Kathryn Rose Johnston, Soprano
Praised with a voice that has “melted the hearts of many” (Kingston Snapd), soprano Kathryn Rose Johnston has just graduated with her Master of Music from the University of British Columbia where she was seen as Susanna in Le nozze di Figaro and First Wood Sprite in Rusalka. She was recently selected as a finalist in the National Auditions of the Atelier lyrique de l’Opéra de Montréal and performed in their 2022 Gala Talent in October. While completing her Bachelor of Music at the University of Toronto, Kathryn performed regularly with COSA Canada, in roles such as Musetta in La bohème, Valencienne in The Merry Widow, Josephine in HMS Pinafore in an Ontario tour and Servilia in La clemenza di Tito. At the Halifax Summer Opera Festival, she appeared as the plotting seductress Poppea in L’incoronazione di Poppea, and the following summer attended the Centre for Opera Studies in Sulmona, Italy.
Colleen Renihan, Mezzo Soprano
Mezzo-soprano Colleen Renihan holds a B. Mus. in Vocal Performance from the University of Manitoba, and an Artist Diploma from the Vancouver Academy of Music. She also holds an MA and Ph.D. in Musicology from the University of Toronto. Colleen is currently on faculty at the DAN School of Drama and Music at Queen’s University. Colleen has appeared as a soloist with the Victoria Symphony Orchestra, Vancouver Philharmonic Orchestra, the Vancouver Bach Choir, Vancouver Handel Society, Abbotsford Symphony, Brampton Symphony, Vancouver Handel Society, Northumberland Choir & Orchestra, Saskatoon Opera, and the Toronto Bach Festival Orchestra. She was a member of Soundstreams’s Choir 21, and spent seasons as a young artist in residence at both Pacific Opera Victoria and The Banff Centre. She is delighted to be making music again with AD Ian Juby and the Kingston Choral Society!
Justin Stolz, Tenor
Praised for his “smooth and powerful” voice (The Chronicle Journal), Canadian tenor Justin Stolz is establishing himself as an exciting operatic performer. Recently, Justin returned to his hometown, Thunder Bay, Ontario, for the world premiere of three songs by Danika Lorèn with the Thunder Bay Symphony Orchestra. Previously, Justin spent two seasons both as an apprentice artist at the Santa Fe Opera, and as a resident artist with The Atlanta Opera. In Atlanta he made a “rousing” (Opera News) professional debut as Der Steuermann in the The Atlanta Opera’s production of Wagner’s Der fliegende Holländer, as well as a “glorious” (Opera News) last minute step-in performance as Lensky in Tchaikovsky’s Eugene Onegin.
In prior seasons, Mr. Stolz has covered the role of Števa Buryja in Jenůfa (Santa Fe Opera), and has appeared as Howard Boucher in Heggie’s Dead Man Walking (The Atlanta Opera), Tamino in Mozart’s The Magic Flute (The Atlanta Opera), Don José in Bizet’s Carmen (Brott Music Festival, IU Opera Theater), and B.F. Pinkerton in Puccini’s Madama Butterfly (IU Opera Theater). While on the concert stage, performing Mendelssohn’s Elijah with the Columbus Indiana Philharmonic, and Verdi’s Requiem with the Okanagan Symphony Orchestra. Justin is a past winner of The S. Livingston Mather Competition of Cleveland, Ohio. He is a graduate of Indiana University’s Jacobs School of Music and The Glenn Gould School at The Royal Conservatory of Music.
Thomas-Smith, Bass
(complete bio to come)
Most recently Korin was one of seven finalists in the Centre Stage: Ensemble Studio Competition to choose Canada’s next opera star at the Canadian Opera Company and as a finalist with the National Auditions of the Atelier Lyrique at the Opera of Montreal, along with our soprano soloist Kathryn Rose Johnston. In July 2021 Korin was chosen as one of CBC’s “Hot 30 Canadian Classical Musicians Under 30“. Korin has a Master’s Degree in Opera from U of T, and has studied at the Glen Gould Studio and the Yale School of Music.