Happy World Opera Day!
This World Opera Day, we're celebrating Pat and Henry and—two artists whose path from community collaboration to our Madama Butterfly chorus shows what's possible when Calgary Opera opens its doors wide.
We’re honoured to share a part of their story:
Pat Cuikani and Henry Ayeras, two members of the Calgary Opera Chorus for Madama Butterfly, 2025.
Patricia Bustillos, known artistically as Pat Cuikani, is a two-time YYC Music Award winner and former Calgary Philharmonic Chorus member. Cuikani participated in Calgary Opera’s cross-cultural song-sharing project, along with 13 women from the Calgary Immigrant Women’s Association, where they taught each other songs of their cultures in their original languages, which culminated in a transformative final performance blending song and story.
Henry Ayeras began his performing arts journey as a dancer and musical theatre performer in Manila. He recently joined FlipSide Theatre, a new Calgary-based company for young Filipino musical theatre artists. In 2024, Ayeras was one of 10 artists from FlipSide and Calgary Opera who joined forces to perform excerpts from the Tagalog-language musical HIMALA at Fiesta Filipino.
The HIMALA team from Fiesta Filipino, 2024.
We asked them both:
What do you love most about singing with Calgary Opera?
Henry: "What I love most about singing with Calgary Opera is the amazing sense of community and shared passion for music. Being part of the chorus is both inspiring and rewarding — everyone is so talented, welcoming, and dedicated. It truly feels like a privilege to create something beautiful together with people who love opera as much as I do."
Pat: "Since I first arrived in Calgary, one of my biggest dreams was to be part of Calgary Opera. Being accepted into the Arias and Ales program and later invited to join the chorus has been such a meaningful and joyful experience. Madama Butterfly is one of my favourite operas, and I feel deeply honoured and grateful to share this beautiful music with such an inspiring company.”
Pat Cuikani performing at Arias and Ales, Best of Kin Brewing, September 2025. Photo: Benjamin Laird.
What do these community projects mean to you personally?
Henry: "Community projects such as the Fiesta Filipino hold great significance for me as they provide a platform to showcase Filipino talent and artistry while celebrating the richness of our culture. They also serve as a bridge to share our heritage with the broader multicultural community, fostering understanding, appreciation, and unity through creative expression."
Pat: "The Calgary Immigrant Women's Association project means a lot to me because, as an immigrant artist, I know how important it is to find support and opportunities to adapt and connect. It helps our community integrate and find spaces to grow, share our voices, and feel a true sense of belonging."
Happy World Opera Day, everyone!