{"id":124260,"date":"2026-05-13T14:56:09","date_gmt":"2026-05-13T18:56:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/?p=124260"},"modified":"2026-05-13T14:56:09","modified_gmt":"2026-05-13T18:56:09","slug":"interview-canadian-soprano-gabrielle-turgeon-talks-met-competition-finals-world-premiere","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/2026\/05\/13\/interview-canadian-soprano-gabrielle-turgeon-talks-met-competition-finals-world-premiere\/","title":{"rendered":"INTERVIEW | Canadian Soprano Gabrielle Turgeon Talks Met Competition Finals, A World Premiere &#038; More"},"content":{"rendered":"<figure id=\"attachment_124263\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-124263\" style=\"width: 1200px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-full wp-image-124263\" src=\"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/05\/Copy-of-INTERVIEW-5.jpg\" alt=\"Soprano Gabrielle Turgeon at Le Concours OSM (Montreal, November 2025) (Photo courtesy of the artist)\" width=\"1200\" height=\"628\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/05\/Copy-of-INTERVIEW-5.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/05\/Copy-of-INTERVIEW-5-300x157.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/05\/Copy-of-INTERVIEW-5-1024x536.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/05\/Copy-of-INTERVIEW-5-768x402.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-124263\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Soprano Gabrielle Turgeon at Le Concours OSM (Montreal, November 2025) (Photo courtesy of the artist)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Canadian-American soprano Gabrielle Turgeon is a rising star of the opera world. She was recently a finalist in this year&#8217;s prestigious Metropolitan Opera Laffont Competition.<\/p>\n<p>In June 2026, she\u2019ll be singing in the Los Angeles Opera\u2019s production of Die Zauberfl\u00f6te, and in Britten\u2019s A Midsummer Night&#8217;s Dream with Aspen Music Festival in July 2026 as a Ren\u00e9e Fleming Artist.<\/p>\n<p>At the Met Opera competition, Gabrielle was awarded the Anne de Richemont Smithers Award that comes with a prize $10,000 USD. It\u2019s given in recognition of an exceptional performance at the competition.<\/p>\n<p>While she didn\u2019t emerge as a winner at the Finals, her participation led to an offer that will see her perform in a European world premiere later this summer.<\/p>\n<p>LV caught up with the busy young artist to talk.<\/p>\n<h2>Gabrielle Turgeon<\/h2>\n<p>Canadian-American soprano Gabrielle Turgeon was born in Florida, but grew up in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario. Both of her parents are University of Toronto alumni.<\/p>\n<p>Gabrielle earned her Bachelor&#8217;s from the University of Toronto, and went on to earn her Master\u2019s from the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music (CCM). She\u2019s also an alumnus of the Houston Grand Opera Young Artists\u2019 Vocal Academy, and the Ravinia Steans Music Institute.<\/p>\n<p>Turgeon joined the Domingo-Colburn-Stein Young Artist Program at Los Angeles Opera in 2025. She performed in her company debut as Kate Pinkerton in Puccini\u2019s Madama Butterfly, as well as the Voice of the Fountain in Golijov\u2019s Ainadamar and the Countess Ceprano and Page in Verdi\u2019s Rigoletto, and covered Despina in Mozart\u2019s Cos\u00ec Fan Tutte.<\/p>\n<p>Gabrielle is no stranger to competitions or wins. She was the Grand First Prize Winner of Le Concours OSM (the Montreal Symphony Orchestra Competition) in 2025, and was previously a National Semifinalist at the Metropolitan Opera Laffont Competition.<\/p>\n<p>Gabrielle Turgeon, soprano and Esther Gonthier, piano perform Spleen from Ariettes Oubli\u00e9es by Claude Debussy, Live performance from the semifinals of Le Concours OSM in November 2025:<\/p>\n<div class=\"jetpack-video-wrapper\"><span class=\"embed-youtube\" style=\"text-align:center; display: block;\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" class=\"youtube-player\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/mhGcQbVQ0cI?version=3&#038;rel=1&#038;showsearch=0&#038;showinfo=1&#038;iv_load_policy=1&#038;fs=1&#038;hl=en-US&#038;autohide=2&#038;wmode=transparent\" allowfullscreen=\"true\" style=\"border:0;\" sandbox=\"allow-scripts allow-same-origin allow-popups allow-presentation\"><\/iframe><\/span><\/div>\n<h2>Gabrielle Turgeon: The Interview<\/h2>\n<p>What made her choose opera as her profession?<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI really love to tell this story,\u201d Turgeon says. \u201cI was actually born in Boynton Beach, Florida, but my parents are both Canadian.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Her parents, as it turns out, grew up in Scarborough and Mississauga, and met while they were students at the University of Toronto. Her father got a job offer in Sault Ste Marie when Gabrielle was in middle school, and the family headed north.