Leadership

Honorary Patron

Judith Forst

Judith Forst has been called "one of the few truly world class coloratura mezzo-sopranos on the operatic stage," with a voice that is "bright, sensuous, seamless through its range, full of secure, shining high notes" (COC Magazine Apr 1988). She is an Officer of the Order of Canada and a recipient of the Order of British Columbia. In 1978 she was named Canadian Woman of the Year, and in 1992 the City of Port Moody, BC, granted her the freedom of the city. In recognition of her contributions to Canadian music, Forst was named an ambassador of the Canadian Music Centre in 2009.

Artistic Director

Cheryl Hickman

Cheryl Hickman is poised to take her place among the outstanding sopranos of her generation. Top prize winner in the George London Competition in New York, she debuted with Florida Grand Opera as Desdemona in OTELLO, sang the role of Mary in the New York City Opera's BALLAD OF BABY DOE and starred in Saint-Saëns’ LA PRINCESSE JAUNE for l'Opéra Français de New York conducted by Yves Abel. She was heard with the Canadian Opera Company as the Female Chorus in Britten's THE RAPE OF LUCRETIA, the Mother and the Witch in HÄNSEL UND GRETEL and covered the role of Senta in Wagner's DER FLIEGENDE HOLLÄNDER. Other roles include Helena in A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM which she performed at the Aspen Festival, Kathleen in Vaughan Williams' RIDERS TO THE SEA and Susan B. Anthony in THE MOTHER OF US ALL. Other highlights include Madame Lidoine in DIALOGUES DES CARMÉLITES for Calgary Opera and her engagement as the cover artist for Wagner’s WESENDONCK LIEDER and The Immolation Scene from GÖTTERDÄMMERUNG with the Vancouver Symphony. She appeared in the Canadian premiere of DEAD MAN WALKING for Calgary Opera and sang Berg’s SIEBEN FRÜHE LIEDER for Orchestra Toronto and Beethoven’s Choral Fantasia and Symphony No. 9 for Symphony Nova Scotia. In 2006-2007 she returned to Calgary for Clorinda in LA CENERENTOLA. Dates with the Newfoundland Symphony include Dvorak’s TE DEUM and an all Wagner programme including the Immolation Scene from Wagner's GOTTERDAMMERUNG.

Featured in SUOR ANGELICA and GIANNI SCHICCHI at New York City Opera, Ms. Hickman’s roles at City Opera include Erste Dame in DIE ZAUBERFLÖTE, Fortuna in IL RITORNO D’ULISSE IN PATRIA and Eve in Drattell’s LILITH. In Alberta, Calgary Opera audiences heard her as Gertrude/die Hexe in HÄNSEL UND GRETEL and she debuted as the Countess in LE NOZZE DI FIGARO for Pacific Opera Victoria. Ms. Hickman appeared in performances of Bernstein’s ‘KADDISH’ Symphony with the Toronto Mendelssohn Choir.

She debuted with Manitoba Opera as Donna Anna in DON GIOVANNI and sang Micaëla in CARMEN for Pacific Opera Victoria and Marianne in DER ROSENKAVALIER for Vancouver Opera. Ms. Hickman received her Master of Music degree in voice from the prestigious Juilliard School of Music and was also a member of the Juilliard Opera Center where she was featured in DIE ZAUBERFLÖTE, MONSIEUR CHOUFLEURI, A HAND OF BRIDGE, IL CAPELLO DI PAGLIA DI FIRENZE and LIASONS. The St. John's, Newfoundland native holds a Bachelor of Music degree from the University of Toronto and also received a Diploma from the Opera Division.

An alumna of the Canadian Opera Ensemble studio, she has attended the Aldeburgh Festival, the International Institute of Vocal Arts in Italy, the Aspen Festival and the Centre Internationale de Formation Musicale with scholarships and awards from the Toronto Symphony, the Women's Musical Club and the McCormick Tribune Foundation. She won the Gluck Fellowship and was a finalist in the Houston Grand Opera's Eleanor McCollum competition.

