McLean was honoured to be asked to sing as a YXE Diva and is thrilled to be back on stage with the Saskatoon Symphony Orchestra at TCU place.Madison has been a proud member of the Saskatoon Fireside Singers for over a decade and recently performed in the Saskatoon Fireside Singers 50th Anniversary along with the Saskatoon Symphony Orchestra.Madison’s passion for music and performing started at a young age following the footsteps of her older sister, Colby. The two sisters shared their love of music at family concerts that transitioned into duets at the Saskatoon Music Festival and many memorable momentssinging together on TCU stage. Madison acknowledges that making beautiful music with her sister and the inspiring choir members has helped her to grow professionally and personally.She is currently teaching Grade 4 at Father Vachon School and is blessed to share her musical gifts with her students. Madison is thankful for the love and support from her family and friends, especially from her number one fan, and soon to be husband, Daniel
SSO 93 Artist Bios
Ellen Nasser
An endless passion for creating, for connecting,
for self discovery, for people, for life.
Performing artist Ellen Nasser was raised in a small Saskatchewan community named Saltcoats. Typical of rural life, Nasser took music lessons as a way to fill the long, hot prairie summer days and the cold winter ones that keep you stuck indoors. She began her musical career with the touring musical revue, Saskatchewan Express, as well as the Canadian Heritage Society’s Spirit of a Nation, a showcase of Canadian song and dance celebrating Canada’s cultures and history.
Nasser studied at the prestigious Canadian College of Performing Arts in Victoria, B.C. and honed her musical talents aboard Norwegian Cruise Lines. Multitalented, Nasser has also acted in TV series like Rabbit Fall and Corner Gas, as well as in stage adaptations of Evita and Toon Town with Saskatoon’s Persephone Theatre.
As a songwriter and recording artist, Thorn has four albums to her name and has completed her first Christmas album that was released on December 7th/19 the evening she performed with the Saskatoon Symphony Orchestra.
To conclude a full 2019, Ellen Nasser released a comical Christmas video: ‘Am I the Only One’ on to YouTube and her social media platforms. Picture a ‘Home Alone Mom’ Catherine O’Hara, singing a song when she realizes she forgot Kevin! Getting lots of giggles and shares, Ellen is most happy expressing herself.
Ellen Nasser has released numerous songs to country radio including Sweet Millie, How Christmas Used to Feel, Almost Christmas, Something In Me and soon on August 18th/20 – Eight More Days.
Something In Me enjoyed some Top 30 action on Sirius XM channel 171 and she’s hoping Eight More Days will make an equal or even bigger splash!
Ellen loves to create, connect and enjoy life. She is always writing, performing and evolving. The truest loves of her life are hubby Johnny and their four babies: Bella, Millie, Sam, Walt and puppy Sofi.
Watch for Ellen Nasser performing at a venue near you.
Sonia Reid
AN ARTICLE FROM THE STAR PHOENIX
By Darlene Polachic
“As a gospel singer, I’m here to tell the story,” she says. “Gospel music is your testimony, your life. In black gospel music, particularly, the songs we sing talk about victories and trials, highs and lows, and how through it all God still gets the glory.”
Reid Noble says while black singers like Mahalia Jackson set the style and the stage for gospel music, there are many more branches of the genre today. Sonia’s music, for instance, “is more R&B-ish.”
Reid Noble grew up in Hamilton, Ontario, the daughter of a pastor. She was drawn to music early and began singing and playing the piano at the age of eight.
She became active in the music of the church as a youth, and it was where she identified her musical gift.
“I sang solos and participated in choirs and musical groups, and was involved in lots of singing ministry with other youth from my church, including leading the congregation in worship. Music was part of who we were.”
At 17, Reid Noble began studying voice with the Royal Conservatory of Music, then moved on to Redeemer University College, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts in music with a focus on classical voice. She also spent several years doing postgraduate work. During that time, she says, she learned more about church music.
While she was trained as a classical soprano, Reid Noble says she’s more of an alto when she’s singing gospel music.
She has worked professionally all across Canada, in the U.S., and in the Caribbean.
Reid Noble’s debut CD, ‘In You,’ was released in 2009.
One of the many ways Reid Noble shares her love for music is through teaching. For the past 25 years, she has taught vocal lessons to students of all ages, inspiring them to become musically confident. She believes music must first resonate with the artist in order for them to have a powerful impact with it.
While the climate for music performance in Saskatchewan is a healthy one, Reid Noble says she has taken her time becoming established, thanks in part to being a mom to her two children, ages three and five.
“Of course, I began singing in the church our family attends,” she says, “and a surprising opportunity came when I was invited to sing the national anthem before several Roughrider games. That was an amazing experience.”
Reid Noble was the special guest performer at Elim Church’s Christmas presentation for a couple of years, and in 2017, she did her first singing gig at The Bassment, where she performed before a sold-out audience. She performed there twice last year, and is booked to appear again in February.
Reid Noble says gospel music is part of her programs at The Bassment, “but not all. I do Soul and R&B, as well. I tell people I think I’m old enough now to sing about love.”