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt was kind of a tough transition for me,\u201d she recalls. \u201cMy parents were looking for activities in the community to involve me in, and make friends. So, they got me into musical theatre.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>She ended up in the cast of a community theatre production of Oliver.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI really loved singing and being part of the group.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>That fall, she found out her high school wold be presenting Phantom of the Opera. \u201cI told my mom, I think I really want to be in this show.\u201d Her mother thought she might need voice lessons to prepare. \u201cThere is a wonderful teacher who still lives the Soo, Agnes McCarthy,\u201d Gabrielle says. Agnes McCarthy is a voice instructor, director, and clinician. She\u2019s on the faculty of the Northern Arts Academy as well as Algoma University.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI started taking voice lessons for her. My idea was to take the lessons to just be in the musical. But, I think she saw something in me that she thought was work exploring and developing.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Beyond musical theatre, McCarthy suggested learning a few classical pieces. \u201cI really loved classical pieces.\u201d Turgeon became excited to practice and learn the new techniques. She went on to compete in Ontario provincial as well as Kiwanis competitions.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt was my first year ever doing that,\u201d Gabrielle recalls. She\u2019d entered into both the musical theatre and classical categories, but didn\u2019t think she\u2019d do well in the latter. \u201cIn my first year, I didn\u2019t get an award in the musical theatre category, but I won the classical category.\u201d It made her think about the possibilities.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThat was kind of a sign for me that maybe I do have a talent for it,\u201d she said. She went on to win provincial competitions, which led to studying opera at the University of Toronto.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_124264\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-124264\" style=\"width: 1200px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-full wp-image-124264\" src=\"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/05\/Gabrielle-Turgeon-at-Met-Opera-competition.jpg\" alt=\"Gabrielle Turgeon, National Grand Finalist at the Metropolitan Opera Laffont Competition (New York, March 2026) (Photo courtesy of the artist)\" width=\"1200\" height=\"800\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/05\/Gabrielle-Turgeon-at-Met-Opera-competition.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/05\/Gabrielle-Turgeon-at-Met-Opera-competition-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/05\/Gabrielle-Turgeon-at-Met-Opera-competition-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/05\/Gabrielle-Turgeon-at-Met-Opera-competition-768x512.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-124264\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Gabrielle Turgeon, National Grand Finalist at the Metropolitan Opera Laffont Competition (New York, March 2026) (Photo courtesy of the artist)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h3>The Metropolitan Opera Laffont Competition<\/h3>\n<p>\u201cThe Met Competition is one of those competitions that I feel like every young singer, especially of a certain age [&#8230;] dreams of doing,\u201d Turgeon says. \u201cThat was certainly the case for me.\u201d She\u2019s been thinking about it since her undergrad days at UofT. \u201cIt was always a dream to do for me.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>When Canadian mezzo-soprano Emily D\u2019Angelo took home first prize in 2016 at the age of 21, it made a win seem possible.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cYou can go all the way. That was a really motivating thing for me in university.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Once she got to the competition herself, Gabrielle found out just how challenging it was.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe structure of the competition makes it really difficult to advance even to the semi-final rounds,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n<p>The Metropolitan Opera Eric and Dominique Laffont Competition involves district auditions first, which are held in locations across the US, Canada, Mexico, and South America. That process takes several months.<\/p>\n<p>Then, the winners of the District level auditions compete in one of 12 Regional Finals. The winners of the Regional Finals advance to the National Semifinals in New York City, held just days before the Grand Finals.<\/p>\n<p>About 20 or more singers typically make it to the Semifinals, and from there, 10 finalists are chosen for the Grand Finals. Six winners emerge from the Grand Finals.