Mezzo-soprano Simone McIntosh wins Wirth Vocal Prize
Following an evening ofĚýexceptionally high-levelĚývocal artistry fromĚýall three finalists, Jean-Philippe Mc Clish, Simone McIntosh and Igor Mostovoi, last night the members of the Jury declared mezzo-soprano Simone McIntosh, a Master's voice student of Dominique LabelleĚýthe winner of the 2016-2017 Wirth Vocal Prize.Ěý
The finalists, selected by a preliminary round,Ěýeach presented a thirty minute programme made up of pieces performed in a minimum of three languages and including atĚýleast one opera aria. McIntoshĚýreceived a prize that includesĚý$25 000, artistic mentorship, and the invitationĚýto perform severalĚýrecitals, including one at the Canadian Opera Company in Toronto. Ěý She also received a 14k gold pin in the form of the prize logo. ĚýThe jury was formed byĚýpianistĚýMichael McMahon, sopranoĚýJoan Patenaude-YarnellĚýand the Director General of the OpĂ©ra de MontrĂ©al,ĚýPatrick Corrigan, and was chaired byĚýStĂ©phane Lemelin, pianist and Chair the Department of Performance at the Schulich School of Music. ĚýThe other finalists, Jean-Philippe Mc Clish and Igor Mostovoi were awarded a cash prize of $1000. Ěý
About Simone McIntosh
Described as “a naturally big, beautiful, gleaming high mezzo” (Musical Toronto), Simone McIntosh has been seen performing across Canada and Europe. Most notably, McIntosh was recently awarded first prize with the Canadian Opera Company’s 2016 Studio Ensemble Competition. Equally adept at operatic and concert repertoire, McIntosh has performed Ruggiero in Handel’s Alcina (Opera ±«ÓăÖ±˛Ą), Regina Coeli K. 127 (WSO), Howard Goodall’s Eternal Light: Requiem (±«ÓăÖ±˛Ą Chorus), Mendelssohn’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream (±«ÓăÖ±˛Ą Symphony Orchestra), and Meg in Mark Adamo’s Little Women (Opera ±«ÓăÖ±˛Ą). Other notable roles include the title role in Berlioz’s BĂ©atrice et BĂ©nĂ©dict (MY Opera), Cherubino in Le nozze di Figaro (Burnaby Lyric Opera), the Fox in JanaÄŤek’s The Cunning Little Vixen (UBC Opera), Giulietta in Les contes d’Hoffmann (UBC Opera), and Cis in Albert Herring (Vancouver Opera), among others. McIntosh has appeared with notable ensembles across the country including, the Windsor Symphony Orchestra, Vancouver Symphony Orchestra, ±«ÓăÖ±˛Ą Symphony Orchestra, and ±«ÓăÖ±˛Ą Chorus. Next, McIntosh will be seen performing Prince Orlofsky in Johann Strauss’ Die Fledermaus and Judith in BartĂłk’s Bluebeard’s Castle with Opera ±«ÓăÖ±˛Ą while she completes a Master’s in Opera and Voice at the Schulich School of Music, studying with Dominique Labelle.
About the Wirth Vocal Prize
The Wirth Vocal Prize was instituted in 2015 thanks to the immense generosity of Elizabeth Wirth. This prize highlights the excellence of one vocal student from the Schulich School of Music who has proven their talent and shows the potential to pursue a career on the international stage. The vocal professors at the Schulich School of Music can recommend full-time undergraduate or graduate students who demonstrate a high level of achievement.Ěý
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