The Summer Youth Intensive provides youth an opportunity to develop their performing arts or visual design skills and gain a "behind-the-scenes" perspective of what it takes to be a singer, director or designer in opera. Youth work with artists on producing a showcase of their hard work for family and friends at the end of the week.
Ages: Youth in grades 9 to 12 with previous experience and interest in the performing or visual arts Duration: Monday, July 8 to Saturday, July 13, 2013, 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Location: Joey & Toby Tanenbaum Opera Centre Cost: $350 Some financial assistance is available.
Where does the program take place?
The program takes place at the Joey and Toby Tanenbaum Opera Centre, which is located at 227 Front St. E. The drop-off point is located through the Imperial Oil Opera Theatre doors. The Imperial Oil Opera Theatre doors are located on the north east side of the building, close to Berkeley Street.
For more information on how to get to the Joey and Toby Tanenbaum Opera centre visit the map & directions page on our website.
Please note: the program does not take place at the Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts.
What time does the program start?
Doors to the building will be open at 9:15 a.m. The program begins at 9:30 a.m.
Is financial assistance available?
Yes. Contact education@coc.ca for more information.
My child is in grade 8, can I enroll him/her in the program for youth in grades 9 to 12?
No. Exceptions may be made for participants entering grade 9 in the fall. This is not guaranteed and depends on program capacity at the time of inquiry. Please call education at 416-306-2307.
Is lunch included?
No. Lunch is not provided. Participants should pack a nut-free lunch, snacks and a refillable water bottle. We request that participants refrain from bringing food items that contain nut ingredients (ex. peanut butter sandwiches, peanut oil, etc.) to the program.
Participants with permission to leave the program unaccompanied may leave the premises for lunch. They must sign out with program staff.
What should I wear?
We encourage you to wear comfortable clothing for the workshops.
I/my child has an allergy. Who should I inform?
Please visit coc.ca/programinformation to download the mandatory health and medical safety form. The form can be faxed back to: 416-363-2895 or brought on the first day of camp.
What will participants do each day?
The program runs from 9:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. During the mornings, participants experience what it is like to be a member of an opera chorus through group music and staging rehearsals. In the afternoon, students pursue their individual interests, choosing between elective sessions. Example elective sessions include: vocal masterclass, production, and stage combat. On Saturday, participants will share their work with friends and family during an afternoon performance.
Who teaches the program?
The program is taught by a number of artists specializing in different fields. Read the Handbook for their bios.
Online: Click here to register online beginning March 4, 2013. A $3 service charge applies to online registration.
In person: Download a registration form (requires Adobe Acrobat Reader) and then visit either one of our Box Offices:
If you prefer to register in person, please note that the Ticket Service hours change seasonally, so be sure to check online before you make the trek out to our Box Offices. Please call Ticket Services at 416-363-8231 or 1-800-250-4653.
By fax: Download a registration form and fax with credit card* payment to: 416-363-5584
By e-mail: Download a registration form, scan and e-mail it with credit card* payment to: education@coc.ca
Registrations by fax and e-mail are processed as quickly as possible in the order that they are received. Due to the high volume of registrations, your registration will ONLY be confirmed by e-mail once it has been entered into the system.
*Please note we can only accept credit card payment with faxed and e-mailed registration.
Please contact Amber Yared, Children and Youth Programs Co-ordinator at 416-306-2307 or e-mail education@coc.ca for more information.
Collaboration and teamwork is essential in opera, which is why mornings begin with group scene studies. Youth learn the music and stage selected chorus numbers from the operatic repertoire. In the afternoons, youth drive their own learning and choose to participate in two masterclasses (1.5 hours each) of their choice.
Mark Daboll - Vocal I Masterclass With almost 40 opera productions to his credit, Mark Daboll has performed as a member of the COC Chorus (2000 - 2010), Opéra de Montréal, Spoleto Festival (Italy/U.S.), and the Festspiele Musik und Theater Saar in Germany. Mark is sought after as a master-class instructor, adjudicator at music festivals, and as a coach-clinician at vocal/choral workshops. He holds a master’s degree in vocal pedagogy and performance from the University of Toronto, a bachelor’s degree in voice performance from Westminster Choir College (New Jersey), and is an associate teacher through the Voiceworks® program in Los Angeles.
Jenna Douglas - Accompanist Pianist Jenna Douglas is a graduate of the COC Ensemble Studio (Lucia di Lammermoor, La clemenza di Tito, Il Trovatore, Die Fledermaus, Semele, Tosca, Iphigenia in Tauris, Hansel and Gretel). Further operatic credits include San Francisco Opera's Merola Opera Program (L'elisir d'amore), the Crested Butte Music Festival (Carmen, I Capuleti e i Montecchi) and the Banff Centre for the Arts (Frobisher). A supporter of Canadian music, Jenna helped present the American premiere of José Evangelista's Exercises de style at Oberlin College Conservatory.
Markus Howard - Vocal II Masterclass Markus Howard is a voice coach, director, conductor and choreographer who has worked extensively in the arts throughout Canada and abroad. He has worked in many musical genres including opera, choral music, pop, musical theatre and jazz voice. His students have included members of the Stratford and Shaw festivals, Toronto's Lion King and Mamma Mia, and a number of Broadway and touring companies. His professional work has taken him to 27 countries, working with musicians of varying ages and experiences.
Casey Hudecki - Stage Combat Masterclass Casey Hudecki has a theatre specialist H.B.A. from the University of Toronto, and is a certified fight director and fight instructor with Fight Directors Canada. She is the first woman to be credited with fight direction at the Stratford Theatre Festival, and is also a professional actor and stunt performer in film, television and theatre. Casey is the founder of TEMPER: Combat Performance Arts.
Joel Ivany - Director Stage director Joel Ivany was most recently with the COC as assistant director for Dialogues des Carmélites, Iphigenia in Tauris, Orfeo ed Euridice and La Bohème. He also worked with Robert Carsen at Deutsche Oper Berlin on L’amour des trois oranges. Joel recently directed a new production of Les contes d’Hoffmann with Edmonton Opera; revived Minnesota Opera’s Nabucco; and, as founder and artistic director of Against the Grain Theatre in Toronto, directed The Turn of the Screw. He was a finalist and winner in the European Opera-Directing Prize for his concept of Bellini’s I Capuleti e i Montecchi and also won a critics choice award for his new libretto to Puccini’s La Bohème with Opera Columbus.
Kyra Millan - Vocal Director Soprano Kyra Millan has been successfully coaching voices in Canada and abroad since 1997. Outside her private studio, Kyra has worked as a voice and singing coach for productions for Canadian Stage, Crow's Theatre, Stage West and for international touring productions for Warner Bros. As an artist educator, she has represented the COC for the last eight years leading many of their outreach and education programs, as well as facilitating workshops for Opera Atelier, Workman Arts (an affiliate of CAMH) and most recently, Abilities Arts Festival. Kyra also enjoys working with choirs, and recently taught singing technique to the Orpheus Choir and the Marion Singers. In September 2011, Kyra began Gleesical, a musical theatre program for young people in the Roncesvalles neighbourhood.
Yes. Visit coc.ca/bursaries for information on applying for financial assistance.
A mandatory health and medical safety form will be available closer to the program date. Please submit the completed form via email (scan and send the form to education@coc.ca), by fax to 416-363-2895, or bring the form on the first day of the program.
The program runs from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. During the mornings, participants experience what it is like to be a member of an opera chorus through group music and staging rehearsals. In the afternoon, students pursue their individual interests, choosing between elective sessions. Example elective sessions include: vocal masterclass, production, and stage combat. On Saturday, participants will share their work with friends and family during an afternoon performance.
Participants sew costumes during an elective design session. Photo Credit: COC © 2011