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI think this was my fifth year trying.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Previous years saw Gabrielle advance to various stages. In 2025, she didn\u2019t get past the District Level.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt\u2019s one of those competitions where you just have to keep trying,\u201d she says. The final cut off age is 30. Before 2026, her goal was to keep trying as long as possible. \u201cI think I\u2019m just going to keep trying until I\u2019m 30 and see what happens.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>For 2026, Turgeon was taking it one step at a time. \u201cIt just worked out that I found myself in the finals.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>She considers all of her attempts time well spent. \u201cFor me, I think that really speaks to [the fact that] it really takes a lot of work and dedication.\u201d She points out that it requires consistent effort over about a six month period. \u201cI\u2019m so proud of myself to even make it to the finals.\u201d She points out that there were about 1,700 applicants overall, whittled down to only 10 at the Grand Finals.<\/p>\n<p>Naturally, she\u2019s disappointed that she didn\u2019t win in the end. \u201cBut, there\u2019s so much that goes into competitions.\u201d There is repertoire to learn, and preparation for those big moments on stage. \u201cIt\u2019s such a high pressure public moment,\u201d she says. It was unlike any other stage experience she\u2019s had so far.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI guess in some ways I\u2019m disappointed \u2014 but [when] I look back over my journey as a singer over the last ten years, even over the last year, I think it\u2019s pretty good.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The competition itself fosters a productive atmosphere. \u201cEveryone at the Met is so supportive. It\u2019s such an incredible opportunity for exposure.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>She also appreciated a singer-friendly Metropolitan Opera House, where the finals take place. \u201cIt\u2019s so well designed acoustically. It felt magical. To hear my voice in that space was a really amazing moment.\u201d Singing with the Met Opera Orchestra was another big plus. \u201cTo sing with the orchestra \u2014 it\u2019s a partial realization of that dream.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>After reaching the finals, however, there is one caveat: singers can\u2019t compete again.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWhen you make it to the finals, you can\u2019t re-compete,\u201d she says. \u201cI can now close this chapter and move on to something else.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Gabrielle Turgeon, soprano and Nino Sanikidze, piano perform Non so le tetre immagini from Il Corsaro by Verdi at the Butler Oopera International Competition on January 25, 2026:<\/p>\n<div class=\"jetpack-video-wrapper\"><span class=\"embed-youtube\" style=\"text-align:center; display: block;\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" class=\"youtube-player\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/SX0jvl0lqUg?version=3&#038;rel=1&#038;showsearch=0&#038;showinfo=1&#038;iv_load_policy=1&#038;fs=1&#038;hl=en-US&#038;autohide=2&#038;wmode=transparent\" allowfullscreen=\"true\" style=\"border:0;\" sandbox=\"allow-scripts allow-same-origin allow-popups allow-presentation\"><\/iframe><\/span><\/div>\n<h3>Next Steps<\/h3>\n<p>Turgeon has been part of the Domingo-Colburn-Stein Young Artist Program at Los Angeles Opera since 2025.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt\u2019s generally a two to three year program,\u201d Gabrielle explains. She\u2019s one of the younger members of the program currently. I\u2019m actually returning for a third year. But I do have some exciting projects that are happening outside of LA Opera,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt relates to my performance in the Met Finals,\u201d Turgeon adds. \u201cI was a little bit disappointed that I didn\u2019t win the Met Competition because it\u2019s such a huge promotional vehicle.\u201d Still, people around her told her that just making it to the finals would serve her career aspirations.<\/p>\n<p>That proved to be true.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cMaybe five days after the finals wrapped, there was someone in the audience who represented the <strong>Edinburgh International Festival<\/strong>,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n<p>The representative contacted her about a role in the world premiere of an opera by American composer Missy Mazzoli.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt turned out that this person, they were looking for someone to sing one of the principal roles because the person who was doing that had just withdrawn.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The rep had heard her performance in the Met Finals and subsequently contacted LA Opera to get hold of Gabrielle.