After posting information on the winners of last night’s Canadian Opera Company Ensemble Studio Competition here, I received an email from the COC requesting a correction, because winners don’t automatically get a spot in the Ensemble Studio.
- Classical Music 101: What Does A Conductor Do? - June 17, 2019
- Classical Music 101 | What Does Period Instrument Mean? - May 6, 2019
- CLASSICAL MUSIC 101 | What Does It Mean To Be In Tune? - April 23, 2019
Wording in this year’s and last year’s press releases states: “Canada’s finest young opera singers will compete in front of a public audience for four cash prizes and the offer of a coveted position in the 2013/2014 Ensemble Studio.”
Follow-up press releases from the first two years of the competition also include these words: “Select finalists will be invited to join the COC’s 2013/2014 Ensemble Studio, with the number of offers to be determined by the judging panel.”
These decisions are made in the new year, to be announced at an unspecified future date in 2013, COC spokesperson Jennifer Pugsley explained to me this afternoon.
Among the things I had not understood properly was that not all of the prize winners are guaranteed a spot in the Ensemble Studio. Conversely, a candidate who did not win a prize in the competition could still get a spot in the Ensemble Studio.
I responded that it seemed strange to call an event a competition, name it after the Ensemble Studio, announce winners (who get wonderfu cash prizes) but then not guarantee them places in the actual Ensemble Studio.
Pugsley patiently explained that the competition is a way to raise public awareness of Canada’s young vocal talents and of the Canadian Opera Company’s substantial and ongoing efforts to nurture it.
She also explained that the competition is a way for the judges — COC general director Alexander Neef, artistic administrator Roberto Mauro, music administrator Sandra Gavinchuk, Ensemble Studio head Liz Upchurch and Ensemble Studio alumna Wendy Nielsen — to assess the 10 finalists in a high-pressure public setting. This assessment is then factored in to the final choices for next season’s Ensemble.
According to the Nov. 14 press release, 146 aspiring Canadian opera singers applied for an unspecified number of openings in the Ensemble Studio. The live competition on Thursday night was open to 10 finalists. But we may or may not see the names of the winners on next year’s new members of the group.
Is this how other operatic competitions work, too?
John Terauds
- Classical Music 101: What Does A Conductor Do? - June 17, 2019
- Classical Music 101 | What Does Period Instrument Mean? - May 6, 2019
- CLASSICAL MUSIC 101 | What Does It Mean To Be In Tune? - April 23, 2019
