Adam Da Ros

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Adam Da Ros is a Canadian stage and music director from Dawson Creek, B.C. active in opera and musical theatre. Adam completed a Master of Music degree in Opera at the University of British Columbia, and has since worked across the continent at opera training programs as an administrator, director, and musician. He completed stage directing residencies at Vancouver Opera and Minnesota Opera and recently held the position of adjunct instructor and director of Opera Theatre at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee for the 2020/21 and 2021/22 academic years.

Select directing credits include Le nozze di Figaro and Mark Adamo’s Little Women for the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Descent into Madness with Florentine Opera, Un ballo in maschera with Opera Mariposa and Heroic Opera, and Il barbiere di Siviglia and Madama Butterfly with Burnaby Lyric Opera. As an assistant director, Adam recently made his Kennedy Center debut with Washington National Opera’s 2022 production of Verdi's Il trovatore, and will be making company debuts with Dallas Opera and Virginia Opera in the coming season.

Castor et Pollux marks Adam’s fourth production with MUO, following the success of original adaptations of The Marriage of Figaro (2022) at Club 200, Dido|Aeneas (2019) at Broadway Neighbourhood Centre, and Idomeneo (2017) at the Canadian Museum for Human Rights. 

Pianist and Vocal Coach Shannon Hiebert studied at the University of Manitoba with Sydney Young McInnis. She went on to pursue advanced studies at the University of Michigan with Martin Katz and at the Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity with Martin Isepp. Shannon Hiebert has been heard in recitals and broadcasts across North America, Europe, Taiwan and Japan. In addition to her work as a collaborative pianist, Shannon Hiebert has performed with the Royal Winnipeg Ballet, Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra, Manitoba Chamber Orchestra, Edmonton Opera, Groundswell, Winnipeg Singers, Citadel Theatre, Edmonton Opera and numerous musical theatre productions. Tours with Broadway Across Canada include productions of Mamma Mia, Spamalot, Wicked and Book of Mormon. In 2009, Shannon Hiebert joined the Toronto Company of Jersey Boys. Music Direction credits include Grant MacEwan University’s Theatre Arts productions of Spring Awakening and A Little NIght Music, the Plain Jane Theatre Company’s Sterling Award nominated productions of Fiorello, Little Fish, Mack and Mabel and A New Brain, Opera Nuova's production of Light in the Piazza, Suor Angelica with the Centre of Opera Studies in Italy and the University of Alberta Opera Theatre productions of L'étoile, Die Zauberflöte, L'elisir d'amore, and the Canadian Premiere of The Enchanted Pig. 

In 2013 Shannon Hiebert received a Sterling Award nomination for outstanding musical direction. A passionate teacher and coach, Shannon Hiebert has worked as coach/pianist at universities across Canada, Opera NUOVA, Calgary Opera’s Emerging Artist Program and the Centre for Opera Studies in Italy (COSI) and Cantilon Choirs. In2017she received a teaching award for her work at the University of Alberta, Department of Music. After acting as chorus master for Edmonton Opera's 2022 production of La Bohème, Shannon will join Edmonton Opera as chorus master for the 2022/2023 season. Her discography includes "Starry Night" a benefit for Winnipeg Harvest, "Prairie Voices" with the Winnipeg Singers and "Rhymes and Reveries" with Tracy Dahl.

With a multi-faceted and distinct style, jaymez (he / him) has been working in the visual art, dance, theatre and music communities for well over a decade. He has created lighting, video and sound designs for a wide and diverse range of companies, choreographers and musicians. He has designed internationally and his work has appeared in theatre, dance and art festivals worldwide. He is currently based in Winnipeg, Canada and sits on the board of directors for IATSE Local ADC659.

Selected credits include Twelfth Night (SIR),The Three Musketeers (Royal MTC); Trouble in Mind, Orlando (Assistant Director, Royal MTC); Voice (Prairie Theatre Exchange); Spelling 2-5-5 (MTYP); School Girls; Or the African Mean Girls Play (Obsidian/Nightwood Theatre); Hamlet (SIR); Blink (One Trunk/Walk & Talk); Home 2.0, The Game, New Beginnings (Sarasvati); Animosity (Winnipeg Fringe); Time and the Conways, Concord Floral, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead (University of Winnipeg). Love to Matt, Emily, M & I and the prayer plant currently thriving in its new home. 

