During Covid lockdown, when the performing world shut down, Michael began composing, creating several new works for choir. This past year, he was recognized as an emerging composer of note with several world premieres and some very exciting workshop opportunities with Canada’s premiere choral ensembles including The Vancouver Chamber Choir, The Elmer Iseler Singers, Toronto Children’s Chorus, ELEKTRA Treble-Voice Choir and The Victoria Scholars Men’s Choral Ensemble, among others.

Upcoming are premieres by organist and choirmaster, Jonathan Oldengarm and the Metropolitan United Church Choir, Cheryll Chung and the Cantabile Chamber Singers and Mitchell Pady and CHROMA Vocal Ensemble, among others.

Check back for more “composer” news – and maybe even a new “composer website”.

As the Canadian Opera Company prepares to open Magic Flute this Friday, the company posted to their blog highlighting the many Canadians in the cast. Excerpt:

“Opening May 6, this season’s production of The Magic Flute at the COC is a true celebration of homegrown talent. On top of featuring a bevy of Canadian singers in the cast, audiences will be treated to a number of artists who are currently enrolled in or are graduates of the Ensemble Studio, the COC’s professional development program for emerging artists—including revival director Anna Theodosakis, who began her career as a singer before turning to direction. For many cast members, this is a return to the stage after two years—and also a family reunion of sorts. “

“Irish-Canadian tenor Michael Colvin, who sings the role of Monostatos, is thrilled to be sharing the Four Seasons Centre stage with so many fellow Ensemble Studio alumni, and notes a correlation between the strength of the program and the number of opera professionals this country has produced. “This Magic Flute production is a testament to the quality and success of the program. Canada has a well-earned reputation for producing opera singers of the highest quality, and you’ll find Canadian names on prestigious opera and concert stages all over the world. The COC’s Ensemble Studio is a huge part of that success.” “

Read the full article on COC.ca

Michael was in the COC Young Artist’s Ensemble when he got this WILD role as the operatic voice of the bear in the 1999 Nissan Pathfinder commercial. It was one of the company’s most popular and memorable commercials of the time, showing multiple times during major sports events.

In the commercial, Michael sings the ending of Cavaradossi’s aria Recondita Armonia in Verdi’s TOSCA – the one and only time he has ever sung that role!

INTERVIEW | Tenor Michael Colvin — From The Prince To The Witch

By Joseph So on February 5, 2020

The veteran Canadian tenor reflects on his operatic journey that spans the romantic leads of Mozart and Bel Canto to character roles of Reimann and Humperdinck.

As they say — time flies when you are having fun. Tenor Michael Colvin knows it all too well. The Canadian has already been singing professionally for over 22 years. In the second half of his career so far, Colvin has transitioned from the typical romantic leads of Mozart and Bel Canto to that of character tenor roles. Whether jolly or evil, audiences can count on Colvin bringing to each character the requisite theatricality and brilliant vocalism…

READ MORE AT LUDWIG-VAN.com

2019 ENESCU FESTIVAL – BUCHAREST, ROMANIA

PETER GRIMES by Benjamin Britten (1913-1976)

SEPTEMBER 15, 2019

CAST & CREATIVE TEAM

PAUL DANIEL conductor

IAN STOREY Peter Grimes
LISE DAVIDSEN Ellen Orford
CATHERINE WYN-ROGERS Auntie
CHRISTOPHER PURVES Balstrode
DIANA MONTAGUE Mrs. Sedley
JOSHUA BLOOM Swallow 
HUW MONTAGUE RENDALL Ned Keene
MICHAEL COLVIN Bob Boles
BONAVENTURA BOTTONE Rev. Horace Adams
BARNABY REA Hobson
SOLOMIA LUKYANETS Niece 1
RHIAN LOIS Niece 2

Details