Our Artists — Little Opera On the Prairie

Darla MacDiarmid, Piano

Darla’s first memories at the piano were with her mom sitting beside her on a long, wooden bench. In time they travelled to nearby Star City for lessons with Rose Arbogast every Wednesday after school. When they moved to Dalmeny, Darla studied with Bonnie Nicholson and, later on, with Robin Harrison. After completing her Performer’s ARCT and LTCL, she enrolled at Briercrest for two years, and was given the opportunity to travel as an accompanist with a 12-member music group to Austria and the Czech Republic.

PianistAnastasia WinterhaltOctober 23, 2018Masquerade 2018

Courtney Willick, Soprano

Courtney Willick was born and raised in Saskatoon, and began formal music training when she was 6 with piano lessons. At the age of 12, she joined the Saskatoon Children's Choir, and throughout her 7 years with them was fortunate to tour around Canada, Europe, and Asia, doing concerts and festivals. She began studying singing seriously at age 14, and continued through to the U of S, where she received degrees in Music and Education.

SopranoLesia Design Inc.October 8, 2018VOICES / 3 Operas, Hansel and Gretel (2013), Masquerade 2018

Kelsey Stone, Choreographer

Trained at La Danse, Kelsey has participated in many exams, competed in different festivals across Canada and performed in musicals around the city. While living in Calgary after graduating, Kelsey went to school for Radio Broadcasting at SAIT, then settled in Prince Albert to work with Broadway North Theatre Company. She performed in Beauty and the Beast (Belle), Footloose (Choreographer, Rusty), Cinderella (Choreographer), Cabaret (Koste, Dance Captain), Annie (Choreographer, Grace)…

ChoreographerLesia Design Inc.October 8, 2018Hansel and Gretel (2013)

Kathleen Lohrenz Gable, Music Director

Kathleen Lohrenz Gable's professional career includes experiences as a recitalist, voice coach, accompanist, and as a musical director and rehearsal pianist for opera productions in Canada and the USA. Kathleen received her Bachelor of Music from Wilfrid Laurier University; a Diploma in Lieder from the Franz Schubert Institute in Austria; her Fellowship from Trinity College in London; and her Master of Music in Accompanying and Chamber Music from the University of Michigan. Kathleen taught Piano and Piano Pedagogy at the University of Michigan and was a Piano instructor at the famous Interlochen National Music Camp in Michigan. She has also taught for Wilfrid Laurier University, the University of Windsor, and currently Kathleen teaches Applied Piano, and is Music Director for the Music Theatre Ensemble at the University of Saskatchewan…

Music DirectorLesia Design Inc.October 8, 2018Hansel and Gretel (2013)

Susan Schmidt Goerz, Soprano

Susan J. Schmidt Goerz, MMus, BMus, BA in Theatre, BEd, is an accomplished, stage performer, director, educator and soloist who has performed and stage managed with the University of Saskatchewan Music Theatre Group, Saskatoon Opera Association, the Opera Troupe of Saskatoon, K-W Octoberfest Opera Productions, Kitchener-Waterloo Gilbert and Sullivan Society, the Orillia Opera House, K-W Musical Productions, and The Red Barn Theatre…

SopranoLesia Design Inc.October 8, 2018Hansel and Gretel (2013)

Garry Gable‡, Bass-Baritone

Garry Gable, bass-baritone, resides in Saskatoon where he teaches vocal studies and directs the Music Theatre Ensemble at the University of Saskatchewan. He was named a recipient of the 2011 Provost's Awards for Outstanding Teaching at the University of Saskatchewan. His students have enjoyed success across Canada and into Europe, the United States, and China.

Bass-BaritoneLesia Design Inc.October 8, 2018Hansel and Gretel (2013)

Lindsay Gable, Mezzo Soprano

Lindsay Gable is thrilled to be working with Little Opera On the Prairie as the Witch in Hansel and Gretel. LOOP is a fantastic organization, dedicated to the cause of bringing opera to audiences that may not otherwise experience it, which is a very worthwhile pursuit. It also provides invaluable experience for young singers starting out in the business…

Mezzo SopranoLesia Design Inc.October 8, 2018Hansel and Gretel (2013)

Laurien Gibson, Soprano

Laurien holds a Bachelor of Music from the University of Saskatchewan and an Artist Diploma from the Glenn Gould School. Ms. Gibson has been the recipient of numerous awards including first place in the Canadian Music Competition, Gordon Wallis Opera Competition and Young Artist Competition. She has also sung in the finals of the Hans Gabor Belvedere competition, an international contest held in Vienna…

SopranoLesia Design Inc.October 8, 2018Masquerade 2018, Hansel and Gretel (2013), VOICES / 3 Operas

Alicia Woynarski, Mezzo Soprano

Alicia Woynarski is a singer with a beautiful warm mezzo-soprano voice and compelling stage presence. Originally from Regina, Alicia completed a Bachelor of Music at University of Western Ontario and graduated from the University of British Columbia with a Masters degree in Vocal Performance. Operatic roles include Dorebella (Accademia Europea Dell'Opera), Cherubino (Saskatoon Opera), the title role in Carmen (Vancouver Island Opera); Berta in Il Barbiere di Siviglia and the Third Lady in Die Zauberflöte (European Academy of Music, Czech Republic); Tessa in The Gondoliers (Westben Theatre); Florence in Albert Herring (UWO); Principessa in Suor Angelica (Opera NUOVA)…

Mezzo SopranoLesia Design Inc.October 8, 2018Hansel and Gretel (2013)

Jessica Derventzis, Stage Director

Stage director Jessica Derventzis hails from Toronto, Ontario and came to opera by way of playing piano. She began her studies at Queen's University as a music major, but quickly added theatre to her studies after accompanying rehearsals for the opera company in her first year. She went on to direct Les Dialogues des Carmélites and Trouble in Tahiti while in Kingston…

Stage DirectorLesia Design Inc.October 8, 2018VOICES / 3 Operas

Kerry Agnew, Collaborative Pianist

Since completing her Bachelor of Music and Bachelor of Education at the University of Saskatchewan, Kerry Agnew has had opportunities to partake in numerous Opera productions including Edmonton's Opera NUOVA 2010 Vocal Arts Festival (Romeo et Juliette), Winnipeg's Contemporary Opera Lab (premiering newly commissioned Canadian Operas), as well as working with the Saskatoon Opera Chorus…

PianistLesia Design Inc.October 8, 2018VOICES / 3 Operas

Chelsea Mahan, Soprano

On the operatic stage, Canadian-American soprano Chelsea Mahan has been noticed for her panache of character (La Presse, 2015) but is equally at home in soundtrack recording, oratorio, recital settings and productions in unconventional spaces. These intimate performances in warehouses and abandoned churches include the roles of Monica in The Medium and Laurette in Bizet's comedy Le Docteur Miracle with Stu & Jess Productions…

SopranoLesia Design Inc.October 8, 2018Masquerade 2018, VOICES / 3 Operas

Anastasia Winterhalt

Short-listed for the 2014 Lieutenant Governor's Arts Awards "Leadership" Award by the Saskatchewan Arts Board, Anastasia is passionate about making opera exciting for Saskatoon residents and is focused on creating and producing works that attract new audiences and build support for opera in the city…

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