Reflecting on a challenging year, Striving for a better future

APRIL 29, 2:00PM- 3:30PM

Join Association for Opera in Canada for an all-member sector update one year into the pandemic.

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NOTE: This is a member event. Membership available to all organizations and individuals of all kinds at up to 100% discount using COVID discount code OMEP2020. Find your membership level here, or simply register for the event and we’ll be in touch to help you.

Hosts

Christina Loewen, Executive Director, Association for Opera in Canada
Michael Hidetoshi Mori, Artistic and General Director, Tapestry Opera; Board Chair, Association for Opera in Canada

Guest speakers

Established artist Mireille Asselin, Soprano
RBC Futurelaunch Fellow / Mentor duo Lindsay Connolly, Mezzo Soprano, and Debi Wong, Founder & Artistic Director, re:Naissance Opera
Post-Secondary Opera Training: Patrick Hansen, Director, Opera McGill; Associate Professor, Ensembles and Conducting
Artist Management: Marie-Catherine Lapointe, President and CEO, Boulevart Agence d’artistes / Artist Agency
Professional Company Member representative Ian Rye, CEO, Pacific Opera Victoria

Christina Loewen, Executive Director, Association for Opera in Canada

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.

Michael Hidetoshi Mori, Artistic and General Director, Tapestry Opera; Board Chair, Association for Opera in Canada

Michael Hidetoshi Mori was appointed Artistic Director of Tapestry Opera in 2014. A stage director, singer, arts administrator and recording artist, Michael made his performance debut in New York City at the age of 11 with the Dicapo Opera, and as a child performer toured the U.S. and Europe.

Mireille Asselin, Soprano

Deemed “a treasure” by the Toronto Star, Mireille Asselin enjoys a diverse, international career. She has performed on such stages as the Théâtre des Champs-Elysées and Carnegie Hall and has sung five seasons at the Metropolitan Opera. She appears regularly with Opera Atelier and is a graduate of the COC Studio Ensemble. Her discography includes two albums of Canadian repertoire released on the Marquis and Centrediscs labels.

Lindsay Connolly, Mezzo Soprano

Lindsay Connolly, the executive director of the Indian River Festival, is a PEI-born musician and arts administrator who focuses on creating an inclusive environment prioritizing arts sustainability and fostering strong community relationships. A graduate of McGill University with a CGS-SHHRC Scholarship into gender and performance, and the University of Toronto Opera School, Lindsay has worked as a performer and/or administrator with companies across Canada. Lindsay works, plays, and lives in beautiful Epekwitk, the traditional unceded territory of the L’nu and the Mi’kmaq.

Debi Wong, Founder & Artistic Director, re:Naissance Opera

Debi is the founding artistic director of re:Naissance Opera in Vancouver, BC. With re:Naissance she has created #DidoAndAeneas (2014), an interactive, social-media opera; Acis & Galatea which was recognized by Vancouver Classical Music as one of the city’s best operas in 2017. In 2019, Debi spearheaded OrpheusVR, an interactive Virtual Reality Opera that was featured at the VIFF Immersed exhibit at the 2020 Vancouver International Film Festival.

Patrick Hansen, Director, Opera McGill

Patrick Hansen continues his unique career throughout North America as an operatic conductor, vocal coach, administrator, producer, and stage director. He is currently the artistic director of Opera McGill where he has created more than 70 operas after being on the musical staffs of many US opera companies and is the former director of musical studies for the Young American Artists Program at Glimmerglass Opera.

Marie-Catherine Lapointe, President and CEO, Boulevart Agence d’artistes / Artist Agency

After studies in music and in administration, Marie-Catherine turned towards arts management. She worked for several cultural organizations across Canada (including the Sherbrooke symphony Orchestra, Ensemble Anonymus, Les Violons du Roy and the Carrefour de Théâtre de Québec) and undertook internships overseas. Since founding Boulev’Art Artists’ Management in 1995, she has sat on several Boards of Directors. Enthusiastic globetrotter, she has a passion for Asia and Europe.

Ian Rye, CEO, Pacific Opera Victoria

With Pacific Opera Victoria, Ian has stewarded the creation of over 60 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 and community collaborations, and was key to the creation of the Baumann Centre as a community hub for increased participation in opera.