Italian conductor Daniela Musca is sought after as a symphonic and operatic conductor, acclaimed for the individuality and passion of her interpretations, her dedication to sound, and her attention to detail. 

Last season, Musca returned to the Royal Stockholm Philharmonic, made her debut with the Jönköping Sinfonietta and Helsingborg Symphony, led the Malmö Symphony in their New Year’s Concert, and returned to Wermland Opera in Karlstad for a new production of Tosca. She also conducted at the historic Democracy Festival in Berlin, honouring the 75th anniversary of Germany's Constitutional Law. Firmly committed to developing new generations of artists, she regularly works with the orchestras of the Malmö and Gothenburg music academies. Recent highlights also include her debuts at both the Copenhagen Opera Festival and Malmö Festival, a revival of Rigoletto with the Royal Opera in Stockholm and Out of the Blue, a new work for dancers and orchestra with music by Bach, Stravinsky, and Björk, choreographed by Anouk Van Dijk with Malmö Opera, where she is returning this season to conduct the Scandinavian premiere of Verdi’s Giovanna d’Arco.

Elizabeth Stepkowski Tarhan, a Canadian Opera and Theatre Artist from Calgary/Mohkinstsis, is pleased to be returning to Calgary Opera after directing Stone Soup, The Witty Squirrel and co-ordinating the 50th Anniversary Concert. Elizabeth has directed for The Shakespeare Company, Guild Hall YK, Seadreamer, Drama on a Dime, Storybook Theatre, Stage West, and new work at the Banff Centre. She has several works in development; Clotho, an opera based on the life of sculptor Claudel, an adaptation of Lorca’s The House of Bernarda Alba, and West Rootabaga Country, a children’s opera. Most recently, Elizabeth taught workshops in voice and performance at International Theatre Festivals in Romania, directed a 5-podcast series Operetta Clochemerle and Fiddler on The Roof for Keyano Theatre.

Scott Reid is a Calgary-based designer who is happy to be back designing for Calgary Opera. Some of his previous Calgary Opera credits include Don Pasquale, Don Giovanni, Macbeth, Eugene Onegin, Die tote Stadt, The Flying Dutchman, Otello, as well as several productions for the McPhee Artist Development program. He recently designed The Pearl Fishers, directed by Rachel Peake, for Vancouver Opera. In addition to opera, Scott designs for theatre and dance at places such as Theatre Calgary, Alberta Ballet, Vertigo Theatre, The Citadel Theatre (Edmonton), Alberta Theatre Projects, and The Shakespeare Company, to name a few.

Heather Moore’s Costume Design credits include the Canadian premiere of Die tote Stadt, as well as Macbeth (Betty Mitchell award winner for Outstanding Costume Design), Hansel and Gretel, Brothers Grimm and South Pacific for Calgary Opera, The Last Wife and The Virgin Trial for ATP, and The Allan Parkinson’s Project, Mesa, The Carrot Warrior Seminar, and Confessions of a Paperboy for Ghost River Theatre. As a film professional, her credits include The Assassination of Jessie James, Inception, Hellboy, Hell on Wheels, Interstellar, and Togo. Her most recent productions are The Last of Us and The Thicket.

The Calgary Philharmonic celebrated 65 years as a pillar of Calgary’s vibrant arts community in 2020 and has grown to be one of Canada’s most celebrated live music ensembles. Led by Music Director Rune Bergmann, the Orchestra presents classical standards, pop favourites, bold collaborations, and cutting-edge new works, and attracts world-renowned guest artists and dynamic conductors each season. The Orchestra is proud to perform live symphonic music for Alberta Ballet, Calgary Opera, and the Honens International Piano Competition.

FIGARO

Upcoming engagements include Grisha’s role debuts as Marcello in La bohème at Opera North, Figaro in Il barbiere di Siviglia at Theater Bonn and Calgary Opera.

He recently participated in the Young Singers Project at the Salzburg Festival, performing in Verdi’s Macbeth. Grisha is a graduate of the Royal Opera House’s Jette Parker Artists Programme and a former member of the Mascarade Emerging Artists Program in Florence, with performances at Teatro La Fenice. He is the 1st Prize winner of the 10th Veronica Dunne International Singing Competition, 2nd Prize winner of the 14th Magda Olivero International Singing Competition, and a prizewinner at the Belvedere Competition 2023.

ROSINA

South African mezzo-soprano Siphokazi Molteno is quickly establishing herself as one of the most important voices of her generation. In the 2025-26 season, she returns to the Metropolitan Opera as Bersi in Andrea Chénier under the baton of Daniele Rustioni, broadcast worldwide “Live in HD”. Molteno also sings the title role of La cenerentola in her debut with Lyric Opera of Kansas City, debuts with the LA Philharmonic and Gustavo Dudamel and performs a solo recital at Wigmore Hall with her frequent recital partner, Kamal Khan.

