Soprano Nikan Ingabire Kanate Wins Top Prize at Canadian Opera Company’s 12th Annual Centre Stage: Ensemble Studio Competition
By David Salazar(Photo Credit: Michael Cooper)
Soprano Nikan Ingabire Kanate of Ottawa won First Prize and the Audience Choice Prize at the Canadian Opera Company’s 12th annual Centre Stage: Ensemble Studio Competition on Oct. 23, 2025.
Kanate took home $12,500 sponsored by the Estate of Donald Lawrence Biderman for her first prize finish and $3,000 that comes along with the Hatch Audience Choice Prize following performances of “Depuis le jour” from “Louise” by Charpentier. The Ivorian-Rwandese soprano from Ottawa has appeared with the Nathaniel Dett Chorale and Curtis Opera Theatre, where she starred in “The Comet / Poppea.” She is set to appear in a forthcoming production of “La Passion de Simone” next February.
Second Prize went to mezzo-soprano Camila Montefusco of Montréal, who earned $8,000 sponsored by Wendy J. Thompson. The Brazilian-born singer, who is a resident artist at l’Atelier lyrique de l’Opéra de Montréal, performed “Parto, parto” from Mozart’s “La clemenza di Tito.”
The Erin Wall Prize of $5,000, sponsored by Peter Neelands, was given to baritone Søren Pedersen of San Diego, California, who performed “Largo al factotum” from Rossini’s “The Barber of Seville.” Pedersen’s recent credits include performances with San Diego Opera and Wolf Trap Opera.
“There’s something magical about seeing the future of opera take shape before your eyes,” said Canadian Opera Company General Director David Ferguson, per an official press release. “The Ensemble Studio Competition brings together some of Canada’s most gifted young voices—artists whose talent and passion remind us why this art form endures. To all of this year’s finalists: congratulations. The path ahead is bright, and we can’t wait to see where your voices will carry you.”
The event took place at the Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts, was hosted by Marci Ien. Each finalist performed two arias with the COC Orchestra led by Music Director Johannes Debus before a jury that included Dorian Cox, Roberto Mauro, Liz Upchurch, Elaine Overholt, and Morgan Reid.
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