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HCA SOCIETY PRESENTS

OPERA AUDITION BOOTCAMP

We are pleased to announce our Opera Audition Bootcamp, a new, tuition-free initiative for emerging artists, returning October 2026. This program is designed for the singer who wants to stand out in the audition room, curate their perfect aria package, and start hearing ‘yes’ from YAPs. This elite program will accept six singers and two collaborative pianists who wish to further their training in operatic repertoire. Faculty include soprano and Chair in Voice at The Glenn Gould School Adrianne Pieczonka, collaborative pianist and COC Ensemble Music Director Liz Upchurch, and award-winning theatre and opera director Jennifer Tarver.

MEET THE FACULTY

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Jennifer Tarver

Adrianne Pieczonka

Liz Upchurch

Vocal Coach

Voice Consultant

Stage Director

Pianist, educator, and vocal coach Liz Upchurch celebrates her 28th season as the Music Director of the Ensemble Studio at the Canadian Opera Company. In 2019 she was awarded the prestigious Ruby Mercer Award for her exemplary contribution to the operatic industry.

 

In her role as Music Director she has now helped to train and develop an entire generation of Canadian singers and pianists. Born and educated in Britain, Liz is a graduate prize-winning soloist of the Royal Academy of Music where she studied with Roger Vignoles and Martin Isepp.

 

She has performed and broadcast chamber music and song recitals throughout Europe and North America as wel as having an extensive career as a repetiteur and vocal coach.

 

In 2021 she recorded Clara Schumann lieder with the Canadian soprano Adrianne Pieczonka, this CD in colaboration with the NAC was nominated for a Juno award. She is a frequent guest teacher at art institutions al over the world as wel as international guest coach at the Royal Academy of Music in London.

Canadian soprano Adrianne Pieczonka has performed on the world’s leading opera and concert stages for over 35 years. Raised in Burlington, Ontario, she studied at the Universities of Western Ontario and Toronto.

 

She has appeared regularly at major opera houses including La Scala, Royal Opera House, Vienna State Opera, Metropolitan Opera, and the Canadian Opera Company, as well as at renowned festivals including Salzburg Festival, Bayreuth Festival, and the BBC Proms.

 

She has colaborated with many of the world’s leading conductors, including Sir Georg Solti, Riccardo Muti, Claudio Abbado, and Daniel Barenboim. Among her honours are a Dora Award for Sieglinde in Wagner’s Die Walküre, the Austrian title of “Kammersängerin,” a Juno Award for Pieczonka Sings Puccini, appointment as an Officer of the Order of Canada, and Felowship in the Royal Society of Canada.

 

Since 2019, she has served as Chair in Voice at the Glenn Gould School at The Royal Conservatory of Music, and is President of the Jury for the CMIM Voice Competition.

Award-winning creator, and director, dramaturg, Jennifer Tarver has worked internationaly in both theatre and opera for over 25 years. Recent productions include Mozart’s La Clemenza di Tito for Pacific Opera Victoria, a staged Pergolesi’s Stabat (Edmonton premiere Opera), of Mater the Marshal’s Pomegranate at the Canadian Opera Company and Rota’s Il Cappelo di Paglia di Firenze (University of Toronto). She has also directed for, the Stratford Festival, Canadian Stage, the Tarragon, Soulpepper and Buddies in Bad Times Theatres, as wel as the Goodman Theatre (Chicago), The Longwharf Theatre and Hartford Stage (Connecticut).

 

Jennifer was Artistic Director of Necessary Angel Theatre from 2013-2019, and has taught acting and directed for: the Royal Conservatory of Music, the University of Toronto’s opera department, the National Theatre School of Canada, Toronto Metropolitan University, George Brown Colege, McMaster University, Sheridan Colege and York University.

HOW TO APPLY

APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS

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  • All pieces must be submitted by video recording.

 

For Singers

  • 2 contrasting arias.

  • There is no upper age limit, but singers should be at the emerging professional level, ie. completing/recently completed graduate school (or equivalent training)

 

For Pianists

  • 2 contrasting arias, one of which must include an accompanied recitative by Mozart; the orchestral interlude to ‘Casta Diva’ from Bellini’s Norma; and one of the following:

    • A short solo piece

OR

  • Play & sing Act 1 of Puccini’s La bohème up to Schaunard’s entrance

OR

  • Play & sing Act 2 finale of Mozart’s Le nozze di Figaro up to Antonio’s entrance

 

Applications for the Spring 2026 Opera Audition Bootcamp are now closed. Thank you for your interest.

 

Stay tuned: returning in October 2026!

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