Chelsea Mahan, Soprano

Light and Black Photography by Ashley

On the operatic stage, soprano Chelsea Mahan has been noticed in dramatic works for her “panache of character” (La Presse, 2015) while her comedic work on stage “creates some of the most memorable, funny moments of the night” (Star Phoenix, 2016). Equally at home in soundtrack recording, concert work, and recital settings, Ms. Mahan has lent her dramatic flare to up-close and personal performances in warehouses, abandoned churches and public libraries alike. As a prize-winning competitor, her achievements include first prize in both the 65th Young Artist Series Western Concert tour and the prestigious Gordon Wallis Opera Competition. Most recently, Ms. Mahan was appointed a Laureate of Jeunes Ambassadeurs Lyriques and named a finalist in the Concorso Internazionale per Giovani Cantanti Lirici in Italy.

Ms. Mahan has made appearances with La Compagnie Baroque Mont-Royal, Saskatoon Symphony Orchestra, Regina Symphony Orchestra, Opera Nuova, Halifax Summer Opera, Saskatoon Opera, Swift Current Oratorio Choir and most recently, Little Opera on the Prairie in collaboration with the Strata New Music Festival performing world premieres of two short Canadian operatic works. Stage credits include Monica in The Medium, Laurette in Le Docteur Miracle, Erste Dame in Die Zauberflöte, both Tytania and Helena in A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Elle in Poulenc’s one woman opera La Voix Humaine, Soeur Constance in Poulenc’s Dialogues des Carmelites, Berta in Il barbiere di Siviglia, and a dive into the world of comedic music theatre as Rita in The Volstead Blues with Souris Valley Theatre.

Ms. Mahan holds a B.Mus and B.Ed from the University of Saskatchewan and has recently returned to Saskatchewan from Montreal, a recipient of the Graduate Excellence Award and holding a M.Mus from McGill University. Currently involved in a variety of projects, Ms. Mahan loves creating and collaborating to celebrate established repertoire and to introduce fresh music to audiences, old and new. When not singing, Ms. Mahan can be found on stage performing as a founding member of the SHEnanigans All-Female Improv Comedy Troupe, adjudicating music festivals or teaching from her private studio. She finds inspiration from her 17 month old daughter and husband who reside with her in Saskatoon.