Andrew Ostrander is a Manitoba Opera donor and has been a supernumerary (a non-singing role), appearing in productions going back to 1997, but opera was not love-at-first sight for him as he explains:

“The first opera performance I ever attended was The Little Vixen. Not in English and with no surtitles. I hated it. It was hours of meaningless noise, and I said to myself that was the end of opera for me. But fate intervened. Years later I was working at a high school in New Zealand. The school choir was used as the chorus for a travelling performance of La Traviata. I attended to support the students, and to my astonishment, I loved it!

Again, years later when I had returned to Winnipeg, a colleague mentioned that he was a supernumerary with Manitoba Opera. I asked how he got the position and he said he just applied. I was incredulous, as I had assumed that one needed more than just a willingness to be on stage. I applied and was asked to join the next production, again La Traviata!  It was a marvelous experience.  Working with so many talented people, working together to produce the sublime experience of an opera, has always been so uplifting.

As my experience with Manitoba Opera grew, my admiration for the company grew. I was always treated with professional respect, even as a lowly spear carrier, and I increasingly saw that the company is committed to support of the local community, whether singers, musicians, or young audience members. When circumstances allowed, I made a donation to the company anticipating that they could well use the assistance during the dark year of 2020.”

Thank you, Andrew! Your support this past year, and that of other donors, has been greatly appreciated. We value your patronage over the years, and your involvement as a part of our opera community.