The Czech Republic and in the USA. He is very busy as an arranger, his latest being played by the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra in London, England. Other arrangements include several works for full Symphony including classical, Jazz and rock. These have been performed by orchestras in Canada, The USA and Asia. He resides in his owner-built home in a rural setting with his wife and two children.     Dylan Wright Bass     Basso Dylan Wright holds a Diploma in Performance from Mount Royal University in Calgary, AB, where he performed the role of Colas in Mozart's Bastien und Bastienna. Currently, he is studying performance at the University of Western Ontario under Theodore Baerg, where he recently sang Bartolo in Mozart's Le Nozze di Figaro. Other roles include the title role in Figaro with Opera Nuova, Sarastro in Die Zauberflöte, Silvanno in La Calisto, Raphael and Adam in Haydn's Creation, and the bass soloist in Handel's Messiah, Charpentier's Messe de Minuit, Beethoven's Mass in C Major, and Pergolesi's Magnificat. This year, he will be singing Emile du Becquein UWOpera's production of South Pacific and Colline in La Bohème.     Catherine You Soprano     Soprano Catherine You is thrilled to be joining Opera Kitchener in its production of Die Zauberflöte. Catherine specialized in Vocal Performance at Cardinal Carter Academy for the Arts where she studied with Gloria Gassi. There, she appeared in the barbershop quartet in The Music Man. Catherine has sung with many choral groups including The Cardinal Carter Singers, The World Youth Day Choir, Unison Canada, and The University of Waterloo Chamber Choir. For the past two seasons Catherine has sung with Opera Kitchener's chorus. She has studied privately with Jennifer Fina and Lynda Mieske. Last summer, Catherine participated in the Summer Voice Intensive led by Marjorie Sparks.