Manitoba Opera

DEAP

Digital
Emerging Artists
Program

Spring of 2020 was an intimidating time to be a young opera singer.

In a blink of an eye, stages across the country went dark, contracts evaporated, and the performing arts sector moved to online presentations.

 

When RBC Foundation and The Gail Asper Family Foundation heard about an opportunity to help emerging opera singers adapt to this new normal, they knew that they wanted to get involved.

Manitoba Opera’s first-ever Digital Emerging Artists Program (DEAP) was the perfect way to help. The online program was developed specifically to provide emerging Canadian opera singers with tools to help them explore career opportunities in the digital world.

 

 

What both RBC Foundation and The Gail Asper Family Foundation liked about Manitoba Opera’s Digital Emerging Artists Program was that it went beyond voice lessons, masterclasses, and language coaching. By the end of the four-week program, the four young singers selected to participate had first-hand experience in developing, recording, editing, and producing their own videos.

 

Each participant left the program with a professionally produced audition video to help them launch the next phase of their career.

 

As part of a long standing commitment to the arts, RBC’s Emerging Artists Project supports organizations which provide the best opportunity to advance an artist’s career trajectory, helping them to bridge the gap from emerging to established. Over 24,000 artists have benefitted from this support since the program began.

 

Thanks to the support of RBC Foundation and The Gail Asper Family Foundation, Manitoba Opera was able to compensate more than 40 artists from across Canada for their contributions to the company’s Digital Emerging Artists Program.

 

The program was multi-disciplinary in scope and employed singers, teaching artists, pianists, audio engineers, directors, conductors, videographers, and others during a time when paid work opportunities in the industry were few and far between.

Like RBC Foundation and The Gail Asper Family Foundation, Manitoba Opera is dedicated to nurturing Canada’s artistic talent. Together we are demonstrating that the future of opera is now – and the talent showcased through this program proves that it is in very good hands.

 

 

Manitoba Opera’s Digital Emerging Artists Program
is generously supported by:

 

2020 Participants

Sydney Baedke, Soprano

“Being selected as a Digital Emerging Artist with Manitoba Opera has not only allowed for me to remain engaged with this industry and my growth as a young singer during this difficult time, but has also presented an invigorating opportunity to contribute to what opera will look like in 2020.”

Lizzy Hoyt, Mezzo-Soprano

“The program has been on the mark, delivering training and tools for singers in a time of online concerts, digital content, and marketing. I really appreciated the workshops on camera, lighting and recording equipment.”

Kaden Forsberg, Tenor

“The artists involved […] are leaving the program with a reliable foundation for continued operatic/classical creation in digital mediums.”

Nicholas Borg, Baritone

“My experience with the program has been absolutely exceptional. From the number of lessons and coaching, the high level of instruction, and the variety of topics covered in discussions and workshops, my expectations were exceeded at every turn.”