THE MCPHEE ARTIST DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM
SUPPORTED BY
Each season, Calgary Opera provides up to eight young singers with the opportunity to study and perform under a professional staff of teachers and performers. The program serves as a bridge between academic programs and the professional world of opera, offering the experience and practical skills necessary to succeed as a self-employed artist in a highly competitive international environment.
Calgary Opera commits to empowering all voices, regardless of background or identity and is dedicated to creating a safe space for everyone to feel a keen sense of belonging. We encourage applications from diverse backgrounds who share in our commitment to building an equitable, diverse, and inclusive environment.
McPhee Artist Connor Hoppenbrouwers as Donner in Das Rheingold, Calgary Opera 2024. HarderLee Photography.
TO APPLY
Applications for the 2026-27 McPhee Artist Development Program will open in mid-August.
For more information about the program, please contact:
Mel Kirby
Manager, McPhee Artist Development Program
Phone: 403-802-3405
E-mail
PROGRAMME MCPHEE DE CHEMINEMENT POUR ARTISTES
McPhee Artists Nicole Leung as Adina and Christina Thanisch-Smith as Giannetta in The Elixir of Love, Calgary Opera 2024. HarderLee Photography.
Chaque année, l’opéra de Calgary offre à huit jeunes chanteur·euse·s l’opportunité d’étudier et de se produire sous la direction d’une équipe de professeur·e·s et d’artistes professionnel·le·s. Le programme sert de transition entre les milieux académiques et professionnels du monde de l’opéra, et donne l’expérience et les aptitudes nécessaires à la réussite d’une carrière dans un environnement international très compétitif.
L’opéra de Calgary s’engage à donner une voix à tous, indépendemment de leur origine ou de leur identé de genre, et se consacre à créer un environnement sain où chacun·e peut trouver sa place. Nous encourageons les candidatures de personnes venant d’horizons divers, qui partagent notre engagement à construire un monde équitable, diversifié et inclusif.
INSCRIPTION
Les candidatures pour le Programme de Développement des Artistes McPhee 2026-27 ouvriront à la mi-août.
Pour en savoir plus sur le programme, veuillez contacter:
Mel Kirby
Manager, McPhee Artist Development Program
Phone: 403-802-3405
E-mail
Calgary Opera
2024-25
McPhee Artists
Colin Mackey
baritone
Newfoundland baritone Colin Mackey is a new addition to the McPhee Artist Development Program and has proven himself equally capable on concert, recital and operatic stages. In 2022, Colin earned a Master of Music degree from McGill University and has since completed an Artist Diploma at the Glenn Gould School of the Royal Conservatory. Most recently Colin performed the role of Marquis de La Force in Dialogues of the Carmelites at Koerner Hall. In 2024, Colin was among the winners of the Concerto and Chamber Competitions at the Glenn Gould School. In addition to performing, Colin is an experienced teacher and is passionate about music education and community music making. During the summer Colin will attend the Schubert Institute in Austria.
Nicholas Murphy
bass baritone
Acadian bass baritone Nicholas Murphy is thrilled to join the McPhee Artist Development Program for the 2024-25 season. He obtained his bachelor’s degree from the University of Prince Edward Island and his master’s degree and graduate diploma from McGill University. Nicholas has been seen in the roles of Pandolfe in Cendrillon, Don Magnifico in Cenerentola, Papageno in Die Zauberflöte, Leporello in Don Giovanni, and Doctor Grenvil in La Traviata. He was a finalist in Opéra de Montréal’s Talent Gala competition for the Atelier Lyrique in 2023 and was a finalist in the Wirth Vocal Prize in early 2024. This summer he will debut the role of Dr. Bartolo in Il Barbiere di Siviglia with Brott Opera and Highlands Opera Studio.
Ryan Nauta
tenor
Born and raised in Chatham, Ontario, tenor Ryan Nauta is in his first year of the McPhee Artist Development Program at Calgary Opera. This season Ryan will be seen as the Notary in Don Pasquale, and the Minister and Chauffeur in Nino Rota’s The Witty Squirrel. Previous credits include Don Ottavio in Don Giovanni, First Armoured Guard in The Magic Flute, Albert Herring in Albert Herring, and Lysander in A Midsummer Night’s Dream. He has completed residencies at the Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity, the Sewanee Summer Music Festival, the Franz-Schubert-Institut, and the Halifax Summer Opera Festival. Ryan was a finalist in Vancouver Opera’s VOX Competition in 2019. Ryan is a graduate of the University of Western Ontario and McGill University.
