Centre Stage
Drama, decadence, and grandeur – experience A Night at the Opera with the Canadian Opera Company, as we celebrate a powerful and transformative evening of the art form like never before. In its sixth year as the premier fundraiser for the Canadian Opera Company, Centre Stage guests will mingle with emerging opera stars and notable COC artists at the glittering Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts.
The main event is the Ensemble Studio Competition, an exhilarating vocal showcase of singers who are vying for cash prizes while aspiring to secure an invitation to the COC Ensemble Studio, Canada’s leading training program for young opera professionals. Finalists from across the country perform from the mainstage, accompanied by the internationally acclaimed COC Orchestra conducted by COC Music Director Johannes Debus—an extraordinary atmosphere for both spectators and artists.
Following the competition, gala guests will have the rare opportunity to dine on the stage of R. Fraser Elliott Hall for an intimate meal prepared by award-winning Nota Bene Executive Chef David Lee. All proceeds from Centre Stage will go towards the COC’s Ensemble Studio, Canada’s leading training program for aspiring opera stars.
Guests can purchase general tickets for the Ensemble Studio Competition only, or consider our Gala Dinner tickets for the onstage celebration.
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Competition The COC Ensemble Studio Competition highlights the finest young talent from across the country. The audience at the vocal competition will hear artists following in the footsteps of such renowned Ensemble Studio graduates as Ben Heppner, Isabel Bayrakdarian, and Wendy Nielsen, among others.
The live audition process sees COC artistic staff travel to Vancouver, Montreal, Toronto and New York to audition hopeful singers. Following a callback audition, the finalists are selected to perform at the Ensemble Studio Competition.
At its heart, Centre Stage is about community-oriented philanthropy, with 100% of proceeds going towards supporting the COC’s Ensemble Studio. These young artists undertake an intense training regimen that includes hundreds of hours of vocal coaching, acting classes, language and diction training, as well as body movement and fitness instruction.
Learn more about the Ensemble Studio and its current members.
5:30 p.m.
Cocktail Reception6:30 p.m.
Ensemble Studio CompetitionGala Dinner A Night at the Opera
Join us for an intimate black-tie dinner on the stage of R. Fraser Elliott Hall featuring a special performance. The uniqueness of the gala evening is further highlighted by the rare opportunity to enjoy the onsite catering stylings of critically acclaimed Nota Bene Executive Chef David Lee.
5:30 p.m.
Cocktail Reception6:30 p.m.
Ensemble Studio CompetitionDinner on stage to follow
Dinner styled by Nota Bene Executive Chef David Lee
Featuring a special dinner performanceTickets to the Centre Stage Gala start at $1,500. For more information about the event and how to purchase tickets to the Gala Dinner, please contact 416-363-5801.
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Canadian Opera Company General Director Alexander Neef, Centre Stage 2017, photo: Michael Cooper 
Host Ben Heppner, Centre Stage 2017, photo: Michael Cooper 
Ensemble Studio Competition Third Prize winner soprano Anna-Sophie Neher, Centre Stage 2017, photo: Michael Cooper 
Ensemble Studio Competition Second Prize winner bass-baritone Joel Allison, Centre Stage 2017, photo: Michael Cooper 
Ensemble Studio Competition First Prize and Audience Choice Award winner mezzo-soprano Simona Genga, Centre Stage 2017, photo: Michael Cooper 
(foreground) Ensemble Studio Competition First Prize and Audience Choice Award winner mezzo-soprano Simona Genga with finalists of the Ensemble Studio Competition and COC Music Director Johannes Debus (third from left), Centre Stage 2017, photo: Michael Cooper 
COC Board of Directors Chair Justin Linden & party guests, Centre Stage 2017, photo: Ryan Emberley 
Centre Stage Gala, photo: Ryan Emberley 
Centre Stage Gala, photo: Ryan Emberley 
Centre Stage 2017, photo: Ryan Emberley 
Centre Stage 2017, photo: Gaetz Photography 
Centre Stage 2017, photo: Gaetz Photography
