C.V.

Donna Bennett, Soprano

donna@donnabennett.ca
www.donnabennett.ca

 

Professional Profile

“…from opera and musical comedy… a glorious voice!”
(Harry Currie, Kitchener Record)

Co-founder of the Westben Arts Festival Theatre, Canadian soprano Donna Bennett is known to audiences internationally for her performances ranging from opera and oratorio to broadway and musical theatre.

Qualifications

• 26 years of Professional Performing
• 22 years Vocal Teacher
• 22 years as Choral Conductor
• Strong collaborator
• Motivating students
• Positive learning environment
• Interpersonal skills

 

Experience

Performance

• Performed opera, oratorio, and in recitals across Canada and parts of the USA. European highlights include Edinburgh Fringe Festival, Henley Festival and London International Opera Festival, Henze Festival in Montepulciano, Italy, Neuberg and Berlin Germany.
• Sang the role of Dede in the British Premiere of Bernstein’s A Quiet Place and created the role of Ariana in the world premiere of R. Murray Shafer’s The Enchanted Forest
• In Canada, sang with Canadian Opera Company, the Royal Opera, Opera Atelier, Toronto Operetta Theatre, Tafelmusik, Toronto Symphonietta, Orchestra London, Victoria Symphony and the Kitchener-Waterloo Symphony Orchestra and numerous community orchestras and choirs
• Toured extensively across Canada with pianist and husband Brian Finley
• Performances with Westben include over 40 concerts, recitals, orchestral appearances and various opera and musical theatre roles ranging from Maria in The Sound of Music, and Mary Magdalene in Jesus Christ Superstar to the creation of the roles of Delilah in Brian Finley's opera SAMSON, the title role in Rapunzel and Linette in The Selfish Giant
• Donna's discography includes a collection of Mozart Arias and Lieder recorded live at the Olympic Music Festival in Washington, A Christmas of Love & Light, Lullabies for Benjamin, and Love's Old Sweet Songs and Hans Werner Henze's opera, The English Cat
• Radio Broadcasts include performances recorded for CBC, CFMX, KING-FM (Seattle), and the BBC in London.

Private Voice Teacher

• Private Voice Teacher for 22 years of all ages including children, adults and University level Students
• Short term replacement Voice Teacher at Queen's School of Music in 1992
• Voice Teacher at Trinity College School in Port Hope – 2010 to present

Choral Conductor - Conducted Church and Community Choirs for 22 years (youth and adult).

• Westben Arts Festival Theatre Youth and Teen Choruses 2005 to Present
• Assistant Conductor Westben Arts Festival Theatre Festival Chorus 2006 to Present
• St John’s United Church, Campbellford, ON 1993 to 2001
• Trinity United Church, Hastings, ON 1990 to 1993

Arts Management - Co-Founder & Marketing Director for the Westben Arts Festival Theatre www.westben.ca. 1999 to Present

• Facilitate all Media, Promotion and Marketing Plans and Materials for Westben
• Present promotional outreach presentations
• Participate and Present at Tourism & Marketing Conferences
• Member of Arts & Culture Committees in Northumberland County & Trent Hills Municipality

Adjunct Lecturer

• University of Toronto, Faculty of Music Toronto - Taught Voice Pedagogy to non-voice Music Majors 1992/93

Music Adjudicator - Voice and Choral Festivals in Ontario

Master Class Instructor in Voice and Choral Conducting

Vocal Coach for Piano and Voice students in German and Italian Diction

Education

• Royal College of Music Opera School 1987-1989
• Masters of Music (Meisterklassendiplom), Munich, Germany 1985
• Bachelor of Music Degree in Music Education, Voice Major & Choral Studies 1985 & Performance 1986
• Opera Studies at The Banff Centre 1981 & 1987
• Opera Piccola, Victoria, B.C.
• Voice Teachers: Graziella Scuitti in London, England, Reri Grist in Munich, Germany, Madame Irene Jessner, Pat Kern, Barbara Dever in Toronto, Ellen Faull in New York City

donna@donnabennett.ca            www.donnabennett.ca

 

 Download as PDF