Highlands Opera Studio (HOS) is celebrating its 20th anniversary in a big way in 2026, with a packed schedule of community performances around the County in August, and the unveiling of a new nationwide competition for opera singers.
Valerie Kuinka, co-artistic director at HOS with her partner, Richard Margison, said registration for the inaugural Vanda Treiser Opera Competition launched on Monday (June 22). Geared towards those who have spent years cultivating their talents, it’s open to Canadian citizens and landed immigrants who will be 21 or older as of Oct. 11.
Kuinka said opera singers of all voice types can apply, with the competition carrying a prize pool of $12,500. That’s courtesy of a donation from the Vanda Treiser Initiative, Kuinka said.
Based in Quebec, Treiser is the co-president of the Canadian Arts Vocal Institute and has spent years working with the Opéra de Montreal. Kuinka said Treiser has also made major contributions to HOS over the years.
“The impact of Vanda Treiser’s commitment to young Canadian opera singers and the many years of support she has provided HOS and other organizations in Quebec cannot be overstated,” Kuinka said. “Although she’s not part of the local community, Treiser understands the necessity of supporting the year-round community school we have.”
She added, “this new annual competition will add another opportunity to showcase the incredible talent of Canadian operatic artists and offer some financial support to a few of the many accomplished Canadian classically-trained singers striving to make a career at home and abroad.”
Kuinka said Treiser has financially supported professional training and career development opportunities for many local people since HOS was formed in 2007.
“We are absolutely thrilled to honour Vanda… we are deeply grateful for this remarkable and visionary woman,” Kuinka said.
Once registrations close, Kuinka and Margison will assess all video applications and select up to eight finalists, who will be invited to present two arias live at Trinity St. Paul’s United Church in Toronto on Oct. 11. Kuinka said the singers will perform for a five-person jury, with each finalist given 30 minutes of rehearsal time on-stage
First place will win $5,000, with second taking home $3,000 and third place getting $1,500. All other finalists will receive $500, with another $500 earmarked for an audience choice award.
Kuinka said, each summer, HOS provides specialized professional training for emerging Canadian operatic artists, including singers, pianists, composers and production personnel. They are put through a four-week course in the County, culminating in live performances for the community.
Running Aug. 3 to 31, Kuinka said this year there will be 18 program participants at 13 public events. On Aug. 16, HOS is hosting a homecoming concert at the Northern Lights Performing Arts Pavilion in Haliburton to mark its 20th anniversary.
“We will have alumni from our first year right up until last year participating, including a celebrity host,” Kuinka said. “We’ll also be doing an encore of the ‘Let’s Make Opera’ community project we did last year. That will be taking place Aug. 19 at the high school theatre, so, for those who missed it last time, this is your chance to see it.”
Other highlights of this year’s schedule include a rendition of Puccini’s ‘Suor Angelica’, performed by Lauren Margison Aug. 22 and four performances of Donizetti’s ‘Don Pasquale’ Aug. 27 to 31.
For more information and tickets, visit www.highlandsoperastudio.com.
