Joel Allison

3^rd Prize Winner
2015 Brian Law Opera Competition

Biography prepared by Lesley Robinson from information submitted by the artist with his application for the 12^th Brian Law Opera Competition, held .

Joel Allison, bass-baritone

Joel Allison’s voice has been described as having “crisp tones blessed with a silken smoothness.” He recently graduated from the University of Ottawa with a BMus in Vocal Performance. He is now pursuing a Diploma in Opera Performance at the University of Toronto, under the tutelage of Daniel Taylor, and is a core member of the Tafelmusik Baroque Chamber Choir. Previous engagements include the role of Adam in Haydn’s Creation with the Peterborough Singers, the premiere of a new set of songs by Andrew Ager in recital at the University of Ottawa, the complete third book of Dowland lute songs, Mozart’s Requiem, the complete Songs of Travel in a solo recital at the NAC Fourth Stage, the role of Aeneas in the University of Ottawa’s production of Purcell’s Dido and Aeneas, and the title role in Don Quixote by Telemann with Seventeen Voyces. He also performed multiple roles while at the University of Ottawa, including Leporello in Don Giovanni, Sarastro in Die Zauberflöte, Don Alfonso and Guglielmo in Così fan tutte, and premiered the role of Beppe in Andrew Ager’s opera Casanova. He has performed for the past two seasons with the Talisker Players. Upcoming performances include the role of Mr. Gobineau in The Medium and the role of John Shears in Paul Bunyan by Benjamin Britten. Upcoming performances as a member of the Tafelmusik Chamber Choir include Bach’s Christmas Oratorio and Handel’s Messiah. An ardent choral singer, Joel has sung in many choirs, including Seventeen Voyces, St. Andrew’s Church in Ottawa, The Theatre of Early Music and Tafelmusik Baroque Chamber Choir. He is the second bass soloist at St. Paul’s Bloor St. in Toronto. Joel is also an alumnus of the Ontario Youth Choir and the Tafelmusik Baroque Summer Institute.