Last season, Siphokazi Molteno made her Carnegie Hall debut in collaboration with the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra’s Chamber Ensemble, performing Ravel’s Chansons Madécasses and Brahms’ Two Songs for Voice, Viola and Piano, Op. 91. She made an acclaimed debut with the Dallas Symphony Orchestra and Fabio Luisi in Julia Perry’s Stabat Mater; debuted with Dallas Opera as Flora in La traviata; and starred alongside Michael Spyres and the Tonkünstler-Orchestra in the “Summer Night Gala” at Austria’s Grafenegg Festival. With Teatro Regio di Torino, Molteno debuted as Cherubino in Le nozze di Figaro, followed by performances of Rosina in Il barbiere di Siviglia, and Maddalena in Rigoletto.

COUNT ALMAVIVA

On the international stages of opera, concert, and recital, Canadian John Tessier garners praise and attention for the beauty and honesty of his voice, a refined style and creative versatility, and his handsome presence in the lyric tenor repertoire.   

During the 2024-25 season John Tessier returns to Edmonton Opera to sing Alfred in a new production of Die Fledermaus directed by Artistic Director Joel Ivany and conducted by Music Director Simon Rivard and he joins Calgary Opera as Ernesto in Don Pasquale directed by Stefania Panighini led by Jacques Lacombe.  He also appears with the Calgary Philharmonic and Music Director Rune Bergmann in a presentation of the Mozart Coronation Mass in C Major, K. 317.

Last season John Tessier bowed at his home company, Edmonton Opera, as Don Ottavio in Mozart’s classic Don Giovanni as directed and with a new English libretto by Joel Ivany.  Concert appearances included the world premiere of the Jonathan Leshnoff oratorio, Sacrifice of Isaac with Robert Spano and the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, programs of Bach and Mozart with the Richard Eaton Singers, and the world premiere of Ukrainian War Requiem, written by two-time Grammy nominee Benedict Sheehan, with Axios Men’s Ensemble, Pro Coro Canada, and musicians from across North America and Ukraine under the baton of Michael Zaugg. 

DR. BARTOLO

Acadian baritone Dion Mazerolle has forged a solid reputation in Canada and Europe as an artist of the highest calibre. A former member of the Atelier lyrique de l'Opéra de Montréal, he is acclaimed for his musical finesse and strong stage presence, both in opera and in concert. 

Dion's recent concert engagements include Carmina Burana with Toronto’s Pax Christi Chorale, Haydn's Creation with Galileo Orchestre and Mozart’s Requiem with Montreal’s Ensemble Caprice. In Montréal, Dion continues his collaboration with Idées Heureuses, as a soloist in Graupner’s Cantatas. Performances this season include Brahms’ Requiem with L’orchestre symphonique de l’Estuaire, Bach’s St. John Passion with Ensemble Caprice, Verdi’s Requiem with Toronto’s Kindred Spirits Orchestra and “A Canadian Valentine” with Confluence Concerts.  

Dion recently triumphed as Alberich in Edmonton Opera’s Das Rheingold and starred as Golaud in Debussy's Pelléas et Mélisande at the Teatri di Piacenza in Italy. In France, Dion debuted as le Roi de Trèfle in Prokofiev’s surreal opera L’Amour des trois oranges with Opera National de Lorraine in Nancy. 

This season, Dion debuted as Dr. Falke with Stratford Symphony in their concert version of Die Fledermaus and sings Zuniga in Carmen with Montreal’s Festival Classica.

DON BASILIO

Chinese-American bass Adam Lau is praised for his “cellar-deep sound” (Post Alley) and “dauntingly low register” (Classical Voice America). In 2024–25, he performed Samuel with San Francisco Opera, Frère Laurent with Minnesota Opera, and appeared in Les Troyens and Tosca with Seattle Opera. In the 2025-26 season, he also joins Houston Grand Opera and Calgary Opera. Recent highlights include performances with the Metropolitan Opera on their European tour and at Carnegie Hall with Yannick Nézet-Séguin, Sarastro with Marin Alsop, and title roles at Utah Opera and Arizona Opera. A George London and Jensen Vocal Competition winner, he has appeared with major companies including Dallas Opera, Atlanta Opera, and Opera Theatre of Saint Louis.

BERTA

Soprano Kelsey Ronn returns for her second year with Calgary Opera’s McPhee Artist Development Program, where she makes her role debuts as the Aunt in Madama Butterfly and Berta in The Barber of Seville. Additionally, Ronn took on the title role in Calgary Opera’s Little Red Riding Hood this winter. Last season, she charmed audiences as The Squirrel in The Witty Squirrel. Most recently, Ronn was a young artist in Opera Kelowna’s VOSI Program and L’Institut Canadien d’Art Vocal in Montreal, Quebec. In 2022, Kelsey made her debut with the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra as a featured artist in their Manitoba Hydro Holiday Tour.