Luke Noftall
bass baritone
Bass baritone Luke Noftall is in his first year of the McPhee Artist Development Program at Calgary Opera. Recent credits include Zuniga in Carmen with Southern Ontario Lyric Opera, Count Monterone in Rigoletto with Opera by Request, and Judge Turpin in Sweeney Todd with Doctor Bird Productions. Luke spent the last two summers at the Banff Centre for Arts & Creativity in both the Chamber Music and Opera: Interplay, and Opera in the 21st Centuries programs. During these programs, he was seen as The Commander in The Handmaid’s Tale, Masetto in Don Giovanni, as well as Morris in a workshop of Adoration by Mary Kouyoumdjian and Royce Vavrek. Luke holds both a master’s and a bachelor’s degree from the University of Toronto.
Kelsey Ronn
Soprano
Canadian-Ukrainian soprano Kelsey Ronn is ecstatic to start her first year of the McPhee Artist Development Program with Calgary Opera. She holds a master’s degree from McGill University and a bachelor's degree from the University of Manitoba. During her time at McGill, she appeared as Marchesa di Poggio in Un giorno di regno and Donna Anna in Don Giovanni. This summer she will be participating in Opera Kelowna’s VOSI Program. Other operatic achievements include District Winner and Audience Choice Award recipient in the Metropolitan Opera’s Laffont Competition in 2019 and Runner-up for the Wirth Vocal Prize in 2022. Furthermore, Miss Ronn debuted with the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra in 2022 for the Manitoba Hydro Holiday Tour as their featured soloist.
Arieh Max Sacke
Tenor
Toronto-born tenor Arieh Max Sacke is in his second year of the McPhee Artist Development Program at Calgary Opera, where he appeared last season as Beast in Beauty and the Beast and Basilio in Le nozze di Figaro. Other recent stage credits include Giuseppe in La traviata with Cincinnati Opera, Urizen in Allan Bevan’s Perfectly Mad with Orpheus Choir of Toronto/Chorus Niagara, Ferrando in Così fan tutte with Opera by Request, and Don Ramiro in La Cenerentola with COSA Canada. Arieh was a 2023 Manitoba Opera Digital Emerging Artist, and a Festival Artist with Opera Saratoga. He attained his Master of Music at the University of Cincinnati College–Conservatory of Music, and is co-founder of the Toronto-based Fonitika Vocal Ensemble.
Christina Thanisch-Smith
Soprano
Born in Fredericton and raised in Winnipeg, Canadian/German soprano Christina Thanisch-Smith is delighted to return to Calgary Opera in the fall where she will sing the role of Zerlina in Mozart’s Don Giovanni as a second year McPhee Artist. Last season, Christina made her Calgary Opera main-stage debut as Giannetta in L’elisir d’amore and sang Beauty in Beauty & The Beast. This summer, she will be an Artist in Residence with Brott Music Festival and Toronto Summer Music Festival. In 2023, she completed her graduate studies at McGill University, made her Maison Symphonique debut as soloist for Mahler’s Symphony no. 4, and attended the Franz-Schubert-Institut in Austria. She was recently a soloist with the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra.
Alessia Vitali
Mezzo soprano
Alessia Vitali is an Italian-Canadian mezzo soprano hailing from Montréal, Québec. Recent role highlights include Signora Guidotti in Nino Rota’s I due timidi, Mercédès in Bizet’s Carmen, Rosina in Rossini’s Il Barbiere di Siviglia, Maddalena in Verdi’s Rigoletto, Cherubino in Mozart’s Le nozze di Figaro and the title role in Handel’s Serse. Alessia is in her first year of the McPhee Artist Development Program. Her 2024-25 Calgary Opera season includes a role study of Donna Elvira in Mozart’s Don Giovanni, the title role in Nino Rota’s family-friendly production of The Witty Squirrel, and the role of La Ciesca in Puccini’s Gianni Schicchi. She attained her Master of Music in Opera at the University of Toronto under the tutelage of Elizabeth McDonald.
McPhee headshots and group photo by HarderLee Photography. Calgary Opera. 2024