George Hemcher, Musical Director/Conductor

George Hemcher, a native of Frazer, PA could be described as a triple threat owing to his multifaceted abilities as a conductor/director, pianist, and tenor.

Since the summer of 2009, Mr. Hemcher has worked closely with Nico Castel and Carol Castel at Delaware Valley Opera (DVO) and New York Opera Studio. This past summer at DVO, George was a répétiteur for Verdi’s Otello. Currently Mr. Hemcher is a pianist for Mozart’s Die Entführung Aus Am Serail with DVO.

George made his conducting debut in the 2012 DVO production of Cole Porter’s Kiss Me Kate. Described byMarcus Kalipolites of the Narrowsburg, NY Times Herald-Record wrote, “The sine qua non of this production, of course, rests with the exceptional musical support by the six-piece orchestra directed by George Hemcher.”

An active freelancer, George has collaborated with Pocket Opera of New York as a pianist for Händel’s Alcina, and currently is a pianist for Regina Opera in Brooklyn, NY where their 2012-13 season includes La Bohème, Suor Angelica, La Serva Padrona, and La Traviata. As a collaborative pianist, Mr. Hemcher has performed in master classes for Thomas Hampson, Lauren Flanigan, and John Fisher.

John Conlon, Baritone

Role: Gabriel von Eisenstein
Website: www.johnconlon.ca

Metropolitan Opera Auditions regional winner baritone John Conlon, is originally from Parry Sound, Ontario and a graduate of the University of British Columbia with a Master of Opera degree. During his time at UBC, John studied voice with Canadian baritone Peter Barcza. He made numerous appearances with the UBC Opera Ensemble, notably in the roles of Betto in Puccini’s Gianni Schicchi, Taddeo in the Rossini’s L’Italiana in Algeri, and Pluto in Offenbach’s Orpheus In the Underworld. John also participated in two UBC Opera Ensemble tours to the Czech Republic singing two of the greatest roles in the lyric baritone repertoire: Lescaut in Massenet’s Manon, and Marcello in Puccini’s La Bohème, roles that remain in his repertoire.
           
The 2006/2007 season saw John making his professional debut first, as Danilo with the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra in their performance of Lehar’s The Merry Widow, and later as Johann in the Vancouver Opera concert performance of Massenet’s Werther. John also made his Vancouver Opera mainstage debut as the First Apparition in Verdi’s Macbeth. In the same season he appeared as the Wigmaker in Strauss’ Ariadne auf Naxos and as Sciarrone in Puccini’s Tosca.
             
Recently John spent a season at Calgary Opera in their Emerging Artist Program, where he was seen in two roles on the mainstage in Moore’s The Ballad of Baby Doe. John returned to Vancouver Opera in the role of Marullo in the new March 2009 production of Verdi’s Rigoletto directed by Glynis Leyshon.  In March 2010, John appeared as a baritone soloist for the Alberta Ballet production of Kurt Weill’s Seven Deadly Sins choreographed by Yukichi Hattori and overseen by Edmonton Opera’s artistic director Brian Deedrick.

Michèle Cusson, Soprano

Role: Rosalinde

Calgary native Michèle Cusson, completed her Artist’s Diploma and Masters Degree in Voice Performance at l’Université de Montréal. Roles include: Micaëla, Suor Angelica, Jenufa, Alice Ford, Donna Elvira, Rosalinde, Susanna and the Countess, Musetta, Flora in La Traviata, Kate in Taming of the Shrew and Guiletta in Les Contes d’Hoffmann. Michèle toured Alberta schools with Opera NUOVA in The Lives of Lesser Things, was a young artist at the Banff Centre for the Arts Opera as Theatre program, and attended the International Vocal Arts Institute in Israel and Montréal. She completed her Bachelor’s Degree in Voice Performance at Westminster Choir College in Princeton, New Jersey.  Specializing in Russian vocal music, Michèle received a Canada Council grant to study Russian music and language at the St. Petersburg Conservatory. She represented Canada as the only non-Russian speaker in the Zara Dolukhanova International Art Song Competition in Kaliningrad, Russia where she placed 4th and has given numerous Recitals of Russian music. This summer she will perform the roles of Liza in The Queen of Spades, Zemfira in Aleko at the Russian Opera Workshop at Academy of Vocal Arts in Philadelphia.

