Voice

Telephone:
780-633-3725

Vocal coach, accompanist, and conductor, Shannon Hiebert began her training at the University of Manitoba with Sydney Young, a student of the great piano pedagogue, Rosina Lhevinne. She focussed her studies on collaborative piano at the Banff Centre for Fine Arts with Martin Isepp and pursued graduate studies in accompanying and chamber music at the University of Michigan in the studio of renowned accompanist and vocal coach, Martin Katz. Ms. Hiebert has also studied with distinguished accompanists and vocal coaches, John Wustman and Rudolf Jansen. Much in demand as a collaborative artist, she has worked with such celebrated singers as Tracy Dahl and Measha Brueggergosman and has been heard in recital and broadcast across Canada and the United States, as well as Taiwan and Japan.

Ms. Hiebert’s discography includes Rhymes and Reveries, with renown soprano, Tracy Dahl, Prairie Voices, with the Winnipeg Singers and Starry Night, in benefit of Winnipeg Harvest.

Shannon is currently on faculty at Grant MacEwan University Alberta College Conservatory of Music in Edmonton Alberta, where she maintains a busy performing and teaching schedule.

Telephone:
780-633-3826

Diploma – The Juilliard School of Music, New York City
Licentiate – Royal Schools of Music, London, England
Licentiate in Music – Western Board of Music, University of Alberta (Board of Governor’s Gold Medal)
Associate in Music – Western Board of Music, University of Alberta


Alexandra Munn- began piano study in Calgary, Alberta and with the strong influence and preparation of Dr. Gladys McKelvie Egbert was accepted to the Juilliard School of Music N.Y.C. studying with Irwin Freundlich. Vocal/chamber studies were with Sergius Kagen, Robert Mann and Fritz Lehman with further piano study with Guido Agosti, Accademia Chigiana, Siena, Italy. Her career includes many summers at the Banff Centre as Opera Coach, Academy of Singing, and as one of the founding faculty of the Musical Theatre Division.

During her tenure as Professor of Music, University of Alberta she conducted the DaCamera Singers, The Edmonton Opera Chorus, the Richard Eaton Singers and was pianist with the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra.

She has performed as soloist, assisting artist and host for regional and national programs for CBC Radio/TV and CTV. She also has served as music festival adjudicator from Victoria, B.C., to Yellowknife, N.W.T. to Charlottetown, P.E.I.

Alexandra is honoured to be a member of Edmonton's Cultural Hall of Fame. Y.W.C.A. Woman of the Year in the Arts and a recipient of the Queen's Golden Jubilee Medal.

A Professor Emerita, University of Alberta, she is a faculty member of Alberta College Conservatory of Music, Grant MacEwan University.

Telephone:
780-633-3817

Bachelor of Education (Music) – University of Alberta

Lary has been teaching at Alberta College Conservatory of Music since 1977 and also teaches with MacEwan’s Musical Theatre program. Several of his students are performing professionally in musical theatre productions across Canada, and numerous students are studying operatic performance at the University of Alberta, University of Victoria, Oberlin, New England Conservatory, McGill University and the University of Toronto.

During his long and distinguished career, he has performed with the Edmonton Opera Association, Calgary Opera, Manitoba Opera, Vancouver Opera, Pacific Opera, Canadian Opera Company, Edmonton Symphony Orchestra, Calgary Philharmonic, Regina Symphony, Victoria Symphony, Toronto Symphony, Alberta Baroque Ensemble and Pro Coro. Mr. Benson is a member of N.A.T.S., has had numerous television and radio broadcasts, and has made a recording of 35 Sacred Concerti by Bortnyanski.

