The Finalists have been announced for the Canadian Opera Company’s Centre Stage: Ensemble Studio Competition.

The finals will be held on Nov. 3, 2022 at the Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts with all proceeds from the evening supporting the COC’s groundbreaking artist development program.

This year the theme of the evening is “A Night in the Spotlight.” The annual event aims to shed light on the newest generation of Canadian vocal talent while offering audiences an hour-long concert of some of opera’s most beautiful musical numbers.

Nearly 100 candidates applied to be a part of this year’s process and finalists are Hannah Crawford, River Guard, Wesley Harrison, Matthew Li, Laura Nielsen, Karoline Podolak, and Korin Thomas-Smith.

The singers will be evaluated by a judging panel comprised of Perryn Leech, COC General Director, Roberto Mauro, COC Director of Artistic Planning, Adrianne Pieczonka, internationally-celebrated Canadian soprano, and J’Nai Bridges, two-time Grammy Award-winning American soprano.

Audience members will also be invited to cast their vote for the Audience Choice Award winner.