Out of a pool of 120 aspiring opera singers from across the country, eight were selected to compete at Centre Stage: Ensemble Studio Competition on November 3, 2015, our annual celebration of the next generation of opera stars selected from nationwide auditions for the COC Ensemble Studio—Canada’s premier training program for young opera professionals. The competition features the young singers vying for cash prizes ranging in value from $1,500 to $5,000. We interviewed our eight young finalists to learn more—check out all of the interviews, linked by name as they become available, here (or here if on a mobile device). 

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Qualicum Beach, BC native, mezzo-soprano  Lauren Eberwein studies at the Curtis Institute of Music and is a member of Opera Philadelphia’s Emerging Artist Program. Her credits include Baba the Turk in The Rake’s Progress, The Composer in Ariadne auf Naxos, Zita in Gianni Schicchi, Tisbe in La Cenerentola, Mère Marie in Dialogues des Carmélites, Second Lady in The Magic Flute, and Dido in Dido and Aeneas (Curtis Opera Theater), as well as Sorrel and Dodo in Double Exposure with Opera Philadelphia. She was a featured soloist with the Curtis Baroque Ensemble, and the Curtis and Maryland symphony orchestras. She also began her residency at The Marlboro Music Festival this summer. This season, she appears at Opera Philadelphia as Olivia in Cold Mountain and Clairon in Cappriccio, and makes her Carnegie Hall debut singing Handel's Israel in Egypt with the New York Choral Society. 

Three Things about Lauren Eberwein

In what city/town/country were you born? Where were you raised?

I was born in London, Ontario, then swiftly moved to Calgary and was primarily raised there. However, my family moved a lot, so my geographic identity feels rather fluid. My poignant late adolescence and teen years were mostly spent near Qualicum Beach on Vancouver Island, so I feel intensely connected to that part of the country. 

Why opera? How did you come to be an opera singer and what do you find so compelling about the art form?

My operatic saga of sorts began later than most. I didn't pursue intensive vocal studies until my late teens. When I was a child, my mum actively supported and nurtured my artistic inclinations, but my most concentrated childhood passion was actually playing hockey. I certainly fit the Canadian stereotype in that sense. So my musical beginnings had to compete with hockey practice and tournaments. 

However, during junior high, my mum lost her lengthy battle with cancer and it forever changed the way I view passion and life. I later realized I had a talent, and felt my mum's support and inspiration beyond the grave. That shift and the support of my father pushed me to strive to make professional singing a reality, and it's been a dance from one inspiration to the next. I feel immensely privileged to have opportunities and support to pursue a career in the arts. My only regret is that my mum never got the chance to hear me sing opera. 

What are your hobbies, interests, other projects, outside of opera? 

I have many hobbies and interests beyond opera, from yoga to the occasional YouTube binge, but mostly spend my free time chasing my imagination. Through prose, poetry, philosophy, and most recently to astronomy: my new hobby. I'm sure it’s just the beginning of a lifelong attempt to understand the universe and explore the cosmos. On my weekends off I try to go for day hikes through a local state park with my travel telescope. I'm also going through an intense late Beethoven phase, and find myself unable to stop listening to his late piano sonatas and quartets. 

Learn more about Lauren at laureneberwein.com and follow her on Twitter at @LaurenEberwein

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For more information and to purchase tickets, visit COCCentreStage.ca, call COC Ticket Services at 416-363-8231 or visit the Four Seasons Centre Box Office (145 Queen St. W.).

To buy competition tickets, click here.
To buy Under 30 competition tickets sponsored by TD, click here.
For more information about the the Centre Stage Dinner event and how to purchase tickets, please contact the PC Office at 416-363-5801

Photo Credit: Paul Sirochman