Telephone:
780-123-4567

Kimberley Denis is known for her energy and enthusiasm both on stage and off, and is sought after as a soloist, choral director, and adjudicator for musical theatre, voice and choir. She holds graduate degrees in choral conducting and vocal performance from the University of Alberta and completed undergraduate studies at Mount Allison University and Red Deer College. She has conducted choirs across Alberta and has also begun leading workshops and directing in British Columbia. Music for theatre credits include vocal coaching for Red Deer College’s 2011 production of Rent, creating and directing a live vocal music score for Red Deer College's production of Romeo and Juliet and creating and directing a live music score for the world premier of Vern Thiessen's adaptation of Wuthering Heights. She has toured with Up With People, and appeared on stage as Bonnie in Anything Goes, Kate in Kiss Me, Kate!, and Frumah Sarah in Fiddler on the Roof. She currently teaches voice at Alberta College and is the program coordinator for the Alberta Choral Federation.

Telephone:
780-633-3860

Clint received his Bachelor or Music degree in Vocal Performance from the University of Saskatchewan, where he studied under Chris Kelly. Clint taught voice in both Saskatoon and North Battleford before moving in Edmonton in the fall of 2007. A natural educator, Clint has been employed as a vocal instructor with Alberta College since January 2008.

As a Baritone, Clint has sung with the University of Saskatchewan Greystone Singers as a Section Leader, the University of Saskatchewan Music Theatre Ensemble, as a touring member of the Saskatoon Opera Association in the Schools Campaign, and has performed in numerous festivals in Saskatchewan and Alberta. Clint's community involvement includes directing a Children's Choir, leading sectional workshops for school music productions, and providing piano accompaniment for various music endeavors

Clint continues to study voice, and is active both as a performer and as an adjudicator.

Email:
 longr1@macewan.ca

Telephone:
780-633-3837

Master of Music – Southern Illinois University

Before joining Alberta College Conservatory of Music in the spring of 2002, Ron Long taught voice lessons in Milwaukee, Wisconsin and Medicine Hat, Alberta. In addition to his work at the Conservatory, he regularly adjudicates and workshops throughout Alberta and Saskatchewan.

Originally from Lloydminster, Saskatchewan, Ron completed his master of music with a specialty in opera and music theatre from Southern Illinois University at Carbondale. He has performed such roles as Anthony in Sweeney Todd by Sondheim, Papageno in The Magic Flute by Mozart. For Opera Nuova, he performed Mars in Orphee Aux Enfer by Offenbach, the Page in Amahl and the Night Visitors by Menotti and Petrov in Once Upon A Christmas. He appeared as the Notary in Edmonton Opera’s production of Don Pasquale, and continually performs in recitals across Saskatchewan, Alberta and Southern Illinois.

Telephone:
780-633-3843

Heather Meyers has performed with numerous opera companies through out the US, Canada and Europe, including San Francisco Opera, Lyric Opera of Chicago, Washington Opera, Opera Company of Philadelphia and La Scala. She made her Carnegie Hall debut in 2000 and has also been heard in New York at Alice Tully Hall. Other concerts and recitals have taken her to Brazil, Washington DC, Milan, Vienna, Barcelona and Cologne. She has also won numerous scholarships, awards and competitions worldwide.

Ms. Meyers has worked with some of the most distinguished conductors, directors and singers in the world and studied with many of the greatest singers and coaches of our time including Giulietta Simionato, Hans Hotter, John Wustman, Erik Werba and Edward Zambara with whom she earned a Master of Music degree and a graduate artist diploma at the New England Conservatory of Music. She graduated summa cum laude from the Schubert Institut in Austria and apprenticed at La Scala in Milan, Italy.

Future engagements include performances at the Metropolitan Opera, New York.

