Support Opera's Unsung Heroes
Give by June 30 and have your gift matched!
Opera is a masterpiece of collaboration—an art form where music, drama, and design unite to create magic on stage. But behind every breathtaking performance are the dedicated arts workers who make it all possible.
This spring, we’re shining a spotlight on the talented individuals who bring world-class opera to life, drive artistic innovation, and ensure unforgettable audience experiences at the COC.
Join us in celebrating their passion and expertise. Make your gift by June 30 and Members of the COC’s Board of Directors will match contributions up to $250,000—doubling your impact!
Meet our heroes!
Over the next few weeks, we’ll be introducing you to just a few of the many people who make your opera company the welcoming, innovative, and exciting community you know and love.
Jen Kowal, Lesley Abarquez, and Stephanie Marrs
Stage Managers
David Nimmo
Senior Development Officer
“We love opera and we love the COC, attending every opera since 1998. But what really makes our experience with the COC magical is our relationship with David Nimmo. He truly is a magician! We love that he makes us feel so special, his can-do attitude, his awesome responsiveness to any request and yes, we love his dazzling personality! Rock-on, David!”
—Peter Levitt and Mai Why, President's Council members
Jennifer Swan
Performance Kinetics Consultant
“When it comes to how an opera singer needs to prepare, we often think first of voice, diction, and language. But when your body is your instrument, kinetics is the foundation for healthy and sustainable sound production, and here at the COC, we are fortunate to have Jennifer Swan. As someone who’s worked closely with Olympic gold medalists (Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir), she brings that excellence to the technical development of many Ensemble Studio singers who have gone on to have significant international careers—think Emily D’Angelo, Gordon Bintner, and Simone McIntosh. The next time you’re in the opera house listening to an Ensemble Studio artist or graduate who is projecting clearly and singing with their entire body, you can also think of (and thank) Jennifer Swan!”
—Dorian Cox, Director, Ensemble Studio
Siobhan Richardson
Resident Fight & Intimacy Coordinator
“It was a pleasure working with Siobhan. On-stage romance and fighting can be tricky to foster believably and La Reine-garçon had both! Having someone like Siobhan to lead those working sessions was amazing and I would work with her again anytime! She leads with respect, she really knows her craft, and she has these sneaky little shifts for making something difficult seem easy. It reflects so well on COC to have someone like Siobhan on staff.”
—Soprano Kirsten MacKinnon
Dave Samuels
Security Supervisor
A familiar face often seen greeting patrons as they enter the opera house, Dave knows, and is known by, many COC and National Ballet regulars. Here’s just a sampling of their feedback!
“I always feel warmly welcomed back to the house when I see Dave!”
“Dave went out of his way to ensure that I felt noticed, cared for, and supported when waiting for Wheel Trans”
"Nice to see a friendly, smiling employee who checks on me and asks how I'm doing."
Derek Bate
Assistant Conductor
“Putting an opera on stage requires a village, but not all of its members are visible. The Assistant Conductor is vital as an extra pair of hands and eyes, in conducting staging rehearsals—particularly those for understudies—and serving as an additional pair of ears to address balance and other issues once we’re in the opera house. I am fortunate to have worked alongside Derek Bate in this capacity throughout my years in Toronto. Derek brings over 40 years of professional experience to the table, is intimately familiar with nearly the entire repertoire, and can always step in at a moment’s notice!”
—Johannes Debus, COC Music Director
