Vera Causa Opera is excited to announce four more cast members for the April production of The Italian Girl in Algiers by Rossini.
David Boan as Lindoro
David Boan, Tenor hails from Saskatoon, SK. As a young singer he participated in local music festivals, competitions, choirs, musical theatre, and opera choruses. He received his BMus from McGill University in 2015 where he studied with Professor Stefano Algieri and was a member of several early music ensembles, and the Schulich Singers. Since his undergraduate studies began, David attended Opera Nuova, MTOT, and MYOpera. In 2017, he received his MMus, Literature and Performance from the University of Western Ontario, under the instruction of Professor Theodore Baerg. His most recent credits include Ali and Lindoro (Understudy), L’Italiana in Algieri, Rossini, MYOpera, 2017, and Tamino, Die Zauberflöte, Mozart, UWO, 2017. He currently lives in Toronto, singing as a Sigwick Scholar in The Orpheus Choir of Toronto, and as a soloist and member of Opera in Concert. He frequently sings in concerts promoting causes including Saskatoon Opera, and Toronto Operetta Theatre, as well as charity concerts such as “Music for the Gut” an organization for Crohn’s and Colitis, and “Bring Them Home”, a concert benefit funding hospitals in Pakistan. David is also active in various choral communities, sharing his voice in church services and concerts as both a section lead and soloist.
Kimberely-Rose Pefhany as Elvira
Soprano Kimberley-Rose has the pleasure of making both her Vera Causa Opera and her Rossini debut as Elvira in L’italiana in Algeri. She has most recently made her Toronto Operetta Theatre debut as Paquette in Candide. Other recent accomplishments include performing First Lady in the world premiere of Michael Rose’s A Northern Lights Dream, and Barbara in John Beckwith;s A Night Blooming Cereus. Kimberley-Rose is an active member of the Toronto Music Community, performing as a soloist with Opera in Concert. Kimberley-Rose has performed Pamina (Die Zauberflote) with both Lyric Opera Studio Weimar and Summer Opera Lyric Theatre. Also with LOSW Kimberley-Rose has performed Susanna and Barbarina (Le Nozze di Figaro). She continued her European tour as Adina (L’Elisir d’Amore) and Papagena (Die Zauberflote) with the Greek Opera Studio. Kimberley-Rose has been an active musician from a young age performing with the Canadian Children’s Opera Chorus, Mirvish Productions, the Canadian Opera Company and many more. Kimberley-Rose holds a performance diploma from the Glenn Gould School of the Royal Conservatory of Music. Kimberley-Rose is delighted to be joining VCO again this summer for another world premiere: as Keira in Dylann Miller’s The Covenant. This summer she will also be performing the title role in Manon with Summer Opera Lyric Theatre.
Mikhail Shemet as Taddeo
Born in Russia, bass Mikhail Shemet graduated from the University of Toronto in 2014 studying Voice Performance. He is part of the Opera in Concert Chorus, and has frequently performed with the Toronto Operetta Theatre (Pirates of Penzance, Los Gavilanes, Candide). With Summer Opera Lyric Theatre (SOLT), he has performed Papageno (Die Zauberlöte), Crespel and Schelmil (Les contes d'Hoffmann), Figaro (Le Nozze di Figaro). He also sang Leporello (Don Giovanni) with Odd Opera. Last November he had his debut with VCO as Don Pasquale. He has close ties with Opera by Request, most recently being in their production of Il Travatore as Ferrando. He has also worked with Opera York, Against the Grain, and Opera on the Avalon. He has worked with such conductors as Russell Braun and Sandra Horst as conductors, and he has been directed by Michael Cavanagh and Michael Albano. When not on stage, Mikhail enjoys fencing, martial arts, and studying languages.
Travis Smalley as Haly
A graduate of Wilfrid Laurier’s music program Travis is excited to take a new step with Vera Causa Opera. Travis has performed rolls as Olaf in Geisla in her Bathtub, The Mayor in Seussical the Musical, and Teddy in Emily. Travis has performed as the tenor soloist in Rossini’s Petite Messe Solennelle with the Kawartha Lake Singers. While studying music at Laurier Travis was proud to sing in the Laurier Singers under the direction of Dr. Lee Willingham. Presently he sings with the the Dacapo singers under the direction of Canadian composer Leonard Enns. Travis currently studies voice with Lynda Mieske. He currently teaches with the Waterloo Region District School Board and voice at Beck Music. Travis is grateful for the opportunity to work with the diverse team of professionals in Vera Causa Opera’s The Italian Woman in Algiers.