Emily Bolhuis, Soprano

Role: Rosalinde

Emily Bolhuis hails from Halifax, Nova Scotia where she obtained a Bachelor of Music in Voice Performance from Dalhousie University. During her time at Dalhousie, she created the roles of 'Nora' in Riders to the Sea and 'Miss Singspiel' in The Impressario with the Dalhousie Opera Workshop. Emily also completed the Artist Diploma program at the University of Toronto, where she studied with Jean MacPhail.

Emily's first International singing venture was in 2010 with The Casalmaggiore International Musical Festival in Casalmaggiore, Italy where she performed in several concerts singing works by Bach, Handel and Mozart.

In 2011, Emily performed the role of "Foreign Princess" for Burnaby Lyric Opera's Rusalka Highlights concert and covered the role of Fiordiligi (Cosi fan tutte) with the Vancouver Summer Opera Studio. In 2012, Emily debuted the roles of 'Nella' in Gianni Schicchi and 'Mimi and Musetta' in La Bohème with The Opera Project (Vancouver, BC). Emily looks forward to performing again with The Opera Project in 2013 as 'Violetta' in La Traviata. She is thrilled to be singing with VanCOCO as Rosalinde.

Stephanie Domingues, Soprano

Role: Adele
Website: www.stephaniedomingues.com

Canadian soprano, Stephanie Domingues made her European debut in Freiburg, Germany as Mademoiselle Silberklang ‘Der Shauspieldirektor’. She has worked with Richard Bradshaw where she was invited to perform in the Canadian Opera Company's production of ‘Turandot,’ ‘Queen of Spades,’ and ‘Die Zauberflöte.’ She was invited to perform in the Richard Bradshaw Amphitheatre for the opening of the Four Seasons Center for the Performing Arts in Toronto, Ontario. In both the summer of 2005 and 2006, Stephanie was chosen to train and performed under full sponsorship at the prestigious Tanglewood Institute in the Young Artist Vocal Program.

This season, Stephanie will make her role debut as Despina in Così fan tutte in Teplice, Czech Republic. She will also perform selections from Così fan tutte with the Nord Czech Philharmonic conducted by Norbert Baxa. In August 2012, she will perform the role of Olympia from ‘Les contes d’Hoffmann’ at the Bard on the Beach Shakespeare Festival in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. In November 2012, she will later reprise the role of Despina in ‘Così fan tutte’ with the University of British Columbia Opera Ensemble and the Vancouver Opera Orchestra. In Janurary 2013, Stephanie will be singing the role of Adele in Die Fledermaus with the Vancouver Concert Opera Society.

Last season, Stephanie was heard as a Soprano Soloist with the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra in ‘A Traditional Christmas’ concert series and in ‘A Sing Along Messiah’ and Stephen Chatman’s ‘Earth Songs’ with the Vancouver Bach Choir and the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra. Stephanie sang the role of Valencienne in ‘Die Lustige Witwe’ with the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra and later in the year with the University of British Columbia Opera Ensemble. She also covered the role of Ann Putnam in The University of British Columbia’s production of ‘The Crucible.’ In April 2012, she returned Vancouver Symphony Orchestra to premiere Composer in Residence Edward Top’s Songs of an Egyptian Princess, which was written specifically for her.

Christina Meredith Lewall, Soprano

Role: Adele
VanCOCO Debut: Carmen Chorus (2011)

Soprano Christina Meredith Lewall, known for her energetic stage presence and a warm and unique sound, Christina is quickly showing herself as an emerging artist of note. She has performed in several operatic productions with the Vancouver Academy of Music, Lyric Opera Studio Weimar (Germany), City Opera and Vancouver Summer Opera Workshop.

Her most recent roles include: Pamina in Mozart’s Die Zauberflöte and Musetta in Puccini’s La Boheme.

After completing her Artist Diploma she continues to study with tenor, David Meek, at the Vancouver Academy of Music.

