The voice of opera in Canada
The Association for Opera in Canada
Offering membership to opera companies, businesses, teaching institutions and individuals, we seek to create and sustain an environment that makes opera central to Canadian life. The Association for Opera in Canada works with members across the country to advance the interests of Canada’s opera community and create greater opportunity for opera audiences and professionals alike.
The Association for Opera in Canada provides services in advocacy, communications, and support for Canadian opera creation. Working in collaboration with OPERA America, The Association for Opera in Canada leads members in dialogues relating to artistic quality and creativity, education and audience development, community service, governance, resource development, promising partnership opportunities, international trends in opera production and new technologies. Both The Association for Opera in Canada and OPERA America regularly convene experts from within and outside the field, conduct research and collect and disseminate information to members and the field’s stakeholders.
One of the most significant programs of The Association for Opera in Canada was the Canadian Opera Creation Fund, which supported the creation and development of opera and music theatre. The program was made possible through the support of the Canada Council for the Arts, and also received private support from our “Power of 100” donors. Other services include Annual Meetings, the biennial Banff Opera Colloquium, workshops for emerging singers, regional roundtables, and High Notes / Notes lyriques, and The Association for Opera in Canada’s monthly electronic newsletter.
The Association for Opera in Canada is a registered national arts service organization governed by a ten-member Board of Directors. We count all of Canada’s leading opera and music theatre companies among its professional company members, and serves a growing number of business, affiliate, and individual members.
Michael Hidetoshi Mori, Artistic Director of Tapestry Opera, is Chair of The Association for Opera in Canada. The office is located in Toronto.
Board of Directors
Michael Hidetoshi Mori Chair
Michael Hidetoshi Mori is a “shot of adrenaline to opera”. Michael is a leading international voice in socially and artistically progressive opera and music theatre. An award-winning Canadian/American stage director, and the General Director of Tapestry Opera in Toronto, he is frequently sought as a director, dramaturge, producer and speaker. Bringing new works from concept to full realization is his specialty, having commissioned and developed more than ten new operas over the past five years. Michael is the Chair of Opera.ca, Canada’s association of professional opera companies, and was recently one of two delegates invited to represent Canada at the 2018 World Opera Forum in Madrid, where he presented on diversity in opera. Michael’s leadership at Tapestry Opera has led…
Ian Rye Vice Chair
With Pacific Opera, Ian has stewarded the creation of over 50 original opera productions, new opera commissions, cultivated an enhancement of artistic scope, and orchestrated a co-production model that has positioned Victoria-made productions on opera stages across Canada and the U.S. He has stewarded youth and education programs, community collaborations, and was key to the creation of the Baumann Centre as a community hub for increased participation in opera. Previously, Ian was the Director of Production and Artistic Administration for Pacific Opera Victoria, the Director of Production at the Belfry Theatre and an Instructor of Lighting Design at the University of Victoria. His scenic and lighting designs for dance, opera and theatre have played at notable stages across Canada. His…
Bruce Munro Wright Secretary-Treasurer
Bruce Munro Wright is active in the Canadian arts and not-for-profit sector as trustee, speaker, panelist, jurist, fundraiser and philanthropist. He is a past Chair of Vancouver Opera and its foundation. In 2017 he received the National Opera Directors Emeritus Award from Opera.ca. Bruce is a past Chair of Vancouver Art Gallery and now chairs its Foundation. As a current trustee of Vancouver’s Arts Umbrella, the arts training enterprise serving more than 20,000 students annually, he has Co-Chaired Splash, the annual Art Auction and Gala, four times. Bruce is President of Health Arts Society (Concerts in Care) in BC, which, together with its sister societies, have provided almost 20,000 concerts nationally by paid performers to people in care. Bruce is…
Christina Loewen Executive Director
Christina Loewen has led The Association for Opera in Canada as Executive Director since 2009 with a vision focussed on helping the sector build resilience and navigate high levels of change and uncertainty. Recognized for her innovative thinking, collaborative leadership and cross-sectoral approach, she has launched new initiatives and programming for the opera sector in such areas as innovation, resilience and systems thinking, capitalization, entrepreneurship and lean start up principles, and evaluating impact. Her 20 years experience in the performing arts sector includes domestic and international touring with the Royal Winnipeg Ballet, serving as Director of Marketing for Opera Ontario, and eliminating the accumulated deficit and building working capital at Danny Grossman Dance. She has an Honours Bachelor of Dramatic…
Staff
Executive Director: Christina Loewen, christinal@opera.ca
General Manager: Joel Klein, j_klein@opera.ca
LINK Programs Associate: Jaclyn Grossman, jaclyn@opera.ca
Social Media Associate: Ryan McDonald, ryan@opera.ca
Directory of Member Organizations
Discover and connect with Canada’s Opera Companies, Educational Programs, Agents and managers and more.
Member Directory of Canadian Opera Artists and Independent Arts Workers
Discover and connect with the many-faceted artists and technicians ready to make your productions a success.
Our Supporters
The Association for Opera in Canada acknowledges and thanks all of its funders and supporters for their generosity and commitment.
Supporting Organizations
- Government of Canada
- Global Affairs Canada
- Canada Council for the Arts
- Ontario Arts Council
- Ontario Ministry of Tourism, Culture & Sport
Sponsors
- Domoney Artists Management
- Opera de Montreal
- Pacific Opera Victoria
- Stingray Classical
- Truck n Roll
- Vancouver Opera
Supporting Foundations
- Azrieli Foundation
- RBC Future Launch
Individual Supporters—
Opera Artist Emergency Relief Fund
- Catherine D’Angelo
- Adam Da Ros
- Hans and Susanne Forbrich
- Ian Henderson
- Nina Horvath
- Rodney M. Kerr
- Chantal Lambert
- Christina Loewen
- Michael Mori
- Wendy Nielsen
- Kat Williams
- James Wright
- Tom Wright
Individual Supporters—
$500 & Above
- Dean Burry
- Richard Cook
- Larry Desrochers
- Chantal Lambert
- Christina Loewen
- Robert Milne
- Bruce Munro Wright
- Ian Rye
- Ann Summers Dossena
- James Wright
- Tom Wright
- Tim Yakimec
Individual Supporters—
Up to $499
- Andrew Adridge
- Catherine D’Angelo
- Adam Da Ros
- Domoney Artists Management
- Hans and Susanne Forbrich
- Kim Gaynor
- Michael Gray
- Ian Henderson
- Cheryl Hickman
- Highlands Opera Studio
- Nina Horvath
- Rodney M. Kerr
- Lorna MacDonald
- Michael Mori
- Marion Newman
- Wendy Nielsen
- Alexandra Skoczylas
- Rosemary Thomson
- Robert Vineberg
- Kat Williams