Events
Christina & Louis Quilico Awards at the Canadian Opera Company, February 18, 2025
February 18th; 5:30pm - Canadian Opera Company: The Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts: Richard Bradshaw Amphitheatre
145 Queen St. W., Toronto, ON
The Christina and Louis Quilico Awards
Artists of the COC Ensemble Studio
Vocal Series
In this special presentation, artists of the COC Ensemble Studio compete in The Christina and Louis Quilico Awards.
Each artist will perform an aria of their own choosing and a second aria will be selected by the panel of judges. Awards will be presented at the end of the evening.Admission is free
‘Speaking Personally: Louis Quilico in Conversation with Christina Petrowska Quilico’ Podcast Series Releases on Spotify
January 1st; -
SHARES STORIES AND OBSERVATIONS IN NEW PODCAST SERIES
https://operawire.com/speaking-personally-louis-quilico-in-conversation-with-christina-petrowska-quilico-podcast-series-releases-on-spotify/#google_vignette
The multifaceted legacy of Louis Quilico (1925-2000), one of the leading operatic baritones of the 20th century, is captured in a new podcast series. Speaking Personally: Louis Quilico in Conversation with Christina Petrowska Quilico is now available on Spotify.
The series of 23 unedited and unfiltered conversations, each approx. 35 minutes, was recorded with his wife, acclaimed pianist Christina Petrowska Quilico, C.M., OOnt, FRSC, for their book, Mr. Rigoletto, In Conversation with Louis Quilico, published by Captus Books.
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louis and christina quilico after a concert[/caption]
With charming candour, the Montreal native reflects on his lengthy and illustrious career, noted in particular for his defining portrayal of Verdi’s tragic jester, Rigoletto. He sang the role more than 500 times at the Metropolitan Opera and other international houses. alongside the vocal legends of his day – tenors Luciano Pavarotti, Placido Domingo, Jon Vickers and José Carreras, and sopranos Joan Sutherland, Renata Tebaldi, Renata Scotto and Beverly Sills.
He reflects on critics, new music, and staging. For young artists, he shares knowledge and advice based on his personally developed approach to the voice, as well as insights into the business side of performing.
Each podcast episode is hosted by well-known pianist, composer, and broadcaster Peter Tiefenbach. Technical operations are by Nik Beeson.
Admission is free
Winners of the 2023 Christina & Louis Quilico Awards announced
January 1st; -
Winners of the 2023 Christina and Louis Quilico Awards Vocal Competition Announced
Toronto – February 7, 2023 – On Monday, February 6th, the rising stars of the Canadian Opera Company Ensemble Studio, Canada’s premier training program for young opera professionals, competed in the sixth biennial Christina and Louis Quilico Awards, with Midori Marsh claiming the first prize of $6,000. Ariane Cossette won the second prize of $3,500 and Alex Hetherington won the third prize of $2,500. Career development awards of $1,000 each were also presented to Alex Halliday, Queen Hezumuryango and Charlotte Siegel in recognition of the awards’ 20th anniversary. The event took place at the Free Concert Series in the Richard Bradshaw Amphitheatre in the Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts.
(l-r) Christina Quilico, Her Honour the Honourable Elizabeth Dowdeswell Lieutenant Governor of Ontario, Ontario Arts Foundation Executive Director Bruce Bennett, Second Prize Winner Ariane Cossette, Third Prize Winner Alex Hetherington, First Prize Winner Midori Marsh, COC General Director Perryn Leech, Steven Philcox and Carolyn Sproule. Photo: Karen E. Reeves
The competition was adjudicated by a panel composed of Perryn Leech, General Director of the Canadian Opera Company, Steven Philcox, Canadian collaborative pianist, and Carolyn Sproule, Canadian mezzo-soprano. The young artists featured in the February 6th competition sang one aria of their choice and one aria selected by the panel.
About Midori Marsh
Midori Marsh, Photo: Karen E. Reeves
Born in Cleveland, Ohio, Midori Marsh completed her Master of Music in opera at the University of Toronto. In the COC’s 2021-2022 season, she was seen as Nella in Gianni Schicchi, the soprano soloist in Mozart’s Requiem, Annina in La Traviata and Papagena in The Magic Flute, a performance for which she earned a 2022 Dora Mavor Moore Award nomination. Marsh will next appear on the COC’s mainstage as Third Apparition in the company’s 2023 production of Macbeth. Past engagements include Norina in Don Pasquale (Under the Spire Festival), Sarah Thorpe in No One’s Safe, and Johan’s Mother in Silent Light (Banff Centre); Frasquita in Carmen (Waterloo Symphony); Arminda in La finta giardiniera, Rose Maurrant in Street Scene, Susanna in The Marriage of Figaro, and Mary Crawford in Mansfield Park (U of T Opera); Annina in La Traviata (Cambridge Symphony Orchestra). In 2019, she took home both the First Prize and the Audience Choice Award at the Canadian Opera Company’s Ensemble Studio Competition. About the COC Ensemble Studio
The COC Ensemble Studio is an innovative artist development program for emerging Canadian opera professionals. The company’s uniquely collaborative approach blends advanced study and practical experience through a multi-year program that’s individually tailored for each member. Artists receive intensive vocal coaching; language, movement and acting studies; as well as private masterclasses with renowned opera professionals.
