Carmen Soloists
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Hillary Tufford
Carmen
Romulo Delgado
Don José
Jocelyn Fralick
Micaela
Andrey Andreychik
Escamillo
Sebastien Belcourt*
Dancaïro
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Mike Fan 范祖铭*
Remendado
Camille Labonté
Frasquita
Austin Larusson*
Morales
Maria Milenic*
Mercedes
Gabriel Sanchez-Ortega*
Zuniga
Brent MacKenzie*
Cover Don José
Angela Maria Sanchez*
Cover Micaela
* Azrieli Mentoring program participant
This season, TCO deepens its commitment to championing the next generation. Thanks to the generosity of the Azrieli Foundation, we will welcome ten Emerging Opera Artists to each opera in our season as participants in our Opera Mentoring Program. Our artistic team will mentor singers, conductors, directors & stage managers at a career stage where we can achieve maximum impact on future success.
Biographies
Hillary Tufford Carmen
Canadian mezzo soprano Hillary Tufford is a versatile performer, gaining attention across Canada in roles including Olga (Eugene Onegin), where Opera Canada noted her “ rich velvety tone”; Hermia ( A Midsummer Night’s Dream) and Flora ( La Traviata). A recent Graduate of Western University, (Masters in Literature and Performance), Hillary was invited to join the Yulanda M. Faris Young Artist Program at Vancouver Opera, where she sang Lola (Cavalleria Rusticana ).
Concert performances for Hillary include the alto soloist in Beethoven’s Ninth with Kingston Symphony Orchestra, Messiah with Elmer Iseler Singers, Duruflé Requiem with Victoria Philharmonic Choir, and Rossini’s Petite Messe Solennelle with Vancouver Bach Choir.
Romulo Delgado Don José
Romulo Delgado is an operatic tenor, composer, world music multi- instrumentalist, vocal coach and adjudicator. He was a region finalist at the Hans Gabor Belvedere International Opera competition in Vienna, Austria and trained in Toronto at the Royal Conservatory Music. His versatility as a performer has enchanted audiences all over North America and Europe.
As a composer, The Cross of Christ is Romulo Delgado’s first major vocal work, and its world premiere was under the baton of maestro Denis Mastromonaco.
As a leading tenor, ultimately, what distinguishes Romulo’s singing is that “striking, powerful and ingratiating lyric tenor sound with all the money notes!” (Opera Canada).
Jocelyn Fralick Micaela
Hailing from the Niagara region, Jocelyn Fralick recently returned from two years in Amsterdam, where she completed her Masters' degree with honours from the Conservatorium van Amsterdam under the guidance of voice teacher, Don Marrazzo, and coach Nathalie Doucet. She holds degrees from the Glenn Gould School of Music and The University of Toronto.
In Amsterdam, Jocelyn performed the roles of Madame Lidoine in Dialogues des Carmélites and Contessa Almaviva in Le nozze di Figaro. Past credits include die Fünfte Magd in Elektra, Vitellia in La Clemenza di Tito, and Donna Elvira in Don Giovanni. She was recently named one of the IRCPA singing stars and been awarded the OAC’s Emerging Artist Award.
Andrey Andreychik Escamillo
Praised for his “stoic, manly sound” (Schmopera), he is an avid performer bringing passion to a broad repertoire. Currently based in Germany, Andrey is a member of the Ensemble at Theater für Niedersachsen and recently debuted as the title role in Nabucco with F. X. Šalda Theater and Ibn-Hakia (Iolanta) with Theater Bad Elster. Canadian appearances include Scarpia in Mississauga Symphony Orchestra’s Tosca, Boyar Shaklovity & Vladimir Galitsky in Canadian premieres of Khovanshchina & Prince Igor with Toronto Opera in Concert, and Bass soloist in Vancouver Bach Choir’s Messiah. Andrey trained at the University of British Columbia, and has performed the title roles in Eugene Onegin, Gianni Schicchi & Don Giovanni, Count Almaviva (Le Nozze di Figaro), Marcello and Schaunard (La Bohème), Alfio (Cavalleria Rusticana), and Escamillo (Carmen).
Sebastien Belcourt* Dancaïro
A Toronto-based baritone described as “one to watch” (Ludwig Van Toronto), Sebastien Belcourt recently delivered “a delightful showcase of fine singing and dancing” (OperaCanada) as Njegus in Toronto Operetta Theatre’s (TOT) Merry Widow.
His other roles include The Pirate King in TOT’s Pirates of Penzance, Count Almaviva in Opera by Request’s le Nozze di Figaro, and Don Giovanni in Summer Opera Lyric Theatre's Don Giovanni. He also performed solos in works such as J.S. Bach’s Mass in B Minor, St. John Passion, St. Matthew Passion, and Carl Orff’s Carmina Burana with the Ottawa Bach Choir and Orpheus Choir.
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Mike Fan 范祖铭* Remendado
appearing with the permission of Canadian Actors' Equity Association
Tenor Mike Fan | 范祖铭 (they/them) is renowned for powerful and versatile
performances “sung extremely well and acted even better” (Opera Ramblings) across North America, Europe, and Australia for the Canadian Opera Company, Edinburgh Festival Fringe, Pacific Opera Victoria, and many more.