Joel Cummings, Tenor

Role: Alfred

With ringing high notes and an easy polished technique, tenor Joel Cummings has charmed audiences of all kinds from across the United States.  Mr. Cummings has performed leading and supporting roles in regional opera houses across the U.S., including Central City Opera, Longwood Opera, and Tacoma Opera.  Role highlights include Ferrando (Mozart’s Cosí fan tutte), Tamino (Mozart’s Die Zauberflöte), Fenton (Verdi’s Falstaff), Egisto (Cavalli’s L’Egisto), and Orpheus (Offenbach’s Orpheus in the Underworld).  The 2013 season begins with role debuts for Vancouver Concert Opera Society (Alfred in Strauss’ Die Fledermaus) and Skagit Opera (Arturo in Donizetti’s Lucia di Lammermoor) where Mr. Cummings will also cover the role of Edgardo. 

A frequent artist on the concert stage, Mr. Cummings will sing in November 2012 as tenor soloist in Marsh’s The Song of Luke with the Cascade Symphony Orchestra in Seattle’s Benaroya Hall.  Late in 2011, Mr. Cummings was heard in Handel’s Messiah, Bach’s Cantata 106 and Cantata 51, and Pergolesi’s Magnificat in various venues across the Seattle area. Other 2011 performances include Schubert’s Mass in G and Magnificat with the Everett Chorale and Orchestra, Haydn’s Lord Nelson Mass and Mozart’s Missa Brevis with the Whatcom Chorale and Sinfonia, and Mendelssohn’s Lobgesang with West Side Presbyterian Church in Seattle, WA.  He has graced Boston’s Jordan Hall, performing Stravinsky’s In Memoriam: Dylan Thomas with the New England Conservatory Contemporary Ensemble.   

Harout Markarian, Tenor

Role: Alfred
Cover: Eisenstein

Born in Jordan of Armenian heritage and now a citizen of Canada, Harout has had a love of singing as long as he can remember.  He is charismatic on stage and has a zeal for taking on challenging roles and his vocal style and range can be described as a rich lyric tenor.  Anyone who has met Harout has found him to be always ready with a kind word, possessing an unrestrained, infectious laugh and a perpetual smile.

Harout has attended master classes with Seigfreid Jerusalem and studied under soprano  Heidi Klassen, David Meek, and Nancy Hermiston.  He has also been coached by Stuart Hamilton, Gordan Gerrard, Les Dala, Richard Epp, David Walsh, Gianfranco Pastine, and Bliss Johnston.

Over the last four years Harout has been singing with many local companies such as Vancouver Academy of Music, The Opera Project, Dragon Diva Operatic Theatre, Vancouver Island Opera, the late Opera Appassionata, as well as appearing periodically with the Vancouver Opera Chorus. Harout has recently performed with the relaunch of the Company Opera Breve in their concert program War and Peace in November, and as Sou-Chong in Land des Lächeln with the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra.

Some of the roles Harout has had the pleasure of singing are: Tamino in Die Zauberflöte, Ralph in H.M.S.Pinafore, Nemorino in L’Elisir D’Amore, Alfred in Die Fledermaus, Goro in Madame Butterfly,  Count in La Finta Giardiniera and Don Basilio in Le Nozze di Figaro.  Harout’s concert work has been as a Tenor Soloist in the Phantom of the Opera (Royal Jordanian Academy Orchestra/Kiffah Facoury), the Pacific Spirit Choir, and Beethoven’s Choral Fantasy (Royal Jordanian Academy Orchestra).

Robin Eder-Warren, Soprano

Role: Ida

Praised as “uplifting and energetic” (Langara Voice), lyric coloratura soprano Robin Eder-Warren’s most recent role credits include Musetta in La bohème and Lauretta in Gianni Schicchi, both with The Opera Project. Some previous roles include Despina in Così fan tutte with Lyric Opera Studio Weimar (European debut), Susanna (Le nozze di Figaro), Papagena/Pamina cover (The Magic Flute),Young Heidi (Follies), Third Spirit/Noemie cover (Cendrillon), Aninka (Brundibar), and Dew Fairy (Hänsel und Gretel), with scene selection performances as Gretel (Hänsel and Gretel) and Suor Genovieffa (Suor Angelica). Upcoming roles: Mlle Silberklang in The Impresario, followed by Serpina in La serva padrona, both with Opera Mariposa.