I have spent my life singing and learning music. From piano lessons as a child to a degree in music from Redeemer University, and continued training. I see music as something I can never learn enough about. Being able to share the gift of music with an audience or a vocal student bring great joy.
Alex Brown, guest host
For more than a decade, Alex Brown has been delighting audiences across Canada with her bubbly personality and quick wit as a host and news anchor on CTV, and online as a social media personality.
Born and raised in Regina, Saskatchewan, Alex now calls Saskatoon home. She moved to Pickering, Ontario with her family in 2004, and attended Toronto Metropolitan University (formally known as Ryerson University) for Radio and Television Arts from 2010 to 2014. In 2013, she took on an internship at CTV Regina, before being hired as a chase producer for CTV Morning Live. From 2014 to 2018, she worked as a producer, web writer, live reporter, anchor, weather presenter, and social media host in Regina, before taking on a new role in 2018 at CTV Morning Live Winnipeg. There, she took on the role of Traffic Reporter, along with live reporting, crime reporting, and backfill hosting.
In spring of 2020, she finally landed her dream job as a news anchor and co-host on CTV Morning Live Saskatoon, where she spent four years cultivating a trusted relationship with her audience, both on television and online.
Alex now lives in Saskatoon with her partner Brad and their curious cat Luna. They love exploring the prairies, filming adventure videos and finding hidden gems around Saskatchewan.
Leslie Dala, conductor
Conductor and pianist, Leslie Dala enjoys a multifaceted career spanning the genres of opera, symphonic music, choral and contemporary works. On the podium, he is known for his passionate, dynamic, and charismatic approach to music making. Named one of the top ten artistic leaders by the Vancouver Sun, Dala is well known nationally with guest conducting appearances with orchestras and opera companies across the country. Internationally, he has performed in France, Germany, Switzerland, Italy, Ireland, the Czech Republic, China, Taiwan and the US including recently at Carnegie Hall. Currently, he is a member of the music staff at the Santa Fe Opera.
Leslie presently holds the positions of Music Director of the Vancouver Bach Choir, the Associate Conductor and Chorus Director of Vancouver Opera, and the Music Director Emeritus of the Vancouver Academy of Music Symphony Orchestra. Recently he conducted Vancouver Opera’s production of Wagner’s The Flying Dutchman, the Canadian premiere of George Benjamin’s Into the Little Hill produced by Astrolabe Musik Theatre, and the world premiere of Frank Horvat’s Memories of Self Isolation with the Vancouver Bach Choir.
Career highlights include conducting the Canadian premiere of John Adams’ Oratorio El Nino, the Canadian premiere of Steve Reich’s You are Variations and Daniel Variations, the world premieres of Brian Current’s River of Light, James Rolfe’s and Morris Panych’s opera The Overcoat, and Neil Weisensel and Shane Koyczan’s opera Stickboy. As a conductor he has collaborated with such notable artists as Gregory Kunde, Richard Margison, Measha Brueggergosman, Adrianne Pieczonka and Etienne Dupuis. Other highlights include concerts with Sarah McLachlan and the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra in addition to leading the Toronto Symphony Orchestra with guest artists the Indigo Girls.
As a pianist, Leslie regularly appears in recital and has partnered with singers, including Russel Braun, Krisztina Szabo, Benjamin Butterfield, Rachel Fenlon, and Asitha Tennekoon. In 2021, Leslie recorded the complete Etudes of Philip Glass which is available on the Redshift label and on all of the major streaming platforms. It was named by CBC Radio as one of the top 21 Classical recordings of 2021. His 2022 recording of Nikolai Korndorf’s The Smile of Maud Lewis also made the CBC list for top 22 Classical recordings in addition to being named one of the Critic’s Choice Favourite Album’s of 2022 by Gramophone Magazine.
Angela Gjurichanin, soprano
Angela Gjurichanin is a Macedonian/Canadian soprano based in London, Ontario. In the 2021-2022 season, she was a District Winner for the Metropolitan Laffont Competition and winner of the Gordon Wallis Opera Competition. Recently, she had the privilege to be featured as the soprano soloist for Messiah with Regina Symphony Orchestra in December 2022. Gjurichanin has performed the roles of Nella from Gianni Schicchi and Adina from L’elisir d’amore with the Opera Workshop at Western University. She has performed the partial roles of the First Lady in Die Zauberflöte, Adele from Die Fledermaus, and Susanna in Le Nozze di Figaro. Angela recently graduated from the University of Western Ontario with a Masters of Music in Performance and Literature (MMus. 22) and holds a Bachelor of Music Honours (BMus. 20) from the University of Saskatchewan. Ms. Gjurichanin joined the Jeunes Ambassadeurs Lyriques Showcase as a young artist in October 2022. Upcoming engagements include her role debuts as Zerlina in Don Giovanni at Lyric Opera Studio of Weimar and Cercatrice I in Suor Angelica with Grand River Opera.
