April 27, 2009
For immediate release

Young Singer wins
So You Think You Can Sing Opera contest

Calgary, AB – As a part of Calgary Opera’s annual Community Symposium, the So You Think You Can Sing Opera contest welcomed non-professional aspiring singers to come out and sing their way to a host of great prizes.   The preliminary round was on Monday, April 20th, with the final selection of winners on Friday, April 24th.

In first place came Soprano Camilla Kershaw, winning a place in the Calgary Opera Chorus for the 2009/10 season’s production of Manon, as well as select classes with Calgary Opera’s Emerging Artists and a subscription to Calgary Opera’s 2009/10 season with her piece Deh vieni non tardar from The Marriage of Figaro.  Claiming second place was Soprano Britta Lee Dixon, followed by Mezzo-Soprano Jennifer Geisbrecht and Soprano Rosanna Redd in third and fourth places respectively. 

For judges Dennis Garnhum, Theatre Calgary; Kelly Robinson, The Banff Centre and known voice teacher Dawn Johnson, the decision was not easy.  Instead of three, four finalists were chosen to move on to the second round.  Generously, Dawn Johnson donated a private lesson for the fourth place winner.  During the first round, a special prize was also given out to Baritone Mike Johnson for audience favourite.

“We are so pleased with the response from the contestants,” says (W.R.) Bob McPhee.  “And we hope that those who did not receive an award still gained great benefit from the process.”

For those who missed the competition in person, a condensed online version will be available at calgaryopera.com in the upcoming weeks.

Calgary Opera acknowledges the support of Community Outreach sponsor EnCana and Media Sponsor Swerve. The Barber of Seville is sponsored by Talisman Energy.

For further information, please contact: Alex Bonyun, Calgary Opera
403-802-3403, or abonyun@calgaryopera.com.

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