Max Fingerote is a young bass-baritone who recently graduated from the Grant Macewan Theatre Arts Program and is heading into his third year at the University of Manitoba. He began voice lessons at a very young age with Renee Brad and has gone on to study with many teachers across the country.

Primarily a singer/actor Max’s first major role was with the University of Alberta where he sang the part of Sarastro in their 2018 Opera Workshop Production of Mozart’s The Magic Flute. His first official gig was with Mercury Opera, singing chorus in their 2019 production of Carman and singing the role of Guiseppe in their 2017 production of La Traviata. His second major role was Robin Starveling in Opera Nuova 2019 production of Benjamin Britten’s operatic adaptation of A Midsummer Night’s Dream. In his degree at Grant Macewan, Max played the roles of The Wolf and Cinderella’s Father in Grant Macewan’s 2021 production of Into The Woods and Old Man Strong in their production of Urinetown.

Max is currently a member of Manitoba Opera chorus and made his debut singing the role of Daemon in Manitoba Underground opera’s premiere of The Mansplaining Division. He is grateful to Manitoba Underground Opera for the opportunity to study the process of Opera direction under Adam Da Ros and excited to continue his development as a portfolio artist. 

Born and raised in Edmonton, Alberta, soprano Sonia Campbell completed her Bachelor of Music in Voice performance at the University of Alberta in the spring of 2022. She had the privilege of studying with soprano Miriam Khalil and tenor John Tessier. Eager to continue her studies, Sonia is now pursuing a Pre-Masters of Music at the University of Manitoba, studying with Tracy Dahl and Monica Huisman.

Most recently Sonia has had the pleasure of performing the role of Dot in the Canadian premier of Jonathan Dove’s The Enchanted Pig with the University of Alberta Opera Theatre, under the musical direction of Shannon Hiebert. Other roles include Gianetta in Donizetti’s L’Elisir d’Amore and Spirit 1 in Mozart’s Die Zauberflöte. Sonia is looking forward to performing in the Fairy Chorus in the University of Manitoba Chamber Opera’s production of Massenet’s Cendrillion this November. 

Samantha is thrilled to be working with Manitoba Underground Opera. Most recent credits include in Stage Management: Yaga, Into the Woods, Network, The Rez Sisters, Orlando (RMTC), The Wizard of Oz (Rainbow), Looking Glass, 22/23 Season Launch (WCD) and Femfest (Sarasvati). She has worked as a producer, designer, and director in independent theatre in Winnipeg. Most recently, Othello (Associate Producer/Sound Designer w/Echo), Wait, So Do I… (Director/Production Design w/Buried Seeds), Animosity (Co-Director/Designer w/DownsideUp), Seascape with Sharks… (Producer/Designer/Touring SM w/Beau). She holds a Bachelor of Arts Honours with focus on Stage Management, Production, and Design. She is an Associate Company Member of Winnipeg Independent Theatre (WIT), and Artistic Founder of Beau Theatre Co.  As always, couldn’t do it without my partner, Matt, and cat, Zella. 

Nikita is a born and raised Manitoba Soprano. Since completing her Bachelor of Music Vocal Performance degree at the University of Manitoba, studying under Monica Huisman, she has kept busy performing and growing her business. She was recently the Soprano soloist for the Government of Manitoba’s Coronation celebration on May 6th as well as Manitoba Opera’s fundraiser in May. Her other solo engagements include, performing  "I know My Redeemer Liveth", Messiah,  with the Regina Symphony, 2021, and performing at the Forks Culture Day in 2022.  Other notable performances include Cendrillon" in Cendrillon a concert version with New York Lyric opera, "Papagena”, Magic Flute and "Fortune" in The Coronation of Poppea with Manitoba Underground Opera. She is thrilled to be making a title role debut with Manitoba Underground Opera this summer as “Castor” in Castor et Pollux. When she is not performing she busy running her business, Labdon Studios, and spending time with her family and friends. 

