A WORD FROM OUR ARTIST DIRECTOR Opera Kitchener's ambition is to present traditional, fully-staged operatic productions on a yearly basis. Moreover, Opera Kitchener's main goal is to provide opera productions to the public with affordable ticket prices and employing local artists in our shows. It is clear that Kitchener and the province of Ontario has a wealth of talent that we are excited to showcase. We are therefore looking forward to the support from our public who enjoy this wonderful genre of music. We hope to serve Kitchener for many years to come and we look forward to seeing you at our productions. Sincerely, Emilio Fina Artistic Director and Tenor

ABOUT THE ARTIST DIRECTOR Tenor Emilio Fina studied Voice and Opera Performance at the Royal Conservatory of Music Toronto Glenn Gould School where he completed his A.R.C.T. diploma in Voice Performance. Emilio sang his first opera role at the tender age of thirteen in Opera Mississauga's production of Amahl and the Night Visitors where he had the title role. He has sung as the tenor soloist for Handel's Messiah numerous times and has sung as the tenor soloist for J.S. Bach's Nun komm, der Heiden Heiland (Cantata no. 61). Other operatic roles have included Tamino in Mozart's The Magic Flute, Ferrando in Mozart's Cosi fan tutte, Don Basilio & Don Curtzio in Mozart's The Marriage of Figaro, Beppe in Leoncavallo's I Pagliacci, Gastone in Verdi's La Traviata, Arturo in Donizetti's Lucia di Lammermoor and Don Ramiro in Rossini's La Cenerentola. Emilio has been described as having, "....a sweet tenor voice with great high notes and amazing breath control." As a soloist or principal character, Emilio has been engaged by several accomplished organizations that include, Brampton Lyric Opera, Pellegrini Opera, Brampton Symphony Orchestra, Brampton Concert Band, Brampton Musical Society, Royal Conservatory of Music Chamber Choir, Cathedral Bluffs Symphony Orchestra, Royal Opera Canada ( Opera Mississauga ), Opera York, Calbes Voice Studio Productions, Georgetown Choral Society, Toronto Opera Repertoire, Opera in Concert, Toronto Festival Orchestra, Toronto Mendelssohn Choir and Opera Kitchener. Emilio's achievements as a Stage Director include Pucinni's Madama Butterfly, Strauss' Die Fledermaus, Donizetti's Il Campanello, Mozart's Cosi fan tutte, Humperdinck's Hansel & Gretel and Verdi's La Traviata.