FIVE NEW TALENTS JOIN OPÉRA DE MONTRÉAL’S 2026-2027 ATELIER LYRIQUE COHORT
The 11-member 2026-2027 cohort will spend the season immersed in live performance, working alongside internationally renowned mentors and a broad network of partners across the opera sector.
MONTRÉAL, August 26, 2026 – Opéra de Montréal is proud to introduce the five artists joining its Atelier lyrique for the 2026-2027 season: Grace Budoloski, soprano; Onur Hilaloglu, bass; Alona Milner, pianist; Jeremy Scinocca, tenor; and Caroline Yergeau, stage director. They join a cohort of eight singers, two pianists and one stage director who will learn the profession where it happens: onstage, in the studio and alongside seasoned industry professionals.
A COHORT DESIGNED FOR THE PROFESSION
A leading professional training residency at the heart of Opéra de Montréal, the Atelier lyrique supports artists who have completed their university education and are ready to take the next step into a professional career. Its personalized, bilingual approach encompasses every aspect of artistic and personal development: vocal technique, interpretation, languages, creation, performance psychology and health, stage experience and career development.
Introduced last year, the inclusion of a stage director is now fully integrated into the Atelier lyrique’s evolution. By bringing singers, pianists and a stage director together in the same working environment, the program encourages cross-disciplinary exchange and prepares artists for the practical realities of contemporary opera-making.
“After receiving more than 150 applications from emerging singers, pianists and stage directors across Canada, we are delighted to welcome five outstanding artists. They are joining an exceptional cohort that will learn from seasoned professionals on Opéra de Montréal’s own stages. Our role is to help them develop both their artistic voice and the human skills required for a sustainable career. It is a privilege to support their growth and watch them claim their place in the opera community, here and beyond.”
— Jennifer Szeto, Director of Opéra de Montréal’s Atelier lyrique
AT THE HEART OF OPÉRA DE MONTRÉAL PRODUCTIONS
In 2026-2027, the resident artists will take part in four Opéra de Montréal productions. Through roles, cover assignments and daily work with acclaimed artistic teams, they will gain hands-on experience on the professional stage:
• Puccini’s Turandot (September-October 2026)
• Massenet’s Werther (November 2026)
• Strauss’s Der Rosenkavalier, in concert with Orchestre Métropolitain (January 2027)
• Verdi’s Rigoletto (May 2027)
Their experience will extend through collaborations with several leading organizations in the music community: Mozart’s Requiem with Orchestre de l’Agora in October; a Schubert Matinée at Bourgie Hall in November; Atys, a collaboration between Ballet Opéra Pantomime (BOP), Opéra de Montréal, Les Boréades de Montréal and UBU compagnie de création, in March; Pro Musica’s Les Mélodînes in April; and the Gran Finale concert with Arion Ensemble Baroque in May.
360-DEGREE TRAINING
Throughout the season, the cohort will work with Laura Brooks Rice, Stephen Lawless, François Racine, Simon Rivard, Sieger Roorda, Giovanni Reggioli and Craig Rutenberg. Their training will also include projects with the Orchestre Métropolitain Academy and Opera Magnolia’s Opera Creation Forum, along with auditions and demo-recording sessions—all opportunities to build their networks, visibility and careers.
A SPRINGBOARD WHOSE IMPACT SPANS GENERATIONS
Since its founding in 1984, the Atelier lyrique has trained more than 200 singers, pianists, stage directors, stage managers and administrators. Many now perform on the world’s leading stages and continue to strengthen the vitality of opera in Quebec and Canada.
The 2026-2027 season offers powerful evidence of that impact: Julie Boulianne (class of 2005), acclaimed on leading international stages, will appear in Werther; Sarah Dufresne (class of 2022) and Étienne Dupuis (class of 2005) will perform in Rigoletto. Their careers reflect the lasting impact of a training program that prepares artists to take their place at home and abroad.
The complete list of artists in the 2026-2027 cohort:
Grace Budoloski, soprano – Winnipeg (MB)
Tessa Fackelmann, mezzo-soprano – Ottawa (ON)
Ellita Gagner, mezzo-soprano – Halifax (NS)
Onur Hilaloglu, bass – Mersin, Anamur (Turkey)
Colin Mackey, baritone – St. John’s (NL)
Alona Milner, pianist – Tel Aviv (Israel)
Dante Mullin Santone, baritone – Sudbury (ON)
Odile Portugais, soprano – Montréal (QC)
Jeremy Scinocca, tenor – Toronto (ON),
Tony Stauffer, pianist – Orthez (France)
Caroline Yergeau, stage director – Trois-Rivières (QC)
ABOUT OPÉRA DE MONTRÉAL’S ATELIER LYRIQUE
The Atelier lyrique is an advanced training residency at the heart of Opéra de Montréal. This professional development program is designed for artists who have completed their university education and aim to launch a professional career in opera.
Offering a broad spectrum of artistic and personal development in an innovative, bilingual setting, the Atelier lyrique provides guidance from world-class instructors and regular performance experience, enabling every artist to reach their full potential.
Since its founding in 1984, the Atelier lyrique has trained more than 200 emerging artists. Many have gone on to careers around the world and continue to contribute to artistic life in Quebec and Canada as performers, arts ambassadors and cultural leaders.
The Atelier lyrique is generously supported by Vanda Treiser.
ABOUT OPÉRA DE MONTRÉAL
Rooted in Montréal, where North American and European cultures meet, Opéra de Montréal acts as a catalyst for the city’s artistic creativity while celebrating Quebec and Canada’s rich vocal heritage, bringing opera to life in all its diversity and boldness. From the great works of the operatic canon to new creations from home and abroad, through its professional development program for Canada’s finest emerging singers and its strong commitment to community and education, Opéra de Montréal presents unforgettable operatic experiences where everyone is warmly welcomed and feels they belong.
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Source: L'Opéra de Montréal
Pour plus d'informations:
Maryse Bouchard | annexe | maryse@annexe.media
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