For more information visit www.heathermeyersstudio.com

Telephone:
780-633-3843

Cory Miller has performed with numerous opera companies throughout the US and Canada, including New York City Opera, New York City Opera National Company, Opera Company of Philadelphia, Opera Theater of St. Louis and Utah and Calgary Opera. Miss Miller has been heard in concert and recital with The Wagner Society of New York and the Liederkranz Foundation in New York and has performed recitals in Canada, Austria, Israel, Rome, St. Louis, Boston, San Francisco and at the renowned Marlborough Music Festival. She has been the prize winner in numerous competitions worldwide including; the Vincenzo Bellini International Vocal Competition in Italy, the International Vocal Competition in Rio de Janeiro in Brazil, the Peter Pears International Voice Competition in London, the Kiwanis Rose Bowl and was the Grand-Prize winner of the Canadian National Music Competition in Toronto. Ms. Miller has studied with such great artists as Hans Hotter, Walter Berry, Mignon Dunn, Renato Scotto, Erik Werba, John Wustman and Erich Leinsdorf. Ms. Miller is a longtime voice student of Mr. Edward Zambara and is a graduate of the prestigious artist diploma degree program at the New England Conservatory of Music, the St. Louis Conservatory of Music, the Israel Vocal Arts Institute in Tel Aviv and graduated magna cum laude from the Schubert Institut in Baden bei Wien, Austria.

For more information please visit www.heathermeyersstudio.com

Telephone:
780-633-3806

Born and raised in Edmonton, Lauressa received her Masters in Music from Indianna University. She is currently the music director at McDougall United Church where she specializes in classical and contemporary sacred music. Her extensive experience on stage includes roles such as Countess Ceprano in Rigoletto and Katisha in the Mikado as well as appearances with the Alberta Ballet and the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra.

Lauressa is accepting students of all ages and levels. Preparation for auditions and exams welcomed.

Telephone:
780-633-3810

Master of Music (Opera Performance) – University of Houston
Bachelor of Music – University of Alberta

Elizabeth Raycroft, dramatic soprano, trained at the University of Alberta (B.Mus, Voice Performance), at the University of Houston (M.Mus, Opera Performance) and at the Hochschule für Musik in Vienna. She is a regular oratorio soloist, having performed in Handel's Messiah with the Red Deer Symphony, Bach's Mass in B Minor with the Augustana University Choirs. She has performed with Edmonton Opera in their productions of Jenufa, HMS Pinafore and Marriage of Figaro. She has worked with many renowned conductors, directors and coaches and regularly shares her experience and knowledge in masterclasses and workshops throughout the province. Her voice has been heard on CBC Radio Two, most recently from the Call of the Wild International Horn Festival. She is an avid performer of new music and has had many works created for her. She is a member of the eclectic ensemble Wind, Women and Song, which will be releasing their second CD soon. She is on faculty at Alberta College Conservatory of Music at Grant MacEwan University and has taught voice, vocal pedagogy, diction and rudiments at The King's University College since 2000.

Telephone:
780-633-3821

Bachelor of Music (Voice) – University of Alberta

Ms. Sawchuk is a classically trained performer who began her studies in Musical Theatre then later moved to Opera. Principal roles have included performances in: Tales of Hoffmann, The Magic Flute, The Crucible, and The Cunning Little Vixen. This sparkling Canadian soprano brings a comprehensive background to Opera having performed in television, over 15 radio broadcasts (with CBC and Access Canada), and in various theatre productions. She has acted in such films as Prom Night Two and W.O. Mitchell’s Alberta Experience.

Ms. Sawchuk received her Bachelor of Music (Voice) at the University of Alberta in 1989. Before entering the degree program, she followed the Toronto Conservatory voice and piano programs. Post graduation, she went on to study with Selena James on numerous scholarships at The Banff Centre and at the Victoria Conservatory of Music. Recently, she has been under the direction of Alexandra Munn. Ms. Sawchuk has also designed and organized several dynamic children’s programs for the City of Edmonton and Government of Alberta.

As a voice instructor at the Alberta College Conservatory of Music, Ms. Sawchuk not only brings her stage experience but her passion to the art form, engaging her students with her infectious enthusiasm. She provides a learning atmosphere full of encouragement and strives to challenge the talent of her students. Her students have attained success of their own. One of which placed the highest gold mark in three categories across Western Canada for their Musical Theatre performance. In addition, her students has placed medals in Royal Conservatory Exams and have attained contracts through professioanl theatre campanies such as the CITADEL and Mayfield Dinner Theatre.

