Today's second Canadian Music Week feature is Katerina Utochkina who has been in two past VCO productions, first in The Daughter of the Regiment and then most recently in Don Giovanni where she played Donna Elvira. Remember if you donate this week 50% of funds will go directly to the artists and donations of $50 or more are eligible for tax receipts! Click here to donate.
Russian-Canadian mezzo-soprano Katerina Utochkina has an exciting season ahead of her, coming back to Vera Causa Opera in the role of Donna Elvira in Don Giovanni and understudying the roles of Isabella in L’Italiana in Algeri (MYOpera) and Mercédes in Carmen (Brott Opera Festival). Katerina has made her professional debut in the Toronto Operetta Theatre’s 2015 production of The Student Prince in the role of Gretchen. Other credits include La Marquise de Berkenfield in La Fille du Regiment with Vera Causa Opera, Zita in Gianni Schicchi and Sour Osmina in Suor Angelica with the Halifax Summer Opera Festival, Larina in Eugene Onegin with “Troyka, Semerka, Tuz”, Cherubino in The Marriage of Figaro, Erika in Vanessa with Summer Opera Lyric Theatre. Ms Utochkina is a graduate of the Performance Diploma Program at The Glenn Gould School, where she has also performed in their opera productions. Her roles with the Glenn Gould School Opera include La Mere Michele in Le Laureat, Third Model in The Silent Serenade and The Innkeeper’s Wife in The Cunning Little Vixen. Apart from operas she has also performed solo recitals in Mazzoleni Hall and The Newmarket Theatre. Ms Utochkina was a recipient of The Karen Dart Vocal Scholarship and The Deanna Prezio Scholarship at The Glenn Gould School for the 2014/2015 academic year.
Ms Utochkina also wrote in her submission letter "Opera singing is my passion, my life, and my career, and I could never imagine myself doing anything other than I do now. Since I have graduated from The Glenn Gould School of The Royal Conservatory in 2015 with a Performance Diploma I have been pursuing every opportunity within my reach. This year I am planning to apply for more auditions, mostly for Young Artist Programs in Canada and US."