Province/Territory: Newfoundland & Labrador
City: St. John's
Role(s) in this year's festival:
Amore: L'incoronazione di Poppea
I am preparing for NUOVA's program by learning more new music in a variety of genres and languages: Spanish, French, English, Italian, German; art song, aria, musical theatre, etc. I am also preparing by learning my role, Amore, for the Monteverdi opera. I continue to work with my voice teacher weekly on technique, artistry, acting, professionalism, and more. I am physically preparing by exercising at least twice a week which I value to maintain strong mental health.
I was attracted to NUOVA's programs primarily as it was recommended to me by my voice teacher, Tracy Dahl, and numerous peers who had participated before. Some have gone on to sing professionally, some are now in masters programs, and they all raved about NUOVA. The program also mimics a professional music environment with six-day weeks and 12-hour days. I think it's a fantastic idea for a program to prepare young artists for how life as a professional musician (singer) will truly be like. I am in my third year of my undergrad in Vocal Performance and am entering my final year next year. What better time to do a program like this than the summer before graduation, when one needs to make important life decisions the following year: Am I ready to start auditioning for professional companies? Do I need an extra year of my undergrad? Should I do a masters degree? I'm hoping NUOVA will help answer these questions.
Artist Bio
Alice Macgregor entered the world of Opera as a ‘Spirit Guide’ in Mozart’s Die Zauberflöte with Memorial University of Newfoundland and Labrador aged nine. When she was 12, she soloed Pie Jesu from Faure's Requiem with the Newfoundland Symphony Orchestra (NSO). At 16 years, she was honoured to solo on CBC’s live national broadcast on the 100th anniversary of Beaumont Hamel (WW1). Currently in her third year of a Bachelor of Music in Voice Performance at the University of Manitoba with Canada's leading coloratura soprano, Tracy Dahl, Alice was recently awarded the Tudor Bowl, the Alice F. "Lal'' Mills Memorial Trophy, and the Gilbert and Sullivan Society Trophy at the Winnipeg Music Festival in 2021. She has played partial main roles with the University of Manitoba's Opera Theatre ensemble as Cupidon in Offenbach's Orpheus in the Underworld, Marie in Donizetti's La Fille du Régiment, Zerlina in Mozart's Don Giovanni, and Ava in Marie Clements' and Brian Current's Missing; a new chamber opera about missing and murdered indigenous women. Alice is immensely grateful for the endless support from friends, family and all mentors who helped her along the way.
