PEIL: When did you start singing?
me that my professional debut was made in the very same theatre where I saw my first live opera so many years before! PEIL: What is your favourite performance or role? That is always such a difficult question, because every time I start to learn a new role, it quickly becomes my favourite! It is so hard to choose just one, but I prefer to play the more dramatic and fiery characters, like Anna Bolena (Anne Bolyn). I think my very favourite role that I’ve performed so far, though, would have to be Miss Jessel in Britten’s The Turn of the Screw . She’s a ghost and I’ve never had so much fun diving into a character. In fact, I distinctly remember a particularly terrifying stage entrance that was so effective that someone in the audience very audibly gasped and then briefly fainted! PEIL: You’ve won some very prestigious awards, can you briefly describe what that is like? Opera singers are often compared to Olympic athletes, and for good reason! We spend our entire lives meticulously training our bodies and minds to do extraordinary things, and competitions are a great way to showcase not only your talent, but your dedication to your craft and your point of view as an artist. I have been so fortunate to have had some success in the competition circuit over the years, but I’d like to stress that winning isn’t everything. Even in the competitions that I’ve lost, there was always an opportunity to learn something. Presenting yourself in front of a panel of judges is difficult, no matter the discipline, and having the fortitude to believe in yourself and believe that you have something special to offer is what truly matters! Win or lose, being an artist is a lifelong journey, and competitions are merely a pit stop. PEIL: You’ve performed all over the world, where do you call home? Sometimes it feels like my home is wherever my suitcase is! I do travel quite a lot for work, but when I’m not
performing I generally split my time between Chicago and PEI. Nothing beats an Island summer! PEIL: Which role do you consider your “dream role?” I think most sopranos would answer “Tosca, hands down!”, but for me, I have always dreamed of playing Lady Macbeth in Verdi’s Macbeth . Not only is Verdi’s music absolutely sublime, but the character of Lady M is just so exquisitely layered and interesting. I would love the challenge of bringing her to life, someday. Anyone who knows me, though, knows that one day I would absolutely love to play Marilla in Anne of Green Gables . We went to see that show every summer when I was growing up, and nothing would make me happier than to play the eternal matriarch! PEIL: What upcoming performances are you looking forward to? Later this summer I’ll be joining the roster at Opéra de Montréal for Verdi’s Il Trovatore , and then in the fall I’ll be making my debut with Calgary Opera as Micaëla in Bizet’s Carmen . I have recently begun a lovely relationship with the PEISO, and I look forward to performing with them next January for their long-awaited Beethoven’s Symphony No.9. I am especially excited, though, for a recital tour through the Atlantic provinces next February. Presented by Debut Atlantic, I’ll be joined by fellow Maritime artists tenor Marcel d’Entremont and pianist Dakota Scott-Digout, and we will be presenting a wonderfully diverse program that we’ve been developing entitled LOVE LANGUAGES . I hope to see you there! PEIL: Any other interesting facts about you that you’d like to share? Well, you might be surprised to find out that I am a licensed auctioneer! Believe it or not, auctioneering uses so many of the same skills that I have honed through my singing training, it turned out to be a very natural fit. Sold it!
I started singing at quite a young age, around 10 years old if I remember correctly. I began taking voice lessons with Beth Cassey, who was an extraordinary teacher and to this day remains a very dear friend. I certainly never imagined that I would grow up to become a professional singer, but Beth saw something in me, and she fostered a spark, that grew into a dream, that became a reality and I will be forever grateful to her for that. PEIL: What professional training have you had? I began my university training at UPEI and studied there for two years before transferring to the University of Alberta where I completed my undergraduate degree in Music Performance. I then attended the University of Western Ontario, where I graduated with my master’s degree in Voice Performance and Literature. Next, I spent two years at McGill University where I received my Artist Diploma in Voice Performance. Then I moved to Chicago, where my “on-the-job” professional training truly began—I spent three years as an Apprentice Artist at the Lyric Opera of Chicago, one of the preeminent training programs in the world. I was the only Canadian selected during my tenure, and it was an incredible learning experience! The Lyric Opera of Chicago is one of the most prestigious opera companies in the world, so for three years I was able to watch and learn from the very best in the business, including none other than Renée Fleming!
PEIL: What was your first professional performance?
Technically I made my professional debut during my 1st year as a Young Artist at Lyric Opera of Chicago in 2012. I played the 5th Maid in Strauss’ Elektra , and even got a couple of good reviews for my small role. After I had completed my many years of training though, I made my true professional main stage debut in 2017 with Edmonton Opera. I played Chrysothemis, also in Strauss’ Elektra . It always felt particularly poignant to
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