Newly-appointed Managing Director of Opera Mariposa, Robin “delightfully stole the show” (Langara Voice) at their launch concert earlier this year. She has been heard in performance on CBC Radio 2, has sung in New York, Disneyworld and Germany, and as a film actor appeared most recently in What Goes Upwith Hilary Duff. She is excited to attend yoga teacher training this winter in Mexico. Robin teaches voice out of a private studio in Richmond.

Allison Harker, Soprano

Role: Ida

Allison Harker just finished her bachelor degree in Opera Performance at the University of British Columbia. In 2009 Allison joined the ensemble on a trip to China where she performed in excerpts as Adele in Die Fledermaus and Yum-yum in The Mikado. In 2010 UBC excerpt concerts Allison sang Blonde in Abduction from the Seraglio and Gasparina in Haydn’s La Canterina . Summer 2010 she traveled to Westben Festival in Ontario and the Czech Republic with UBC where she performed the role of Erste Knabe in The Magic Flute and covered the role of The Queen of the Night. That same year she was awarded the Elizabeth Scott Bursary and performed a recital along with her sister Heather in Vernon BC in support of the scholarship. 2011 Allison sang the role of Cissy Woodger in Albert Herring with the Westben Festival Theater and Papagena in Die Zauberflote with the VSOW. This year Allison performed Juliet The Merry Widow with UBC Opera and Barbarina in Le nozze di Figaro with ViVace. She also was a soloist with the Okanagan Symphony Orchestras concert “Diva’s, Dons and Dastards where she sang Zerlina in excerpts from Don Giovanni. She most recently performed part of the role of Susanna in Le nozze di Figaro with the Vancouver Summer Opera Studio and had the time of her life!

Jason Cook, Baritone

Role: Dr. Falke

Canadian Lyric Baritone, Jason Cook, is an accomplished graduate of the Royal Conservatory of Music in piano performance and holds an undergraduate degree from the UBC Music Faculty with a major in Voice Performance. With his roots in traditional choral performance and musical theatre, the marriage of these two styles has led Jason to the operatic stage. Opera Canada magazine recently stated that “his resonant baritone well [conveyed] the character’s forceful swagger... verve and passion” in regards to his recent performance of Belcore with the Vancouver Island Opera.  

Other operatic accomplishments include: Alfio (Cavalleria Rusticana), Masetto (Don Giovanni), Dr. Miracle (Les Contes d’Hoffmann), Figaro (Le Nozze di Figaro), Captain Corcoran (HMS Pinafore) and Marcello in Puccini's La Boheme, most recently with Burnaby Lyric Opera this past February.

Jason currently studies at the Vancouver Academy of Music under the tutelage of David Meek. This young artist is returning after a busy summer, having performed Papageno in the VAM production of Mozart's Die Zauberflöte;  In addition, the roles of Count Almaviva (Le nozze di Figaro) and Don Giovanni were coached and presented in concert under the direction of Luke Housner, head repetiteur of the Academy of Vocal Arts in Philadelphia.

Dane Wendell, Baritone

Role: Frank

Baritone Dane Wendell recently finished an Honours Bachelor of Music in Theory degree at Wilfrid Laurier University in his hometown of Waterloo, Ontario. He could most recently be seen portraying Simone in OperaKlass’ production of Gianni Schicchi. Other recent operatic credits include Guglielmo in both the Vancouver Summer Opera Studio, and the Lyric Opera Studio Weimar productions of Cosi fan Tutte, Nardo in the Royal Conservatory of Music’s summer production of La Finta Giardiniera, and Marquis in Brampton Lyric Opera/Opera Kitchener’s production of La Traviata.

Dane has enjoyed success as a featured soloist with several amateur and professional choirs around the Kitchener-Waterloo region, singing such works as Gounod’s Mass for St. Cecilia, Stainer’s The Crucifixion, Bach’s Magnificat, and Handel’s Messiah. Dane has also been fortunate enough to participate in the Festival Ensemble in Stuttgart, Germany, performing such works as Bach’s Johannes-passion, Mozart’s Requiem and Mass in C minor, and Britten’s War Reqiuem under the baton of Helmuth Rilling.

