Curriculum

A resident, nationally recognized faculty conducts intensive training in acting, speech, text analysis, stage movement, body/voice integration, and combat, in addition to on-going vocal coaching, languages, diction, and repertoire. Special classes focus on topics such as audition techniques, career promotion, performer’s stress management, public relations and marketing, and agent representation are conducted by experts in their field.

Based upon one’s level of ability, Emerging Artists are assigned supporting roles in Calgary Opera main-stage productions. Additional performances involve school tours, study/cover assignments of principal roles in mainstage productions, recitals, concert tours, and community outreach engagements.

All Emerging Artist participants become members of, and receive remuneration, as contracted members of the Canadian Actors’ Equity Association.

The Emerging Artist Development Program 2009-2010 is in three Sessions running 22 weeks and is coordinated with the three productions during the Calgary Opera season this year – Manon, Little Women, and Don Giovanni..

Principal Coach for the Emerging Artist Program is Calgary Opera Repetiteur and Resident Conductor Gordon Gerrard and Resident Voice Teacher is Dawn Johnson.

Eminent Canadian Voice Teacher Wendy Nielsen will work with the Emerging Artists throughout the year. Guest voice and repertoire coaches will include Carol Isaac (San Francisco Opera), Stuart Hamilton, and Michael McMahon (McGill University).

Throughout the season opportunities for individual instruction and master class contacts are planned with visiting directors Kelly Robinson, Brian Deedrick, Rob Herriot and Glynis Leyshon, conductors Tyrone Paterson and Robert Dean, and performing main-stage vocalists Kimberly Barber, Nathalie Paulin, Richard Troxell, Laura Whalen, Etienne Dupuis, Elizabeth Turnbull, Brett Polegato, and Benjamin Butterfield.

Session One

The first eight-week long session (October -December) trains the Emerging Artists in movement, flexibility, period dance and movement, stage fighting, speech, and acting. The first session concludes with public performances with orchestra at the Arrata Opera Centre of Hector Berlioz’s  Beatrice and  Benedict (sung in French with spoken English dialogue)  on December 3, 4, and 5.  The text will be adapted and the production directed by Rob Herriot, designed by Brad Leavitt and conducted by Gordon Gerrard.

Instructors this year during the first Session include Anita Miotti who will teach yoga, body awareness, acting movement, flexibility, and body/voice integration; Grant Reddick, who will teach acting, text analysis, and speech centered; and J.P. Fournier, assisted by Laryssa Yanchak and Adrian Young, who will teach stage combat and fencing.  

Guest Coach will be Michael McMahon (McGill University) who will lead a week long workshop on art song.

Session Two

The focus of the second five-week long session (January-February) is on the practical realization of vocal and stage skills as the Emerging Artists are cast in and/or cover roles for a main stage production – this year the Canadian premiere of Mark Adamo’s Little Women.  They will also receive career counseling in marketing, publicity presentation, effective audition practices, and exposure to prospective agents and prepare an audition CD and marketing package.

Guest Instructor will be Stuart Hamilton, eminent Canadian vocal coach and pianist, who will deliver a week’s instruction on French art song, culminating in a public afternoon recital on February 7, at the Lougheed House.

Session Three

The third Session (February-April), lasts nine weeks and will concentrate on an Opera in Schools Tour of Calgary and southern Alberta.  The Emerging Artists will perform Cinderella, adapted by Rob Herriot for young audiences from Rossini’s La Cenerentola and Massenet’s Cendrillon.  

In addition, the Emerging Artists will participate in a two-week long contemporary opera workshop with composer and conductor Bramwell Tovey, director Kelly Robinson and librettist John Murrell on The Inventor, by Tovey and Murrell.

The Emerging Artist year will end with a one-week residency by guest coach Carol Isaac (San Francisco Opera).