Mezzo-soprano Ariana Maubach of Toronto was awarded First Prize at the Canadian Opera Company’s 11th annual Centre Stage: Ensemble Studio Competition. Ariana also took home the Audience Choice Prize at the gala, held on October 30 at the Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts.
“It’s always an inspiring experience to get a glimpse at some of Canada’s most promising up and coming opera voices,” says COC General Director David Ferguson in a statement.
“Last night, for the third year in a row, audiences both in the opera house and at home via livestream were treated to moving performances by some of the top emerging talent, discovered during auditions conducted across the country.”
The event was hosted by Emma Hunter (This Hour Has 22 Minutes, The Royal Canadian Air Farce, Letterkenny). The prizes serve as the grand finale to the COC’s search for the next crop of Canada’s talented young opera singers.
At stake were not only cash prizes, but the chance to be invited to participate in the COC’s Ensemble Studio, which provides a major leg up for young artists on the verge of a professional career. For the third year in a row, the event was livestreamed coast to coast, with audience members given the opportunity to register in advance, and participate in the Audience Choice Prize award.
The Winners
Ariana Maubach: First Prize, a $7,500 award and the Audience Choice Prize of $1,000
Aria performed: “Cruda sorte” from L’Italiana in Algeri by Rossini
Currently a second year Resident Artist at the Academy of Vocal Arts (AVA) in Philadelphia, PA, Ariana is an alumna of the Music Academy of the West, College Conservatory of Music at University of Cincinnati, The Glenn Gould School, and Eastman School of Music. Her experience includes Linette in The Love for Three Oranges (Des Moines Metro Opera), and Mere Marie in Dialogues des Carmélites (College Conservatory of Music), among other roles, and this season, she’ll be singing the part of Marthe in Faust and Dorabella in Così fan tutte.
Soprano Emma Pennell: won the Second Prize of $5,000
Aria performed: “Donde lieta uscì” from La Bohème by Puccini
Emma Pennell is a 2-Spirit opera singer with Mi’kmaw roots in the South River/Corner Brook Indian Band. She has studied Voice Performance and Indigenous Studies at Western University, Cambrian College, and The Glenn Gould School. The Indigenous activist recently made her debut at Koerner Hall with Tanya Tagaq for the The National Day of Truth and Reconciliation.
Soprano Olivia LaPointe: Third Prize of $2,500
Aria performed: “Obéissons, quand leur voix appelle” from Manon by Massenet
Olivia LaPointe’s experience as a vocalist includes opera, jazz, pop, classical, and musical theatre. A semi-finalist in the 2023 Lotte Lenya Competition, she made her European debut with Opernfest Prague. Olivia earned a Master of Music in Opera and Voice from McGill University and a Bachelor of Music in Performance – Voice (Honours) from the University of Toronto. She is the Worship Arts Assistant and Soprano Section Lead at Timothy Eaton Memorial Church.
“The Centre Stage: Ensemble Studio Competition has proved to be an incredible launchpad for young Canadian opera artists,” says Ferguson. “We are enormously proud of all of tonight’s winners and finalists and are looking forward to hearing a lot more from them soon.”
The seven finalists were chosen from 120 online applicants and 78 live auditions held in Vancouver, Calgary, Toronto, and Montreal. At the gala, each performed two arias, one first with the judges alone in a closed round, and the second in front of both judges and audience. The title listed above is the second that each performed.
The Jury:
- COC Director, Ensemble Studio Dorian Cox;
- COC Director, Artistic Operations & Planning Roberto Mauro;
- COC Head of Music, Ensemble Studio Liz Upchurch;
- Hollywood and Broadway vocal coach Elaine Overholt;
- Canadian soprano Edith Wiens.
Past winners of the COC Centre Stage competition includes today’s opera stars like Ambur Braid, Emily D’Angelo, Matthew Cairns, Claire de Sévigné, Wallis Giunta, David Pomeroy, and Krisztina Szabó.
Congratulations to Ariana, Emma, and Olivia, and to all the competitors for making it to the final round.
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