Michelle Siemens, Mezzo

Michelle Siemens, Mezzo

Michelle Siemens is a mezzo-soprano entering her final undergraduate year of studies at the University of Toronto. Growing up in Victoria, BC, Michelle studied privately with Mr. Bernard Turgeon and since moving to Toronto has been the student of Dr. Darryl Edwards.

During her time at the University of Toronto, she sang with the MacMillan Singers and as a participant in U of T’s Opera Undergraduate Program, has appeared in the university’s productions of The Telephone, Amelia Goes to the Ball, Les Mamelles de Tirésias, Rob Ford: The Opera, Cosi fan tutte and La Fille du Régiment.·· Michelle’s role credits include Mrs. MacAfee in Bye Bye Birdie, Dorothy Brock in 42^nd Street, Little Buttercup in HMS Pinafore and Ruth in Pirates of Penzance.

Michelle has participated in numerous summer vocal programs including the Centre for Opera Studies in Italy, The Oberlin Summer Vocal Academy for High School Students, the Victoria Conservatory of Music Summer Vocal Academy (Oratorio), and the Victoria Conservatory of Music Viva Voce Plus Summer School. Most recently she was a chorus member at the Centre for Opera Studies in Italy (COSI) performing in Mozart’s Don Giovanni and Donizetti’s L’elisir d’amore.· She was also a soloist in COSI’s selected opera scenes in the roles of Dorabella and Idamante from Mozart’s Cosi fan tutte and Idomeneo, respectively.· The University of Toronto has awarded Michelle the Argero Stratas Scholarship, the Bessie H. Jowett and Phyllis F. E. Jowett Scholarship and the Robert and Jean Elliot McBroom Scholarship.· Additionally, Michelle has been recognized with the Greater Victoria School District Dogwood Scholarship for performing arts, the BC Music Educators’ Association Scholarship, and the Mya Domeij Evenden Memorial Scholarship.· She has also received awards at the Greater Victoria Performing Arts Festival, The BC Provincial Music Festival and the 2010 NATS Auditions.

This summer Michelle is thrilled to be appearing in Opera on the Avalon’s productions of Suor Angelica as La Sorella Infermiera and as the mezzo-soprano soloist in the Mozart Requiem. She also looks forward to participating in Opera Nuova’s summer program in May and appearing in Halifax Summer Opera Workshop’s productions of Riders to the Sea as A Woman and in The Harpies as Ocypete.