Allison Arends

Soprano Allison Cecilia Arends is noted for her “lyrical upper tones” and “empathetic acting” (Opera Canada), as well as voice that is “stunningly beautiful [and is] used with great sensitivity” (Hnatyshyn Foundation).

Allison is a graduate of Calgary Opera’s Emerging Artist Program and holds a Master of Music from the University of Toronto Opera School and a Bachelor of Music from the University of Victoria Voice Performance Program. Having performed across Canada, the United States, Germany, Austria, Italy, England, Israel, and China, she is an avid interpreter of opera, oratorio, chamber, and recital repertoire. Allison has performed most of the major Oratorio works with orchestras throughout Canada, has been engaged by various recital societies, and operatic roles of note include the title role in Lucia di Lammermoor, Gilda in Rigoletto, Violetta in La Traviata, Adina in L’elisir d’amore, both Adele and Rosalinda in Die Fledermaus, Musetta in La Bohème, Lauretta in Gianni Schicchi, Cleopatra in Giulio Cesare, and new compositions in productions with Soundstreams and Tapestry Opera. Allison toured with the Brahms Symphony Orchestra across China in a series of Viennese concerts, and was honoured to perform at Rideau Hall, as well as for International Dignitaries in Calgary and Toronto. She has been the recipient of numerous awards and grants, including the Hnatyshyn Foundation Artist’s Grant, a Metropolitan Opera Encouragement Award, a B.C Arts Council Senior Award, and prizes through the Spazio Musica opera competition in Italy, the Barrie Alexander international voice competition, and the Joy in Singing art song competition in New York, among others.

In addition to her performing, Allison has maintained a busy private voice and music theory studio in Toronto for almost 20 years, where she takes a great deal of joy in imparting her musical knowledge to students from various musical backgrounds of all age groups. Her students have been accepted into many prestigious programs in Canada, the States, and Europe, and regularly perform locally and abroad. Allison is a voice examiner for the Royal Conservatory of Music and regularly adjudicates music festivals from coast to coast. Having formerly taught for St. Michael’s Choir School, Timothy Eaton Memorial’s Choir School, and as a teacher and clinician for Vox Choirs, Toronto Concert Choir, and Cantabile Chamber Singers, Allison has conducted choral, vocal, and educational workshops and masterclasses for the Edna Manley Music College in Jamaica, University of Mississippi, British Columbia Provincial Music Festival, Regina Conservatory of Music, Ryerson Oakham House Choir, Opera Atelier, and the Royal Canadian College of Organists, among others. Allison was thrilled to combine her passion for teaching, children, music, and social justice by co-founding and running a music camp for underprivileged children in Kingston, Jamaica with her friend and colleague, Jamaican-Canadian tenor, Paul Williamson.

www.allisonarends.com