Taylor Strande

American-born soprano Taylor Strande (b. December 28, 1983) has spent the past five years in Toronto building her reputation as one of the city’s most promising singers. Taylor is a recent graduate of the Bachelor of Music in Performance program at the University of Toronto. This year she is pleased to be part of the Artist Diploma program at Glenn Gould School under the continued instruction of Jean MacPhail. Taylor has been singing since she was a young child and after completing high school in Fargo, North Dakota, she decided to pursue singing classical music further and found herself in Toronto where she has had many successful recitals, roles in operatic productions and professional singing engagements. Among these are her performances as Susanna in The Marriage of Figaro, the soprano soloist in Les Noces (Svadebka) by Stravinsky with the MacMillan singers and Nexus, Giulietta in The Tales of Hoffmann and Second Lady in The Magic Flute with Summer Opera Lyric Theatre, and chorus in Gypsy Violins with Toronto Operetta Theatre where she was proud to be a part of the Canadian premiere. She has also performed as a chorus member for the University of Toronto Opera School productions of La Traviata, The Merry Wives of Windsor, The Marriage of Figaro and Die Fledermaus. She has received many awards for her singing accomplishments, including the Outstanding Performance Award from the North Dakota All-State Music Competition in 2002, the Pavarotti Award through the University of Toronto in 2004, second prize at national finals for the Canadian Music Competition in 2005 and the Bessie H. Jowett and Phyllis F.E. Jowett Scholarship for excellence in 2006 [http://www.music.utoronto.ca/Assets/student/undergrad/Undergrad+Academic+Calendar+07-08.pdf] . Taylor also is part of a jazz trio called Lakico Trio [ [http://totallytoronto.com/printArticle/244408 TheStar.com - entertainment - What's On: Weekday Planner ] ] . They do regular performances in Toronto. Her vibrant singing, versatile characterization and charming personality have made her a “soprano of choice” here on Canada’s stages and internationally.

Paula Citron said, "Taylor Strande as Susanna was the best on stage with natural acting ability and a clear arcing lyric soprano. It is quite a beautiful voice." [http://www.classical963fm.com/arts/reviews/item/rcm-figaro Royal Conservatory of Music – Mozart’s The Marriage of Figaro | Classical 96.3FM ] ]

Operatic experience

* Celie, Signor Deluso (Pasatieri), Highlands Opera Studio, 2008
* Susanna, Le Nozze di Figaro, Halifax Summer Opera Workshop, 2008
* Susanna, Le Nozze di Figaro, Glenn Gould School with Mario Bernardi, 2008
* Musetta (scenes), La Bohème, Terry Donnelly Foundation Gala, 2007
* Chorus, Gypsy Violins (E. Kàlmàn), Toronto Operetta Theatre, 2007
* Chorus, La Traviata, University of Toronto, 2007
* Chorus, Die Fledermaus, University of Toronto, 2006
* Giulietta, Les Contes d’Hoffmann, Summer Opera Lyric Theatre, 2006 [ [http://www.scena.org/pdf-files/TMS4-4.pdf TMS 4-4 ] ]
* Chorus, Le Nozze di Figaro, University of Toronto, 2005
* 2nd Lady, Die Zauberflöte, Summer Opera Lyric Theatre, 2005

Concert performances

* Bachianas Brasileiras No. 5, Villa Lobos, Mozart Unlaced, Casa Loma, Toronto, 2008
* From Chant to Madrigal, song program, Royal Botanical Gardens, Hamilton, 2007
* Brettl-Lieder, Schoenberg (selections), Vocal Showcase concert, GGS, 2007
* The Planets, Gustav Holst, Chorus, Toronto Symphony Orchestra (TSO), 2007
* Svadebka (Les Noces), I. Stravinsky, Soprano solo, U of T MacMillan singers & Nexus, 2007
* Award Recital, U of T Women’s Club, 2006
* Canadian Music Competition Gala concert, Glenn Gould Studio, Toronto, 2006
* “Gott ist mein König”, J.S. Bach, Alternate soloist, International Bach Festival, Toronto, 2005
* Solovyei (Le Rossignol), I. Stravinsky, Chorus solo, MacMillan Singers & TSO, 2005
* Mozart's Requiem K.626, Soprano solo, Royal Conservatory Repertory Chorus, 2003

Education

* Glenn Gould School : Artist Diploma: Voice Performance – to be received June 2009 [http://www.rcmusic.ca/Admin/Assets/DisplayAsset.aspx?id=1a34702b-fc89-487e-94cd-8847696490a1]
* University of Toronto: Bachelor of Music: Voice Performance – received June 19, 2007

* Teachers: Jean MacPhail [http://www.natsontario.org/NATScape_December_2005.pdf] , Cindy Eggl
* Coaches: Steven Philcox, David Eliakis, Stephen Ralls, Sandra Horst, Monica Whicher
* Conductors: Mario Bernardi, Helmuth Rilling, Peter Oundjian, Sandra Horst, Stephen Ralls, Doreen Rao
* Acting technique: Tom Diamond, Jennifer Tarver, Michael Albano, Guillermo Silva-Marin
* Languages: German, Italian, French, Spanish, Russian, Brmbr

References