Ms. Hickman has been heard in recital at Alice Tully Hall in New York, in Toronto at the Glenn Gould Studio, Hart House and Walter Hall, and her recitals with Kristina Sutor have been heard on the Music Craft program of the CBC. She has been a guest artist with the Newfoundland Symphony and was heard in her home province in the Hibernia Gala and as the soprano soloist in Handel's MESSIAH.

Ms. Hickman is also one of the founding members, and co-artistic director of Opera on the Avalon, located in St. John's Newfoundland. Her recordings include Michael Parker's Lyre, and her own best selling recording of traditional Newfoundland Folk music entitled "On This Island".

Feb 2009

Staff:

Kalli Fraize

St. John's native, Kalli Fraize, is a graduate of Memorial University School of Music, with a Major in Trumpet. She has studied Trumpet with Ms. Katie Sullivan, Dr Brian Sand, Dr. Douglas (Pace) Sturdevant of the Canadian Brass, Ms Gillian Murphy and Mr Aaron Hodgens. Kalli has studied voice with Dr. Brian Roberts, Mr Peter Halley and Ms. Darlene Delay, as well as studying piano and voice with Noreen Greene-Fraize. Kalli has been a member of various choral and instrumental groups including Quintessential Vocal Ensemble, Mun Chamber Choir, Mun Festival Choir, Holy Heart Chamber, Girl's and Concert choir, serving as president of the choir from 2005-2006. She served as principal trumpet in the MUN Chamber Orchestra, The Newfoundland Symphony Youth Orchestra, Avalon East District Band and Holy Heart Jazz and Concert Band. Kalli was also a member of the Mun Brass Ensemble.

Kalli has also been involved in numerous musicals including Wizard of Oz, Scrooge, Heavenly Hoot and Fiddler on the Roof to name but a few. She also played and sang in the Cover Band "709". Kalli recently competed in the "ARTS" International Talent and Modelling Competition in December 2010 where she won various modelling awards including overall model. She has walked in the Lane Bryant Curvy Revolution fashion show in February 2011 and hopes to keep pursuing a career in the modelling industry.

Kalli is also the assistant conductor of the award-winning choir "Silvern Voices". She has been a Music Instructor since 2006, joining The Music Collection in 2010 where she enjoys teaching trumpet and junior voice. She also enjoys working with the Opera on the Avalon Festival where she is the assistant to the Artistic Director, Cheryl Hickman.

Gillian Sheppard

Born and raised in St. John’s, Newfoundland, Gillian has been playing the flute since she was 10 years old and has studied with a variety of teachers. Gillian is a recent graduate of the University of Ottawa, where she completed a Baccalaureate of Music (Performance) in the studio of Camille Churchfield.

Gillian is currently pursuing a Masters of Music (performance) at Memorial University, with Michelle Cheramy. Some of the most influential players Gillian has studied with include Robert Cram, Ian Clarke, Robert Langevin, Jim Walker and Jeanne Baxtresser. Gillian is an avid performer, on both flute and piccolo, having played many solo recitals and in concerts with various ensembles and chamber groups. She has held principal flute and piccolo positions with a variety of ensembles including the MUN Chamber Orchestra, University of Ottawa Orchestra, Eastern Wind Ensemble, Ottawa Symphonic Ensemble and Newfoundland Symphony Youth Orchestra.

A lover of arts administration, Gillian is the founder and executive director of The Edge International Music Festival, a new classical music festival in St. John’s, and has been the ensemble for several groups including the Eastern Wind Ensemble and Ottawa Symphonic Ensemble. Gillian is also very involved in the choral community, having sung with Opera Lyra Ottawa, as a founding member of the Capital Chamber Choir and now performing with internationally renowned Quintessential Vocal Ensemble.

Board of Directors

• Cheryl Hickman, Artistic Director
• Jeanine Lacey, Co-Chair
• Dr. Ian Landells, Co-Chair
• Allison Chaytor-Loveys, treasurer
• Dr. Susan Knight
• Katherine Hickey
• Geoff Wedgewood
• Tim Crosbie
• Jeri Hill-Winsor
• Peter Gardner
• Marc David
• Steve Edwards
• Noreen Green Fraize
• Alex Templeton