Telephone:
780-633-3806

Bachelor of Education, Concordia University, Alberta
Bachelor of Music, Lviv State Music Academy, Ukraine

Soprano Svetlana Sech has been a voice instructor at Alberta College Conservatory of Music since 2002. A graduate of the Lviv State Music Academy, Svetlana was selected to attend the San Francisco Opera’s Merola Program and subsequently toured with the Western Opera Theatre. She is a winner of the Irving Guttman Foundation Award and received grants from the Gropper Memorial Fund and the Alberta Foundation for the Arts.

Edmonton Opera patrons first heard her as the Major’s Wife in Janacek’s Jenufa and as Ana in Verdi’s Nabucco. She has also performed in such roles as Volkhava in Rimsky-Korsakov’s rarely heard Sadko for Toronto’s Opera, and as soprano soloist in Mozart’s Exultate Jubilate and Brahm’s Deutsches Requiem, with the Regina, Niagara and Oshawa Symphonies. Most recently she soprano soloist in Beethoven’s Symphony #9 with the Thunder Bay Symphony, Gorecki’s Symphony #3 and Kouzan’s The Final Message with the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra.

Email:
 

Telephone:
780-633-3832

Maura Sharkey-Pryma has enjoyed teaching voice and performance artistry to young and emerging singers since 1991. From her private home studio and her studio at the MacEwan Alberta College Conservatory of Music in Edmonton, she trains ambitious singers in classical, opera, musical theatre, song interpretation, and extensive breathing and vocal techniques in the Bel Canto method. In addition to helping singers select music and prepare songs for Royal Conservatory examinations, music festivals, and auditions, her main focus is insuring the voice is technically sound - functioning as it should for optimal vocal ease, quality and longevity. In addition to sharing her expertise in vocal production and technique in her private studios, Maura also shares her knowledge as a vocal adjudicator at various provincial music festivals.

Maura has enjoyed a professional operatic career within Canada, as well as the international stage. An enthusiastic critic wrote of Sharkey’s performance as, “an exuberant Canadian mezzo soprano…shows herself comfortable in all the registers, bursting precision and engraves resonance.” Her operatic credits include the principle role of Cinderella in La Cenerentola (Vancouver Opera Touring Ensemble), Mercedes in Carmen (Edmonton Opera Association and Manitoba Opera), Dorabella in Cosi Fan Tutte (The Opera Project,) and The Mother in Amahl and the Night Visitors (Opera NUOVA). On the concert stage, Ms. Sharkey-Pryma has appeared with the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra, the Edmonton Chamber Orchestra, and collaborated with Juno Award winner Malcolm Forsythe and the University of Alberta Orchestra in Elgar’s The Music Makers. Maura is the 1998 winner of the Western Canadian Metropolitan Opera Council Auditions, a two-time award winner of the Johann Strauss Scholarship (1997, 1999), and recipient of the Anne Burrows Foundation Scholarship (2001). She also was proud to represent Canada at the Queen Elisabeth Music Competition in Belgium in 2004.

Telephone:
780-633-3821

Whitney Sloan, originally from Kamloops, British Columbia, completed her Bachelor of Music (2005) and Masters of Music (2007) at the University of British Columbia with Canadian Soprano Heather Thomson-Price. Whitney is a two-time recipient of the Ben Heppner Music Scholarship and Regional Finalist at the Northwest Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions. In 2005, she made her debut in opera singing Tatiana from Eugene Onegin in Usti nad Labem, Czech Republic. Since then she has performed the Second Lady, from Mozart's Die Zauberflöte, Mahler's Symphony No. 4, Scriabin's Symphony No. 1, the Countess Almaviva from Le Nozze di Figaro, Arsamene from Handel's Xerxes, the Widow from Lehàr's The Merry Widow and Mimì from Puccini's La Bohème. Her most recent roles have been with Calgary Opera as Mary in the Canadian Premiere of The Ballad of Baby Doe by Douglas Moore and Hanna in the world premiere of the children's opera Hannaraptor. She currently studies with Canadian Dramatic Soprano Frances Ginzer.