2015/2016 Emerging Artists

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Emerging Artists 20162015/2016 Emerging Artists with Board Member
Lynn Whetham and Artistic Director Ronald Beckett

Katerina GimonKaterina Gimon, composer

A native of Burlington, Ontario, Katerina Gimon is an emerging composer, improvisor, and soprano particularly noted for her choral and vocal works. Most recently, Katerina was awarded 2nd prize in the Vancouver Chamber Choir’s 12th biannual Young Composers’ Competition (2015) as well as named the recipient of the Ellen Taaffe Zwilich Prize in the IAWM 2014 Search for New Music Competition for her SATB choral work Elements.
In spring 2015, Katerina graduated with her Honours Bachelor of Music in Contemporary Music from Wilfrid Laurier University where she studied composition and improvisation under Linda Catlin Smith and Glenn Buhr, and voice under Vicki St. Pierre and James Westman. During her time at Laurier, she was involved with numerous new music projects in the Kitchener-Waterloo community including the WLU Composers and Improvisors’ Association, as well as the WLU Songwriters’ Circle, which she founded in 2012. She is also the founder of Audax (meaning “Bold”), an all-female, Waterloo-based, creative vocal ensemble which performs primarily improvised and original music that explores connecting sound, movement, and visual art. In September Katerina will begin her Masters of Music in Composition at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver.

 

Isabella Giuliano - Soprano 2Isabella Giuliano, soprano

Isabella is a young, ambitious soprano from Hagersville, Ontario. She is currently enrolled in the Honours Bachelor of Music program at McMaster University, where she is entering her 4th year. At McMaster University, she participates in the McMaster Women’s Vocal Ensemble, the McMaster University Chamber Choir and the McMaster University Choir, all under the direction of Dr. Rachel Rensink-Hoff. For the 2014-2015 academic year, Isabella worked as a Teacher’s Assistant for Second Year Harmony, under the supervision of Dr. Matthew Woolhouse. This past year, she was the Social Coordinator for the McMaster University Choir Council, and for the 2015-2016 academic year, Isabella will serve as President. Despite her busy schedule, Isabella remained on the Dean’s Honour List for the past three academic years at the University, receiving several scholarships to aid in her studies. Isabella currently takes vocal lessons with Lita Classen, at McMaster University with the intent to pursue her Performance Diploma for Classical Voice. Isabella has previously studied with Gloria-Jean Nagy from Ottawa Ontario, where she participated in various vocal competitions such as Kiwanis Music Festival, Ontario Registered Music Teachers’ Association Competition, and National Association of Teachers of Singing Competition. Isabella has sung in the Pembroke Youth Choir for 4 years and with the Haldimand Choralairs for 2 seasons. Isabella has worked as a young artist for Marvin Fick’s presentation of Haydn’s Creation. In 2013 and 2014, Isabella had the privilege of singing in the soprano one section of the Ontario Youth Choir. She will be returning to the Ontario Youth Choir for 2015. Isabella has immersed herself in the spirit of being at University for her biggest passion with hopes of pursuing further education and opportunity in Vocal Performance. Alongside singing, Isabella spends her time playing piano, for which she will be preparing for her Grade 9 Practical Exam. She is currently entering her 3rd season with Arcady and could not be more excited to be entering this season as a Young Artist.

6aa21b_dd32c3b681b94adc8fa79fdfcd8e7e20Stephanie Orlando, composer

Stephanie is the winner of Arcady’s Young Composer Competition.  Her winning piece “A dream within a dream” will be performed at Arcady’s Voices of Summer on June 10, 2016. Stephanie is an emerging composer and pianist based in Toronto. Born and raised in Hamilton, Stephanie recently completed her Bachelor of Music at Wilfrid Laurier University. At WLU, she studied composition with Linda Catlin Smith and Glenn Buhr, and classical piano with Elaine Lau. Stephanie is a versatile pianist, having performed with various ensembles such as the WLU Improvised Concerts Ensemble and WLU Jazz Ensemble. Her compositions have been read and performed by the WLU Symphony Orchestra, Dion Flores and the Reading Chamber Orchestra, the Penderecki String Quartet, along with many other performances in Waterloo and Toronto. She also frequently performs her own works.  This year, her music will be performed by the Penderecki String Quartet, Nouveau Trio, and Rosewood Consort. Stephanie is currently pursuing her Masters of Music Composition at the University of Toronto, studying under Christos Hatzis. She is a member of the International Alliance of Women in Music (IAWM) and the Society of Composers, Authors, and Music Publishers (SOCAN).

VanessaHeadshots_096 copy 2 smallerVanessa Oude-Reimerink, soprano
Born in Ontario, Vanessa is a young soprano who is quickly gaining recognition for her performances in opera, music theatre and contemporary collaborations. Vanessa was a member of Calgary Opera’s Emerging Artist Development Program last season where she made her mainstage debut as Barbarina in Le Nozze di Figaro. This summer, Vanessa makes her debut with the Toronto Summer Music Festival as Cathy in The Last Five Years and returns to Calgary reprise the role of Iset in Dean Burry’s The Scorpions’ Sting. Debuts for the upcoming season include the title role in Viardot’s Cendrillon with FestivalOpéra St. Eustache and Frasquita in Carmen with Edmonton Opera. Other roles include Tytania in A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Susanna in Le Nozze di Figaro, Pamina and Papagena in Die Zauberflöte, Miss Wordsworth in Albert Herring, Clara in The Light in the Piazza, Rapunzel in Into the Woods, Aurore in Le Portrait de Manon and the Canadian première of Volpone by John Musto. Vanessa holds a Master’s Degree from the Schulich School of Music at McGill University, where she studied with Professor Sanford Sylvan. She has received additional training from Centre d’Arts Orford, COSI, Opera NUOVA, Opera on the Avalon, the St. Andrews Opera Workshop, and Western University. Vanessa is a recipient of numerous awards, including the prestigious Joseph-Armand Bombardier Canada Graduate Scholarship, an Encouragement Award from the Metropolitan Opera Western Canada District and the University of Western Ontario Gold Medal.