Province/Territory: Manitoba
City: Winnipeg
Role(s) in this year's festival:
Participating in the 10 day intensive program
I am currently preparing for my graduation recital at Canadian Mennonite University which will take place on April 28th. In addition to my recital and the weekly lessons that accompany it, I perform approximately once a month at my school's weekly noon recitals and I am a finalist in the Verna Mae Janzen competition at the end of March. I am currently playing the roles of Despina from Cosi fan Tutte, Susanna from The Marriage of Figaro, and the First Lady in Die Zauberflote for CMU's opera workshop scenes. The preparation for these roles will help me prepare for an intensive singing environment. This is the year of unknowns, as it is for many who are graduating. I want to test the waters of intensive singing environments so that I can make decisions about my next educational steps. As COVID slowly releases it's grip on society, it is the perfect year to travel and pursue opportunities that I haven't been able to for the past two summers.
Artist Bio
Hailing from Kitchener, Ontario, Joanna Loepp Thiessen is in her final year of a Bachelor of Music degree at Canadian Mennonite University with a concentration in vocal performance. Joanna studied voice for two years at Wilfrid Laurier University before arriving at CMU, where she currently studies with Dawn Bruch-Wiens. Recently, Joanna was awarded the Abner Martin Music Scholarship, earned 1st place in the Manitoba NATS competition Senior Category, and had a performance feature on CBC Radio. Joanna is excited to be performing with Halifax Summer Opera Festival in the role of Sidonie (Gluck’s Armide), and will be a featured soloist in Schubert’s Mass in G with Kitchener choir The Menno Singers in May of 2022.
