Now in its 6th year, the Canadian Opera Company (COC) Orchestra Academy offers an important training program for student musicians looking to gain experience in a professional opera orchestra.

Between January 6 – 26, 2019), the COC will offer five new students to experience first-hand how a performance comes together.

Orchestra Academy are: violinists Joella Pinto (Toronto) and Gloria Yip (Toronto), violist Carolyn Farnand (Toronto), and cellists Erin Patterson (Montréal) and Allison Rich (Toronto).

Participants were selected from a pool of candidates chosen by their respective institutions, following auditions held in Toronto.

“The COC Orchestra Academy is an intensive training program unlike any other in Canada,” says COC Music Director Johannes Debus in a press release statement. “This comprehensive approach is an invaluable learning experience for any young opera professional.”

Each of the students will be paired with Jayne Maddison, first violin; Principal Second Violin Paul Zevenhuizen, second violin; Sheila Jaffé, viola; and Assistant Principal Cello Paul Widner and Principal Bass Tony Flynt, cellos. The COC Orchestra is the oldest opera orchestra in Canada, and has received worldwide acclaim for its musical versatility and range of expression. Created in 1977, the orchestra has a permanent membership of more than 50 instrumentalists.

Students will learn how to prepare and rehearse scores, receive one-on-one mentorship from members of the COC Orchestra and COC creative staff, and performance opportunities in COC’s production of R. Strauss’ Elektra, the COC Ensemble Studio, and the COC’s Opera Express concert series.

First launched in early 2014 as a pilot program, the COC Orchestra Academy has become an important part of the COC’s education outreach initiatives.

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Michael Vincent

Michael Vincent is the Editor-in-chief Ludwig Van and CEO of Museland Media. He publishes regularly and writes occasionally. A specialist in digital media for over 15 years, he has worked as a senior editor and is a former freelance classical music critic for the Toronto Star. Michael holds a Doctorate in Music from the University of Toronto.

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