Members of the Ensemble Studio are the COC’s resident artists and important community ambassadors for the company. Through performances and collaborations with local schools and organizations, Ensemble members are often the first point of contact with opera for many; their ongoing participation in this area is integral to creating inclusive and welcoming opportunities for more people to engage with the art form.
Since 1980, nearly 230 young professional Canadian singers and pianists have acquired foundational opera experience through the Ensemble Studio. Former members include Ben Heppner, Krisztina Szabó, Gordon Bintner, Ambur Braid, Miriam Khalil, and Wallis Giunta, and David Pomeroy.About the Christina and Louis Quilico Awards
Christina Petrowska Quilico, C.M., OOnt, FRSC, established the Christina and Louis Quilico Fund in 2000 to honour her late husband, renowned baritone Louis Quilico, and to recognize outstanding young singers. During his 45 years on the stage, Louis Quilico shared performing credits with Luciano Pavarotti, Plácido Domingo, José Carreras, Joan Sutherland, and Renata Tebaldi. He was instrumental in furthering the careers of many young singers through his teaching and master classes. The Ontario Arts Foundation manages the endowment that funds the Christina and Louis Quilico Awards.
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(l-r) Christina Quilico, Her Honour the Honourable Elizabeth Dowdeswell Lieutenant Governor of Ontario, Ontario Arts Foundation Executive Director Bruce Bennett, Second Prize Winner Ariane Cossette, Third Prize Winner Alex Hetherington, First Prize Winner Midori Marsh, COC General Director Perryn Leech, Steven Philcox and Carolyn Sproule. Photo: Karen E. Reeves[/caption]
Admission is free
Christina & Louis Quilico Awards at the Canadian Opera Company
February 6th; 12:00am - Four Seasons Performing Arts Centre, Canadian Opera Company
2023 Christina and Louis Quilico Awards vocal competition announced Toronto, January 31, 2023 - The Ontario Arts Foundation is pleased to announce the sixth biennial Christina and Louis Quilico Awards, a vocal competition featuring the rising young stars of the Canadian Opera Company Ensemble Studio. This event marks the 20th anniversary of the launch of the prize. 2022/2023 COC Ensemble Studio, photo: Gaetz Photography. The competition will take place on February 6, 2023 from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at the Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts, as part of the COC’s Free Concert Series in the Richard Bradshaw Amphitheatre Presented by TD Bank Group. The competition will be adjudicated by a panel composed of Perryn Leech, General Director of the Canadian Opera Company, Steven Philcox, Canadian collaborative pianist, and Carolyn Sproule, Canadian mezzo-soprano. The young artists featured in the February 6th competition will perform for cash prizes, singing one aria of their choice and another selected by the judges. “Louis had wanted to establish this (award) before he died,” says Christina Petrowska Quilico. “It was really his vision to help young opera singers. Launching an award was something we could do to leave a legacy in memory of Louis’ success as a singer and as a support to future generations.” Past winners include Rihab Chaieb (former member of the Metropolitan Opera’s Lindemann Young Artist Program and 2018 Operalia Third Prize winner), Emily D’Angelo (winner of the 2022 Juno Award for Classical Album of the Year – Solo Artist, 2016 Metropolitan Opera National Council Audition Finals, and 2018 Operalia winner of the First Prize, Zarzuela Prize, Birgit Nilsson Prize, and Audience Prize), and Claire de Sévigné (JUNO Award nominee for Classical Album of the Year). This event is free and open to the public, with doors opening at 5 p.m. Seating will be available on a first-come, first-served basis, and is limited.About the COC Ensemble Studio The COC Ensemble Studio is an innovative artist development program for emerging Canadian opera professionals. The company’s uniquely collaborative approach blends advanced study and practical experience through a multi-year program that’s individually tailored for each member. Artists receive intensive vocal coaching; language, movement and acting studies; as well as private masterclasses with renowned opera professionals. Members of the Ensemble Studio are the COC’s resident artists and important community ambassadors for the company. Through performances and collaborations with local schools and organizations, Ensemble members are often the first point of contact with opera for many; their ongoing participation in this area is integral to creating inclusive and welcoming opportunities for more people to engage with the art form. Since 1980, nearly 230 young professional Canadian singers and pianists have acquired foundational opera experience through the Ensemble Studio. Former members include Ben Heppner, Krisztina Szabó, Gordon Bintner, Ambur Braid, Miriam Khalil, and Wallis Giunta, and David Pomeroy.About the Christina and Louis Quilico Awards Christina Petrowska Quilico, C.M., OOnt, FRSC, established the Christina and Louis Quilico Fund in 2000 to honour her late husband, renowned baritone Louis Quilico, and to recognize outstanding young singers. During his 45 years on the stage, Louis Quilico shared performing credits with Luciano Pavarotti, Plácido Domingo, José Carreras, Joan Sutherland, and Renata Tebaldi. He was instrumental in furthering the careers of many young singers through his teaching and master classes. The Ontario Arts Foundation manages the endowment that funds the Christina and Louis Quilico Awards.
Admission is free