The voice of opera in Canada
The Association for Opera in Canada
Mission
The Association for Opera in Canada is a membership-based association for opera companies, opera artists, businesses, teaching institutions, and individuals. Our mandate is to create and sustain an environment that makes opera central to Canadian life. We work with members across the sector to mitigate challenges, celebrate successes, and help opera thrive in a changing environment. We are a communications hub, a connector and convenor, a champion and catalyst for change, and a relentless advocate.
Core Service Commitment
We are committed to:
Communications: Continuously improving our services as a communications hub from AOC to members, the public and stakeholders, and between members; and to better tell the story of the positive impact opera has in communities across the country.
Convening: Acting as a convening body for the sector to come together
Advocacy: Advocating at the federal level for and on behalf of the opera sector to support increased investment in the sector through greater public engagement.
Member Services: Delivering an evolving program of member services to the sector that responds to the changes in the field;
Collaboration: Working collaboratively with other arts service organizations to maximize impact.
Key Partnership
Our innovative and forward-looking relationship with OPERA America is one of the strengths of AOC and allows us to create a truly unique arrangement that responds to the needs of its members and the broader Canadian opera and music theatre community. Governed by a unique fee-for-service agreement, all AOC members access the services and benefits of OPERA America, connecting members with their North American colleagues, sharing information such as production directories, coproduction opportunities, and HR information. Through OPERA America, our members deepen opportunities to connect and explore in the many forums OPERA America offers from New Works, Tech/Production, Marketing, and Governance, to name just a few.
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
- Ontario Trillium Foundation
Sponsors
- Domoney Artists Management
- Opera de Montreal
- Pacific Opera Victoria
- Stingray Classical
- Vancouver Opera
Supporting Foundations
- Azrieli Foundation
- RBC Future Launch
- RBC Emerging Artists Program
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
- 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
- Chantal Lambert
- 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
- Aria Umezawa
- Robert Vineberg
- Kat Williams