For the third consecutive year, Against the Grain Theatre joins University of Toronto Opera to immerse emerging artists in a three-week program focusing on the exciting canon of modern-contemporary works and engaging workshops to expand the mind of the modern artist.
The NOI is meant to prioritize individual artistic needs in the middle of August when the new-reality audition season is just around the corner. AtG’s outside-the-box approach to traditional opera matched with UofT Opera’s educational excellence is quickly being established as a hub for singers to learn and perform.
The program consists of private voice, repertoire and acting coachings, masterclasses and roundtables with program faculty, and a variety of seminars and workshops to encourage artists to consider a holistic approach to their artistry and professional careers.
2020 sessions included: Bystander Intervention Training with Aria Umezawa, Theatre Design with Jason Hand, Resume Workshop with Sandra Horst, Recording Workshop with Ryan Harper, Expanding Your Artistic Practice through the lens of BIPOC artists, and Exploring Indigenous Artistic Practice.
It is the responsibility of NOI as an educator of emerging artists to provide a variety of perspectives in their training so that they can be better artists and colleagues (who wouldn’t want that?). This is why we are incorporating equity, diversity, and inclusion training for both staff and participants, as well as a diverse selection of repertoire outside of the Western classical canon, into the National Opera Intensive this year.
New for 2021:
- Several spots for promising undergraduate students
- Mandatory Anti-Oppression training for all staff members and participants on the first day of the program
- Diverse representation of repertoire outside of the Western classical canon – ex. Works from BIPOC composers, female composers, LGBTQ+ composers, etc.
- Exploring programming with LGBTQ+ representation
In 2021, AtG and UofT Opera will explore a digital model of instruction. The program will take place from August 3rd through 19th, 2021. This model allows AtG and UofT Opera to work with emerging artists all over Canada (and anywhere, really), creating a truly National Opera Intensive.
Applications for the National Opera Intensive 2021 are now closed.
Questions?
Contact info@againstthegraintheatre.com with “[Your Full Name] + National Opera Intensive” in the subject line and a real human will reply ASAP.
Location
MacMillan Theatre in the Edward Johnson Building
University of Toronto, Faculty of Music
80 Queens Park, Toronto, Ontario
National Opera Intensive Faculty
Voice Faculty
Catherine Daniel, Mezzo-Soprano
Miriam Khalil, Soprano
Elliot Madore, Baritone
Heidi Melton, Soprano
Music Faculty
Andrea Grant
Sandra Horst
Stage Direction/Acting Faculty
Michael Albano
Joel Ivany
Alumni
2020 Alumni
Madison Angus
Corey Arnold
Sawyer Craig
Marina Davis
Máiri Demings
Renee Fajardo
Elizabeth Harris
Kristian Lo
Stéphanie McKay-Turgeon
Elise Noyes
Cristina Paoletta
Georgia Perdikoulias
2019 Alumni
Dani Agostino
Madison Angus
Anna Boyes
Alasdair Campbell
Julie Ekker
Jocelyn Fralick
Lauren Halasz
Nolan Kehlar
Christina Lanz
Virginie Mongeau
Amy Moodie
Brittany Rae
Morgan Reid
Stephanie Sedlbauer
Whitney Sloan
Carmen Sprecht
Caroline Stanczyk
Charlotte Stewart-Juby
McKenzie Warriner
Gwendolyn Yearwood
2018 Alumni
Madison Angus
Shaelyn Archibald
James Brown
Kallie Clayton
Gwenna Fairchild-Taylor
Jaclyn Grossman
Camille Holland
Meghan Jamison
Kieran Kane
Philip Klaasen
Janelle Lapalme
Emili Losier
Jonathan MacArthur
Julia Morson
Justine Owen
Annie Ramos
Jonelle Sills
Whitney Sloan
Rebecca Townsend
Gwendolyn Yearwood
Check out Opera Pub: The Next Generation, featuring the NOI 2020 cohort!
Gallery
Photos: Darryl Block Photography