COC Ensemble Studio

The COC Ensemble Studio—founded in 1980 with a generous continuing grant from Imperial Oil Limited and with assistance from the Government of Canada—is Canada's premier training program for young opera professionals.

It provides advanced instruction, hands-on experience, and the practical career development skills necessary to succeed as a self-employed artist in a highly competitive international environment.

The Ensemble is chosen through a national audition process. Members of the Ensemble Studio receive a blend of advanced study and practical experience. In this one- to three-year program, singers receive vocal, theatrical and practical career development instruction.

Their practical experience includes understudy major roles, the annual Xstrata Ensemble School tour, special Ensemble Studio chamber productions and COC mainstage productions at the Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts.

Apprentice stage directors, conductors and vocal coaches participate in the preparation of the company's mainstage productions, as well as School Tour performances and Ensemble Studio productions.

Successful Graduates

Since its inception, more than 150 young Canadian singers, opera coaches, stage directors and conductors have acquired their first professional operatic experience through this program.

Graduates include such well known singers as Isabel Bayrakdarian, John Fanning, Robert Gleadow, Ben Heppner, Joseph Kaiser, Alison McHardy, Jessica Muirhead, Wendy Neilsen, Gidon Saks and Kristina Szabo.

Successful stage directors include Edmonton Opera Artistic Director Brian Deedrick, Tom Diamond, Roman Hurko and Maer Powell.

To Apply

The Ensemble Studio program is designed to serve as a bridge between academic programs and the professional world of opera. Applicants must display exceptional talent, have extensive operatic training and a thorough musical education.

Auditions take place every fall in Toronto, Montreal, Vancouver and, if numbers warrant, Calgary. Prospective applicants to the Ensemble Studio Program are asked to complete the application form (in English/en français) and return it to the COC by the annual Sept. 29 deadline.

For more information contact the COC's Ensemble Studio Administrator at 416-363-6671 or send her an e-mail.

Jon Paul Decosse and Lauren Segal in the Ensemble Studio production of The Bear. Photo: Michael Cooper © 2006