<\/p>\n<p>Turgeon will be taking on one of the four principal roles in the brand new opera that will premiere in Scotland this summer.<\/p>\n<p>The Galloping Cure by composer <strong>Missy Mazzoli<\/strong> and Canadian librettist <strong>Royce Vavrek<\/strong> revolves around the story of a local doctor in a largely forgotten community on a downswing. Based on Kafka\u2019s short story A Country Doctor, it sets the tale in the midst of the modern day opioid epidemic. A seemingly miraculous cure appears to solve the problems of the town\u2019s citizens \u2014 but of course, it comes at a cost.<\/p>\n<p>The new opera was developed by Opera Ventures Productions and Scottish Opera, along with co-producers across three continents. It reunited the creative team of Missy Mazzoli, Royce Vavrek, and director Tom Morris, whose Breaking the Waves was a hit at the Edinburgh International Festival in 2019. The production takes the stage in Edinburgh August 9, 11 and 12, and is sure to garner a lot of buzz.<\/p>\n<p>It\u2019s a co-production with Opera Ventures Productions, Scottish Opera, NorrlandsOperan AB, Canadian Opera Company, San Francisco Opera, State Opera of South Australia, co-presented with Edinburgh International Festival, so Toronto audiences may just see it in future COC seasons.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI am going to take on this project. It\u2019s really amazing for me because it\u2019s a world premiere.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Other roles are coming up, including Canadian performances.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI\u2019ll be debuting my first Pamina in Magic Flute with<strong> Pacific Opera Victoria<\/strong>,\u201d she says. It\u2019s both a house and role debut for her.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cEven when you don\u2019t win, you win in other ways.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><strong><em>Are you looking to promote an <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/advertising\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"color: #0e101a;\"><u>event<\/u><\/span><\/a>? Have a\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/masthead\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><u>news tip<\/u><\/a>? Need to know the best\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/events\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><u>events<\/u><\/a>\u00a0happening this weekend? Send us a\u00a0<\/em><\/strong><a href=\"mailto:anya@ludwig-van.com?subject=Let's%20chat\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong><em><u>note<\/u>.<\/em><\/strong><br \/>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<h3 class=\"western\"><em><b>#LUDWIGVAN<\/b><\/em><\/h3>\n<p class=\"western\"><em>Get the daily arts news straight to your inbox.<\/em><\/p>\n<h3 class=\"western\"><em>Sign up for the Ludwig Van Toronto e-Blast! \u2014 local classical music and opera news straight to your inbox <\/em><a href=\"https:\/\/583e6ce0-dfd0-48be-8a33-61256b3c58e3.mlbtlr.com\/p2\/Fbd8jWoWQQ6CdBcLIvut3Q\/02E3cYaETqaj4Xm087cpSg?contactid=S3HHYfHY5rZv5f94S15MnA\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" data-saferedirecturl=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/url?q=https:\/\/583e6ce0-dfd0-48be-8a33-61256b3c58e3.mlbtlr.com\/p2\/Fbd8jWoWQQ6CdBcLIvut3Q\/02E3cYaETqaj4Xm087cpSg?contactid%3DS3HHYfHY5rZv5f94S15MnA&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1695737525351000&amp;usg=AOvVaw0QTqKRwRJQFGK3KoJYigxX\">HERE<\/a>.<\/h3>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Canadian-American soprano Gabrielle Turgeon is a rising star, recently a finalist in the Metropolitan Opera Laffont Competition, and soon to take on a world premiere role.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":64,"featured_media":124263,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[42533,17,29,43,56,63],"tags":[41007,42918,9639,9640],"yst_prominent_words":[15967,6886,14728,7549],"acf":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/05\/Copy-of-INTERVIEW-5.jpg","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p9bakr-wkc","amp_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/124260"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/64"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=124260"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/124260\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":124266,"href":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/124260\/revisions\/124266"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/124263"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=124260"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=124260"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=124260"},{"taxonomy":"yst_prominent_words","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/yst_prominent_words?post=124260"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}