Hello,
Welcome to the inaugural Opera Round-Up, the newly re-branded AOC Monthly Sectoral Newsletter sharing the month in review in Canadian opera!
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And if you really enjoy it, hit the GIVE button in the top right. Your support comes with our deepest gratitude… and a tax receipt!
Happy reading!
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Monthly Newsletter
February 27, 2026
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In this month’s edition:
- AOC News
- Season Announcements
- OPERA America
- Professional Development Opportunities
- Funding
- Calendar of Opera
- Job Listings and Auditions
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Highlights from O2: The Canadian Opera & Orchestra Conference
The sold-out O2 Joint Conference brought Canada’s opera and orchestral communities together for three dynamic days in Edmonton, with over 176 delegates, 50 speakers, and 30 learning sessions.
Representatives from Opéra de Montréal, Canadian Opera Company, Toronto Symphony Orchestra, Vancouver Opera, Orchestre symphonique de Montréal, Calgary Philharmonic, Symphony Nova Scotia, Pacific Opera Victoria, Tapestry Opera, OPERA America, and many more came together to connect, build relationships, and strengthen collaboration across the sector.
The strong early registration and sustained engagement throughout the event affirmed just how necessary and impactful this convening was for our sectors. O2 demonstrated what’s possible when opera and orchestras come together to exchange ideas, share challenges, and imagine the future collectively.
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With special thanks to our valued partners and sponsors for their generous support:
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Canadian Opera Company
The Canadian Opera Company’s 2026/2027 season invites audiences on a journey through passion, wit, mystery, and myth, blending timeless masterpieces with bold new voices. Featuring outstanding Canadian and international artists, the season brings together classic repertoire and contemporary storytelling on one of the world’s finest stages.
Highlights include La Traviata, Così fan tutte, Britten’s The Turn of the Screw.
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Edmonton Opera
Edmonton Opera’s 2026/2027 season celebrates more than 60 years of operatic history in the city, bringing beloved works back to the Jubilee stage.
Highlights include Rossini’s The Barber of Seville, the Rumbold Vocal Prize Grand Finale, and Mozart’s The Magic Flute.
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Calgary Opera
Calgary Opera’s 2026/2027 season features powerful stories of courage, transformation, and hope.
Highlights include Puccini’s dramatic Tosca, the enchanting Cinderella, and Verdi’s tragic Otello.
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Vancouver Opera
Vancouver Opera’s 2026/2027 season showcases a trio of beloved Italian masterpieces, each brought to life with a distinctive vision by B.C.connected directors.
Highlights include Puccini’s Tosca, Rossini’s lively The Barber of Seville, and Verdi’s enduring classic La Traviata.
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- New Leadership at the Canadian Opera Company
The Canadian Opera Company has announced that Ian Derrer will step into the role of General Director beginning July 1, 2026, marking a significant leadership transition for Canada’s largest opera company. Read More
- David C. Ferguson Named General Director Emeritus
Long-time COC leader David C. Ferguson will be honoured as General Director Emeritus at the close of the 2025/26 season, recognizing his decades of service to Canada’s largest opera institution. Read More
- COC Ensemble Studio Welcomes New Artists
Sopranos, Nikan Ingabire Kanate and Sarah Caulfield, have been invited to join the Canadian Opera Company’s Ensemble Studio for the 2026/27 season, highlighting the company’s continued investment in emerging Canadian talent. Read More
- Toronto City Opera Announces 2026 Macina Voice Competition Winners
Toronto City Opera has announced the winners of its 2026 Macina Voice Competition, celebrating the next generation of Canadian operatic talent: 1st place – Camila Montefusco, 2nd place & Audience Prize – Jamal Al Titi, and 3rd place – Hillary Tufford.
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- OPERA America and OperaDelaware will welcome the opera field to Wilmington, Delaware, May 12–15, 2026 for Opera Conference 2026. Early-Bird Savings End on Tuesday, March 3. For more information and to register, Click Here.
- OPERA America’s recently published resource guide, Producing for Opera’s New Audiences, explores how companies are creatively reimagining inherited repertoire to meet the evolving expectations of new audiences. Learn more and download the free guide Here.
- Subscribers at participating opera companies in Canada and the U.S. are eligible for Opera Passport, which extends your hometown subscription benefits to dozens of opera companies across North America. Enjoy at least 10% off tickets when you travel, and discover creative productions from coast to coast. Learn More
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Goodbye Subscriptions, Welcome Memberships
Would you like to know…
How strongly your customers feel attached to your organization?
What other organizations they attend?
What features of membership programs have the most value to them?
How you can increase their loyalty?
Take part in the Survey on Affiliation and Membership in the Performing Arts .
Fill in this initial survey to signal your interest. You will then be provided a link to send to your customers. If you get at least 30 responses, you will receive a custom report with your customers’ responses and benchmarking data from comparable organizations.
This survey was jointly commissioned by performing arts associations, as part of the Re-Imagining Customer Relationships project. AOC endorses this project and we strongly encourage you to participate in this survey.
For more information, visit the survey page .
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Audit-Proofing Your Taxes with Tax Specialist, Sunny Widerman
Where: ZOOM
When: March 5 | 1-3PM ET
Join the AFC for a free workshop led by tax specialist Sunny Widerman. Learn practical tips to simplify tax prep, understand CRA expectations, and access ASL interpretation, captions, and a recording for all registrants.
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Canada Council for the Arts – Annual Public Meeting
Where: In-person at Canada Council’s offices or Livestream
When: March 25, 2026 | 4:00 PM EDT
Cheryl Hickman, Chair of the Board, and Michelle Chawla, Director and CEO, will share insights on Canada’s evolving arts ecosystem and provide updates on the Council’s current priorities and future focus.
Space is limited for in-person attendance, so early registration is encouraged.
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Help Shape the Canada Council’s Next Strategic Plan
The Canada Council for the Arts is developing its next strategic plan, which will guide their work from 2026 to 2031.
Three upcoming live sessions remain, one in English and two in French, featuring both open-ended and interactive questions to ensure as many voices as possible are heard.
ASL and LSQ interpretation will be available for all sessions.
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Upload your events to our Opera Calendar so the opera community can browse them all in one place. Need help? Contact Trisha!
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To check out the new job listings on our website, or add a job listing click here
To check most recent calls for auditions click here
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