Applications are now closed
New Opera 101 is a new opera masterclass intensive for emerging singers and collaborative pianists, focusing on encouraging original artistry in interpreting original Canadian works.
Participants are assigned contemporary Canadian repertoire, curated from the newly created Canadian Opera Resource. Singers and pianists will prepare and refine repertoire, expertly coached by leading interpreters of new works in three days of masterclasses.
The participating performers will then showcase their work in a concert performance, Songbook XII, headlined by soprano, Teiya Kasahara and pianist, David Eliakis, who will be leading this year’s New Opera 101 masterclasses along with Michael Hidetoshi Mori, Tapestry Opera’s Artistic and General Director.
2023 MASTER CLINICIANS
Soprano Teiya Kasahara 笠原 貞野 (they/them) has been heralded as “a force of nature” (Toronto Star), a “commanding presence” (Theatre Reviewer), and “an artist with extraordinary things to say” (The Globe and Mail). Teiya comes from a background of nearly 20 years of singing both traditional and contemporary operatic roles across North America and Europe. Their recent original work The Queen In Me has received international acclaim and recently sold out its world premiere run at the Canadian Opera Company. Teiya’s career spans numerous international appearances as well as repeat local appearances at the Canadian Opera Company, Nightwood Theatre, and Theatre Gargantua. They are a co-founder of Amplified Opera.
Pianist David Eliakis (he/him) is a longtime collaborator of Kasahara and has contributed to the development and performance of The Queen in Me as well as in recital. His collaborations include some of the country’s greatest singers: Isabel Bayrakdarian, Ben Heppner, Richard Margison, and Measha Brueggergosman. David was also for many years the curator, host, and pianist for Against the Grain’s Opera Pub and music directed their last tour of La Bohème. David is on the faculty at the Royal Conservatory of Music.
Michael Hidetoshi Mori (he/him) is a stage director and the Artistic and General Director of Tapestry Opera. Most recently, his production of R.U.R. a torrent of light, swept the 2022 Dora Mavor Moore Awards, winning in 6 out of 7 opera categories including Outstanding Production and Outstanding Director. In Canada and the US, Michael has directed traditional and contemporary opera, specializing in developing and premiering new works, often site-specific in nature.
How to Apply
New Opera 101 invites emerging artists who are currently enrolled in, or have equivalent experience to a bachelor-level performance degree, to learn new repertoire and familiarize themselves with Canada’s greatest operatic creators while being mentored by Canada’s leading interpreters of new opera.
Applications for the New Opera 101 program are now closed. Sign up for our mailing list to be among the first to learn about future opportunities at Tapestry Opera: