After weeks of auditions and callbacks, seven talented finalists will perform live at our 10th Annual
Centre Stage: Ensemble Studio Competition on October 26. Performing before a public audience and panel of judges at the glorious Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts, they’ll be competing for cash prizes, a chance to join the prestigious COC Ensemble Studio, and your vote to be Canada’s next opera star!
We asked each finalist a few questions to get to know the people behind the performances.
Read on to meet all seven singers!
Jamal Al Titi, baritone
Minsk, Belarus
COC: Where would we find you on your days off? Al Titi: Playing PS5 or discovering the boundless flexibility of my cat!
COC: Classical aside…what would be on your music app’s “most played” list? Al Titi: Epic orchestral music, Latin and electronic.
COC: We know you’re a great singer—what would you admit to be being terrible at? Al Titi: Finding my phone, wallet and keys right before I have to go out.
COC: Fill in the blank for us: “I would give anything for _______ tickets.”Al Titi: Willy Wonka Chocolate Factory Golden tickets!
COC: Do you have anything you’d call an irrational fear? Al Titi: Yes! I have hippopotomonstrosesquippedaliophobia (fear of long words) literally every time I sight-read German.
COC: If you could live anywhere else in the world at this point in your life, where would that be?Al Titi: Again, the Willy Wonka Chocolate Factory because I love chocolate as well as a multidirectional elevator!
Matthew Bermudez, tenor
London, ON
COC: Where would we find you on your days off? Bermudez: Out in the neighbourhood or at the park walking my dog Kane!
COC: Classical aside…what would be on your music app’s “most played” list? Bermudez: Pretty much anything classic rock from the 60s to the 80s, which is essentially the music my parents grew up with. I’d have to say my favourite artist to listen to growing up would be Billy Joel!
COC: Fill in the blank for us: “I would give anything for _______ tickets.”Bermudez: An NHL playoff game.
COC: Are you heavily into any one sport and, if so, what team are you cheering on? Bermudez: I’ve been into hockey since I saw my first game when I was 10. Of course, I’ve got to cheer on my hometown London Knights!
COC: What’s something about you (or something you’ve done) that might surprise people? Bermudez: I have perfect pitch.
COC: If you could live anywhere else in the world at this point in your life, where would that be?Bermudez: I visited Italy for a short time in the past and I loved the culture and atmosphere of the country. From the delicious food, to the breathtaking landscape, as well as their love for music, I would love to spend more time to discover more of what Italy has to offer!
Matthew Li, bass
Ottawa, ON
COC: Where would we find you on your days off? Li: I just love to sing, so even on a “day off” you will find me in a practice room (perhaps after an expedition to a new café in search of great coffee)!
COC: Classical aside…what would be on your music app’s “most played” list? Li: I can’t even lie, the only music I listen to now is classical music—for study and for leisure. Dmitri Hvorostovsky’s
Rachmaninov Romances album is my most played of all time.
COC: Fill in the blank for us: “I would give anything for _______ tickets.”Li: I would give anything for tickets to the best Asian food festival in the world. Bring on the dumplings, dim-sum, and meat and seafood skewers!
COC: Are you heavily into any one sport and, if so, what team are you cheering on?Li: I’m a basketball fan, and specifically a LeBron James fan, so whatever team he’s on, I’m cheering for. Let’s go Lakers!
COC: What’s something about you (or something you’ve done) that might surprise people? Li: My first experiences with singing were actually in pop, but that was before I learned that I had a bass voice much better suited for opera!
COC: If you could live anywhere else in the world at this point in your life, where would that be? Li: I would love to one day live along the Amalfi Coast in Italy. I participated in a summer opera training program there years ago, and it remains one of the most beautiful places that I have ever been to.
Emily Rocha, soprano
Courtice, ON
COC: Where would we find you on your days off? Rocha: Probably at home relaxing next to my cat, Brian, watching trashy reality TV, or at a cute café with a friend.
COC: Classical aside…what would be on your music app’s “most played” list? Rocha: Some of my current favourite artists include Sufjan Stevens, Mina, Scorpions, Matt Maltese, Phoebe Bridgers, Kate Bush, and Frank Sinatra.
COC: We know you’re a great singer—what would you admit to be being terrible at?Rocha: I'm terrible at staying up late or partying—once midnight rolls around, ideally, I’m already asleep!
COC: Do you have anything you’d call an irrational fear? (ie. spiders, flying)Rocha: Blood and needles are top of the list.
COC: What’s something about you (or something you’ve done) that might surprise people?Rocha: I have four passports—when I say my family is from all over, I really mean it.
COC: If you could live anywhere else in the world at this point in your life, where would that be?
Rocha: Vienna, because of their appreciation for and deep history of the arts, and so I could hear Lisette Oropesa on the regular.
Elisabeth St-Gelais, soprano
Chicoutimi, QC
COC: Where would we find you on your days off? St-Gelais: With my family and friends! I love to spend time with people I love—cooking, going to restaurants, and playing tennis.
COC: Classical aside…what would be on your music app’s “most played” list? St-Gelais: Jazz for sure—I love it so much!
COC: Fill in the blank for us: “I would give anything for _______ tickets.”St-Gelais: MonoNeon!
COC: We know you’re a great singer—what would you admit to be being terrible at?St-Gelais: Drawing!
COC: Are you heavily into any one sport and, if so, what team are you cheering on?St-Gelais: I really like tennis and I find interesting approaches in every player.
COC: If you could live anywhere else in the world at this point in your life, where would that be? St-Gelais: Saguenay with my family and friends, if a singing career could be doable anywhere…
Duncan Stenhouse, bass
Calgary, AB
COC: Where would we find you on your days off? Stenhouse: I’ll never pass up an opportunity to go to the movies or walk around an art gallery!
COC: We know you’re a great singer—what would you admit to be being terrible at? Stenhouse: I’m terrible at getting to the end of one book before starting a new one! My shelves are filled with half read novels but I’m determined that I’ll finish them all someday.
COC: Fill in the blank for us: “I would give anything for _______ tickets.”Stenhouse: Michael Sheen performed in the play
Under Milk Wood at the National Theatre in London a while back and I’ve regretted missing it for years now. His monologue is posted on their YouTube channel and it’s absolutely stunning.
COC: Are you heavily into any one sport and, if so, what team are you cheering on?Stenhouse: I competed and coached as a wrestler for years when I was younger. I don’t keep up with it now as much as I’d like but I’ll always cheer for Team Canada at the Olympics.
COC: What’s something about you (or something you’ve done) that might surprise people? Stenhouse: Last year, after completing my Masters dissertation on Canadian Song, I gave a lecture on the topic and did some teaching at Memorial University where I did my BMus. It was really thrilling to be able to share my research and work with the students that are there now.
COC: If you could live anywhere else in the world at this point in your life, where would that be? Stenhouse: I’ve been living in London, England for years now which would have absolutely been my answer to this question growing up, but as of right now the easy answer is Brisbane, Australia. Other than the fact that it’s a beautiful part of the world, my girlfriend, who’s also a singer, is living and performing there so it would be lovely to be closer to her.
Gabrielle Turgeon, soprano
Sault Ste. Marie, ON
COC: Classical aside…what would be on your music app’s “most played” list? Turgeon: Some of my all-time favourite albums are
Songs in the Key of Life by Stevie Wonder,
Revolver by the Beatles, and
To Pimp a Butterfly by Kendrick Lamar.
COC: We know you’re a great singer—what would you admit to be being terrible at? Turgeon: I have to admit that I am not the most athletic person. Anyone who went to high school with me will tell you that there was not a single sport that I got the hang of.
COC: Fill in the blank for us: “I would give anything for _______ tickets.”Turgeon: I would give anything for Taylor Swift tickets for me and my sister.
COC: Are you heavily into any one sport and, if so, what team are you cheering on?Turgeon: I am not a huge sports fan, but I’m always rooting for our Leafs and our Raptors!
COC: What’s something about you (or something you’ve done) that might surprise people? Turgeon: A lot of people are surprised to learn that I don’t play the piano, since my parents are pianists. I guess you could say that I wanted to forge my own path.
COC: If you could live anywhere else in the world at this point in your life, where would that be? Turgeon: I would love to live in Italy to experience the Italian way of life and to live in the birthplace of opera. I would also be totally content getting to eat Italian food every day!
See all of these amazing artists in action at the Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts on October 26!Tickets are on sale now!
