UofT Opera

University of Toronto Opera, established in 1946, serves as a premier training ground for opera singers in Canada. Unlike traditional university music faculties, UofT Opera operates akin to a company-based opera house, with a selective admission process that maintains a class size of approximately 20 singers. This allows for personalized and intensive training from its esteemed faculty. The program includes a busy season of three productions with orchestra, excerpt concerts, and recitals, providing students with ample opportunities to refine their skills. Over its 70-year history, the institution has been instrumental in the development of many of Canada's leading opera talents, including notable alumni such as Jon Vickers, Teresa Stratas, Adrianne Pieczonka, and Russell Braun. Initially starting with a modest budget, the Opera School presented its first performance in 1946 and by 1954, it evolved into the Opera Festival Association of Toronto, which later became the Canadian Opera Company in 1959. In 1964, the school moved to the Edward Johnson Building, featuring the MacMillan Theatre. Under the leadership of figures like James Fraser Craig, Stephen Ralls, Michael Albano, and Sandra Horst, UofT Opera has continued to excel, offering a master's program and maintaining a high standard of opera education in Toronto and Canada.