Emma Parkinson, mezzo-soprano
Chinese-Canadian mezzo-soprano Emma Parkinson has performed across Canada and internationally, she has been hailed as “an outstanding
voice” (La Scena Musicale). Most recently, she performed the role of Third Lady in The Magic Flute with Vancouver Opera. She has also performed roles with Pacific Opera Victoria, Opéra de Montreal, City Opera Vancouver, Burnaby Lyric Opera, Seefestspiele Berlin, re:Naissance Opera, and Astrolabe Musik Theatre among others. On the concert stage, she has been a soloist with the Victoria Baroque, Vancouver Island Symphony, Alberta Baroque Ensemble, Vancouver Bach Choir, Kingston Symphony Orchestra, Slovak State Philharmonic Orchestra, Montreal Symphony Orchestra, Vancouver Symphony Orchestra and Orchestre Métropolitain. Emma performed with Early Music Vancouver in their summer festival, and in the spring of 2024 she will make her debut in France with Opéra de Massy in La Traviata.
@emmacparkinson
www.emmaparkinson.com
Oli Guselle, alto
Oli Guselle is a settler born in Saskatoon (Treaty 6) now residing in Toronto (Treaty 13). They just graduated this spring with their Bachelors of Music in vocal performance from the University of Toronto, and though they are a classically trained mezzo, they put no limit on their musical expression and enjoy singing everything from musical theatre to R&B and are currently in 3 punk bands. Recent credits include: Prince Orlofsky in Die Fledermaus (SO 2019), Marie Anna von Mozart in Mozart Re-reimagined (SO and SSO 2021), Yitzhak in Hedwig and the Angry Inch (Sparrow Theatre 2021), and The Hero in The Sinai Sessions concept album (Dandelion Theatre 2022). They are so grateful to be performing among such wonderful colleagues, and would like to thank their family, friends, and the Saskatoon arts community for supporting them on their musical journey thus far.
Asitha Tennekoon, tenor
2017 DORA AWARD – OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE, MALE, OPERA DIVISION – ROCKING HORSE WINNER
(TAPESTRY/SCOTTISH OPERA)
Praised by The Globe and Mail for “…his silky, emotional presence on stage – both vocally and dramatically…”, Sri Lankan tenor Asitha Tennekoon has established himself as one of Canada’s most versatile singing artists. In 2016 he drew critical acclaim and received a Dora Award for his portrayal of Paul in Tapestry Opera/Scottish Opera’s Rocking Horse Winner. Asitha is sought after for performances spanning from Baroque to experimental repertoire.
This season, Asitha reprises his performance as Paul in Tapestry Opera’s remount of Rocking Horse Winner and sings the role of Boy Angel in Du Yun and Royce Vavrek’s Pulitzer Prizewinning Angel’s Bone, presented by Loose Tea Music Theatre in Toronto. In 2024, Asitha debuts the roles of Prologue/Peter Quint in Britten’s Turn of the Screw with Opera 5.
Asitha continues to expand his reputation as an impressive interpreter of J.S. Bach’s Evangelist and will be featured this season with the Grand Philharmonic Choir in Bach’s Christmas Oratorio and the St. John Passion with Vancouver Bach Choir. Asitha will debut in Halifax with Cecilia Concerts, performing the music of Métis composer Ian Cusson.
Asitha recently made several operatic debuts; as Ferrando in Edmonton Opera’s Cosi fan tutte, the First Priest with Canadian Opera Company’s The Magic Flute, Remendado with Pacific Opera Victoria, and as Flute in Britten’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream with Vancouver Opera, Jacques Lacombe conducting.
Asitha has sung principal roles with Opéra de Montréal, Against the Grain Theatre, Tapestry Opera, Soundstreams Canada, Opera on the Avalon, Opera 5, and Opera Lafayette.
Asitha is a CoFounder of Amplified Opera, a Toronto based indie Opera company committed to placing artists at the centre of public discourse. He makes his home in the unceded traditional territories of the xwməθkwəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish), and səlilwətaɬ (TsleilWaututh) Nations (Vancouver, BC).
Spencer McKnight, tenor
Tenor Spencer McKnight has been described as “one of the finest tenor voices” in Canada.
McKnight began singing at the age of 17. He was encouraged to pursue music by an adjudicator who heard him sing at his local music festival. His passion for music finds him frequently immersed in the music of Handel, Rossini, and Britten.
Spencer has garnered much attention both in concert and in competition over the course of the last six years, including multiple awards at a national level, and the 2018 winner of the Gordon C. Wallis Opera Competition. Though early in his career, Spencer has had the opportunity to sing a wealth of oratorio repertoire and had recent engagements with the Regina and Saskatoon Symphony Orchestras.
He recently toured with a recital program entitled Songs of the Great War. An artistic project many years in the making, the recital featured songs, both popular and art, from the World War One era, including the Canadian premieres of two songs by composer William Dennis Browne.
Spencer had the pleasure of making his international opera debut in Vicenza, Italy in 2019 as Don Ottavio in Mozart’s Don Giovanni. He was reviewed as having a “clear timbre” by the Giornale di Vicenza.
McKnight will tour a new recital programme called “Within a Dream” in 2024 with longtime collaborator Mark Turner.
Spencer studied with teacher and mentor Lisa Hornung for many years, and now he studies with Toronto-based vocal pedagogue Mark Daboll.
His voice is described as fresh and brassy with stratospheric high notes.