Thrilled to return to Toronto City Opera, Mike’s previous TCO roles include Don Ottavio (Mozart’s Don Giovanni), Sam Polk and Elder Gleaton (Floyd’s Susannah). Mike is also honoured to co-produce TCO’s first Pride cabaret Proud Voices with their QTBIPOC+ company Opéra Queens. Mike holds degrees in Opera & Voice, Piano, Speech Arts & Drama Performance, and Biomedical Science.
Camille Labonté Frasquita
Camille Labonté is an active young performer and choral conductor, and she is delighted to be making her Toronto City Opera debut as Frasquita in Carmen! Select operatic credits include Poppea in Monteverdi's The Coronation of Poppea (Opera NUOVA), Cleopatra in Handel’s Julius Ceasar (Summer Opera Lyric Theatre), as well as covering Ernestine in Offenbach's Monsieur Choufleuri restera chez lui (University of Toronto). Recent concert appearances include soprano solos in Considering Matthew Shepard (Concreamus Concert Choir) and Handel’s Messiah (Pax Christi Chorale). Camille holds a Bachelor of Music in Vocal Performance with honours from the University of Toronto, and in fall 2024, will begin her Master's of Music at U of T's prestigious opera school.
Austin Larusson* Morales (Understudy Escamillo)
Praised for his "fine baritone voice" (The Brooklyn Eagle), "Austin Larusson sang beautifully", “offering us luxury vocals” (barczablog.com), “Austin Larusson’s Crespel was a very effective and even touching foil” John Gilks operarambling.blog).
Austin most recently appeared as Carretero/Corregidor, El Huesped de Sevillano with Toronto Operetta Theatre, Noodler, Peter Pan and the Wendy Lady, Tales of the Grotesque Hugo with White Mills Theatre, Elder McLean, Susannah, Die Fledermaus, Frank, Don Giovanni, Masetto, Tosca Sacristan/Scarpia cover with Toronto City Opera, and Conte Ceprano, Rigoletto with Opera York. Upcoming engagements include Ariodate/Elviro, Xerxes with Summer Opera Lyric Theatre.
Maria Milenic* Mercedes (Cover Carmen)
Canadian mezzo-soprano Maria Milenic is an up-and-coming artist who “displays a rich, full sound” (Ludwig Van Toronto). She is an alum of the University of Toronto, and holds an Advanced Artist Diploma from the Glenn Gould School.
Maria’s voice thrives in contemporary opera, which she proved in her recent role as Minskwoman in Dove’s opera Flight, featured on the Koerner Hall stage. She has also performed a part of the 21C Festival, where she premiered Chaya Czernowin’s piece The
Habekhi (The Crying) in Toronto. Maria is part of a guitar-voice duo with guitar-virtuoso, Christ Habib, with whom she frequently performs early music transcribed for guitar, as well as Slavic art-song that is part of her cultural heritage and close to her heart..
Gabriel Sanchez-Ortega* Zuniga
Gabriel Sanchez-Ortega is a promising operatic bass praised for his “booming bass sound,” and his “surprising low and rich voice” (Schmopera). Born in Montreal, he holds a performance diploma in voice from The Glenn Gould School of The Royal Conservatory of Music, studying primarily under Joel Katz. While studying at the GGS, he was the recipient of the Ihnatowycz Emerging Artist Scholarship. Gabriel has performed in a number of operas for The Glenn Gould School Opera, The Aspen Opera Centre, The Mississauga Symphony Orchestra, Opera York, and Toronto City Opera. While at the Aspen Music Festival and School, Gabriel had the privilege of studying under W. Stephen Smith. Most recently, Gabriel made his debut singing the role of Elder Ott in Toronto City Opera’s production of Susannah by Carlisle Floyd.
Brent MacKenzie* Cover Don José
appearing with the permission of Canadian Actors' Equity Association
Described by Review Vancouver as a “mellifluous tenor”, Brent MacKenzie is a graduate of the University of British Columbia, holding a Bachelor of Music and a Master of Music.
Brent has played roles ranging from Vašek in Prodaná nevěsta (The Bartered Bride), Caramello in Eine Nacht in Venedig, Scaramuccio in Ariadne auf Naxos, and Jonathan Dale in Silent Night. In 2022, Brent appeared in City Opera Vancouver’s world premiere of Chinatown as The Policeman, and lent his talents to the original cast recording. Brent has sung in the chorus for Vancouver Opera since 2023, first appearing in The Flying Dutchman.
Angela Maria Sanchez* Cover Micaela
Angela Maria Sanchez graduated from The Glenn Gould School of Royal Conservatory of music. She made her operatic debut of the role of Antonia in The Tales of Hoffmann with Summer Opera Lyric Theatre in 2017, and Mistress of Novices in Suor Angelica in Hawaii Preforming Arts Festival in 2018. She also covered the role of Mimi in La Boheme at The Brott Opera Festival in the summer of 2019. Most recently, Ms Sanchez made her Toronto City Opera Debut in 2022 in Cavalleria Rusticana in the leading role of Santuzza “In a powerful performance ringing with emotion, gifted singer-actor Angela Maria Sanchez offered us a Santuzza of remarkable scope, bringing great dignity and inner strength to the role, a limitless wellspring of resolve” – Opera Going Toronto. Ms Sanchez also did her role
debut of Tosca in the title role with the Mississauga Symphony Orchestra.