THE NEWS
Two Pictou County trained singers. A national stage. Opera.
Who would have thought?
Certainly not Marcel d’Entremont, who in a way stumbled upon a love for classical music during voice lessons with Monica Punke in New Glasgow.
Unsure of what to pursue when he graduated high school, he decided to give music a chance. And he’s been singing ever since.
This week, Merigomish born d’Entremont and a former Pictou County resident Alex Halliday who spent much of his formative years in Pictou County and graduated from North Nova Education Centre found themselves competing against five other of the top classical singers in the country. At stake was prize money, but also the opportunity to be part of the Canadian Opera Company Ensemble Studio, Canada’s top training program for young opera professionals.
“I never thought this was where I was going to be,” d’Entremont said in an interview with The News Monday ahead of the Wednesday night competition.
Finalists were selected by a panel of judges, who reviewed 109 applications and travelled to Calgary, Montreal and Toronto to hear 72 young artists in preliminary live auditions. The Ensemble Studio Competition opens up the final round of auditions to the public, where competitors sing one last aria for the judges, accompanied by the acclaimed COC Orchestra led by COC Music Director Johannes Debus. Canadian opera legend, Ben Heppner, returns to host the evening.
“The Ensemble Studio Competition is always one of the most exciting events of the season – for both the judges and the audience,” says COC General Director Alexander Neef, who also serves on the judging panel. “It’s a joy and a privilege to be part of a singer’s journey from the very beginning, which is why we open up this process to the wider community.”
D’Entremont said it’s exciting to take part in the training and coaching sessions leading into the event. He said he’s been trying to treat every time he’s in the building like he’s in an audition.
“I’ve really enjoyed the work I’ve been doing,” he said.
He particularly looks forward to singing with the accompaniment of the full orchestra.
Win or lose on Wednesday, he’s content. While everyone competing would love to have the chance to be part of the studio ensemble, he said he’s thankful that he’s already able to make a living as a classical singer. This year he’s been travelling across Canada with Against the Grain Theatre as part of a project that brings a modern form of opera to bars and legions across the country from west to east.
If he doesn’t win, he said he hopes he can take away, “the confidence that this is a place I could be at some day.”
He’s learned enough since leaving Pictou County though, to know, however, that success isn’t determined by the stage you play and encourages youth to not set a narrow view on achievement. A person doesn't have to sing at the MET to be successful he said, but can find fulfilment performing in a seniors home or working in music administration.
“There are so many other ways to make a life in music,” he said.
He’s learned enough since leaving Pictou County though, to know, however, that success isn’t determined by the stage you play and encourages youth to not set a narrow view on achievement.
“They can be performing in a senior’s home, have a job in music administration or arts funding,” he said. “There are so many other ways to make a life in music.”