Dane is very much looking forward to making his debut with Vancoco alongside a truly magnificent cast in this production of Die Fledermaus.

Linda Baird, Mezzo Soprano

Role: Prince Orlofsky

Canadian mezzo soprano, Linda Baird most recently appeared as Romeo in Burnaby Lyric Opera's I Capuletti e I Montecchi, and Charlotte from Burnaby Lyric Opera's Werther. Linda sang the role of Nora in Vancouver Opera’s 50th anniversary premier production of Lillian Alling and Soeur Catherine in their production of The Dialogues of the Carmelites. Other roles include The Foreign Princess in a production of Rusalka with the Northern Czech Republic Orchestra, Iolanthe in Dragon Diva's Iolanthe, and Rosina in Bard on the Beach's The Barber of Seville excerpts. Linda has sung with the Vancouver Opera Chorus since the 2004/2005 season.

Danielle Horta, Mezzo Soprano

Role: Prince Orlofsky

Often described as a “true” mezzo-soprano, Danielle Horta is admired for her vibrant and rich timbre.  Being a gifted singing actress with great versatility, she is eager to immerse herself in work outside of the colligate realm.  Praised for her “astounding musicianship” and “great character portrayal,” Ms. Horta is dynamically pursuing a career in opera; a passion she discovered when she was a young girl.

In 2011, Ms. Horta graduated from DePaul University with a Masters Degree in Vocal Performance and received her Bachelor of Science degree at Hofstra University in 2009.  She very much enjoyed her learning experiences in both New York and Chicago, where she was given many magnificent opportunities to perform and excel.  As a hardworking undergraduate student at Hofstra University, Ms. Horta received the Dorothy B. Hoag Honors Recital her junior year and the following year, received the William Rosencrans Scholarship Recital, an award held with great honor.

Mark Pepe, Tenor

Role: Dr. Blind

Mark Pepe, tenor, has a Bachelor of Music in Opera Performance and Music Education from the University of British Columbia. Past performances include The Bells by Rachmaninoff with the University of Victoria Orchestra and Chorus. Don Basilio in Mozart’s Le Nozze di Figaro, and Monostatos and First Armed Guard in Mozart’s Die Zauberflöte with ViVace. With Opera NUOVA he has performed the roles of Gameskeeper in Dvořak’s Rusalka, and Tybalt in Gounod’s Romeo et Juliette. He performed the roles of Benoit and Alcindoro in Puccini’s La Bohème with Bard on the Beach and the UBC Opera Ensemble. Also with the UBC Opera Ensemble he performed the roles of Thomas Scott and O’Donaghue in Harry Somers’ Louis Riel, Spinelloccio in Puccini’s Gianni Schicchi, Child Eating Man in the world premiere of The Dream Healer by Lloyd Burrit, and Dr.Blind in Johann Strauss’s Die Fledermaus. With Opera Pro Cantanti he performed the roles of Alfredo in Verdi’s La Traviata, Macduff in Verdi’s Macbeth, and Arturo in Donizetti’s Lucia di Lammermoor. With Dragon Diva Operatic Theatre he performed the role of Frederick in Gilbert & Sullivan’s The Pirates of Penzance. He has performed in recital with selections from Schubert’s Winterreise, Britten’s Three Songs from ‘This Way to the Tomb,’ and a selection of Verdi Romanze. Mark was a first prize winner at NATS Songfest 2009 and a scholarship winner at the Kiwanis Music Festival 2009.

Jessica Wright, Soprano

Role: Yvan (Orlofsky's Servant) + Ensemble

Soprano Jessica Wright is an energetic and versatile performer who has spent the last five years singing with various companies in the lower mainland including Dragon Diva Operatic Theatre, Opera Appassionata, and UBC's Gilbert and Sullivan Society. Most recently Jessica performed the role of Pitti-Sing in North Shore Light Opera Society's The Mikado. When she's not singing her heart out, Jessica spends her time working on her degree at Langara and being a mom to two amazing kids.