FIORELLO

Hailing from Fredericton, New Brunswick, Canadian bass-baritone Luke Noftall is in his second year of Calgary Opera’s McPhee Artist Development Program. This season, Noftall performs the roles of The Registrar in Madama Butterfly, Fiorello in The Barber of Seville, and dual roles of the Wolf and Woodsman in Calgary Opera’s school tour of Little Red Riding Hood. Last year, Noftall made his Calgary Opera debut as Guccio in Gianni Schicchi, and also performed the roles of the King and Chamberlain in their production of Nino Rota’s The Witty Squirrel. This past summer, Noftall was part of Brott Opera’s production of Carmen, where he sang the role of Zuniga.

SERGEANT

Described as having a “powerful stage presence and a rich baritone voice,” George Theodorakopoulos joins Calgary Opera this season for his first year in the McPhee Artist Development Program and Edmonton Opera as part of its Emerging Artist Program. The season’s performances include Officer in The Barber of Seville and Yakusidé in Madama Butterfly, both with Calgary Opera. Recent operatic highlights include Danilo (The Merry Widow), Moralès & Le Dancaïre (Carmen), Guglielmo (Così fan tutte), Sacristan (Tosca), Pandolfe (Cendrillon), Marullo (Rigoletto), Emilio (Il cappello di paglia di Firenze), and Dr. Pangloss (Candide).

AMBROGIO

Born and raised in Chatham, Ontario, Canadian tenor Ryan Nauta has earned recognition as “one to watch” (Le Devoir). Ryan Nauta is in his second year in Calgary Opera’s McPhee Artist Development Program. Last season, he debuted at Calgary Opera as the Notary in Don Pasquale and the Minister and Chauffeur in Nino Rota’s The Witty Squirrel. He is a recent participant Highlands Opera Studio, performing the role of St. Brioche in The Merry Widow. In the Banff Centre's collaboration with the National Arts Centre in Ottawa, he had the privilege to perform the role of Don Ottavio (Don Giovanni).

Ryan is a recent alumnus of the Sewanee Summer Music Festival, where he performed selections of chamber and opera works. His 21/22 season also included performances in association with the International Resource Centre for Performing Artists, as well as a workshop for Volcano Productions' modern retelling of Scott Joplin's Treemonisha. Further credits include Erster Geharnischter (The Magic Flute), Albert Herring (Albert Herring), and Lysander (A Midsummer Night’s Dream).

STAGE MANAGER

For Calgary Opera (select): Hansel and Gretel, Madama Butterfly, Bluebeard’s Castle, Gianni Schicchi, Don Pasquale, Don Giovanni, Das Rheingold, The Elixir of Love, Le Nozze di Figaro, Macbeth, The (R)evolution of Steve Jobs, Carmen, La Traviata, The Merry Widow, La Bohème. Favourite credits include: Legally Blonde (Theatre Calgary & The Citadel Theatre); Legally Blonde (Theatre Calgary & The Citadel Theatre); A Christmas Carol (2024), As You Like It (Theatre Calgary); Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, The Nutcracker, Cinderella, La Fille mal gardée, The Sleeping Beauty, The Seagull (National Ballet of Canada); The Two Gentlemen of Verona, A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, Julius Caesar, The Importance of Being Earnest, West Side Story (Stratford Festival); Mimi, Courageous, If We Were Birds (Tarragon Theatre). Select Film/TV: Unspeakable: The Murder of JonBenét Ramsay (Paramount+), My Life With The Walter Boys, The Abandons (Netflix), Heartland (CBC), Prey (Disney). Other: Shelby-Jai worked on both the Tokyo 2020 and Rio 2016 Olympic Games.

ASSISTANT STAGE MANAGER

Jennifer is thrilled to return to Calgary Opera for The Barber of Seville. For Calgary Opera: Hansel and Gretel, Little Red Riding Hood, Madama Butterfly, Don Pasquale, Marriage of Figaro, Norma, Everest, Amahl & the Night Visitors. Elsewhere: Murder On the Links (Vertigo), Static (Chromatic Theatre co.pro Inside Out Theatre), Naughty But Nice 8 & 9 (Forte); Blithe Spirit, Selma Burke, Jimmy Buffet’s Escape to Margaritaville, Steel Magnolias (Theatre Calgary); Kisapmata (Lunchbox co.pro Chromatic Theatre); Undressed (ATP). In her free time, you will see her spending time at local events, hanging out with chickadees, or playing video games. She is grateful for her parents, her fur baby Max, and her partner, Lowell, for their immense love and continued support.