After 14 years of solo performances on international stages, Paulina Gonzalez’ Mexican heritage fuels her passion and the power of music makes her dig deep, harnessing the positive energy she exudes, and cast it forth to gather us under its spell.  Like any real artist, Paulina knows that the more she gives of herself - the richer is the listener.  Paulina completed her Bachelor's Degree in Vocal Performance at the University of Sonora in Mexico and her Master’s Degree in Vocal Performance under the tutelage of Tracy Dahl at the University of Manitoba. Paulina performed as a soloist in Lost Voices in August 2019 and as Goldie Locks in the opera for children tour in 2022. She was cast as La Paix in the Baroque opera Les Arts Florissants as part of the University of Manitoba Chamber Opera in November 2018, and as Esilena in Handel’s opera Rodrigo in November 2019. In 2022 Paulina was the winner of the Herbert & Audrey Belyea Trophy of the Winnipeg Music Festival, the Holtby Scholarship of the Women's Music Club Scholarship Competition and the video production award from the Jacqueline Desmarais Foundation for Young Canadian Opera Singers. 

Described by mentors as a “convincing and vibrant” performer, Hailey Witt leaves audiences astounded in every way by her “natural versatility in both acting and singing” (Schmopera, 2022). Witt is a powerful mezzo-soprano from the prairies of Manitoba and an artistic force to be reckoned with.

Witt has performed with Manitoba Underground Opera for the past four seasons. Most recently she played Cherubino in Mozart’s Le Nozze di Figaro, a non-binary character in this modern rendition. Witt portrayed Cherubino “with thought, understanding and sensitivity,” (Schmopera, 2022) and “treated audiences to a charming Act II ‘Voi che sapete,’” (Opera Canada, 2022).

After obtaining her Bachelor of Music degree in Vocal Performance from Brandon University in the spring of 2019, Witt completed her Master of Music degree in Vocal Performance and Literature at Western University with Jackie Short. In addition to her operatic roles at Western, Witt performed Robert Schumann’s Frauen-Liebe und Leben as part of her graduating Masters recital in March of 2021, for which she received ‘distinction.’ 

Hailey is very excited to return to Brandon to perform Shadow and Light with the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra alongside her Konektis friends and undergraduate teacher, Naomi Forman. This work surrounds Alzheimer’s Dementia, a disease with which Hailey’s only living grandparent is currently battling.

Geneva Halverson is a Winnipeg mezzo soprano, pianist, and song writer. Geneva holds a Bachelor of Music (performance)  degree from the University of Manitoba Desautels Faculty of  Music as well as a Post Baccalaureate Diploma in opera  performance. Geneva is a past winner of the Zita Bernstein  German Lieder competition as well as a 2022 top three finalist of  the Women’s Musical Club McLellan Competition. Geneva was  the featured alto soloist in Handel’s Messiah with the Winnipeg  Symphony Orchestra in 2022.  

As a child, Geneva was quick to gravitate to the performing  arts, beginning piano lessons and dance classes at the age of  five. After seeing musical theatre for the first time, Geneva  enrolled in musical theatre classes and eventually, voice lessons.  Geneva now brings a flair for story-telling and acting to all genres  of singing. As a performer, Geneva is known for a unique ability  to convey characters and captivate audiences.  

Prior to beginning vocal studies, Geneva completed grade  ten RCM piano examinations, studying under Jacqueline Ryz.  Geneva began studying at the University of Manitoba as a piano  major. As a result of injury, Geneva made the decision to study  voice. Currently studying with Mel Braun, Geneva previously  studied under Donna Fletcher and David Klassen. Geneva is well  versed in many genres of music from operetta to country music.  Geneva is also a songwriter who’s style is influenced by the folk rock music of the mid-nineteen-sixties. Geneva has performed as  part of Festival du Voyageur and was chosen for RBC’s Emerging  Artist Mentorship in 2020.  

As a private teacher, Geneva instructs a talented roster of  voice and piano students, many of whom have gone on to  pursue performance careers of their own. Geneva is an avid  runner and fitness guru. Currently, Geneva is guardian to plants,  some of which actually stay alive. Honestly, not many stay alive.  Geneva will never be part of HGTV.  

Paul Forget (he/him) is a versatile and multidisciplinary artist, tackling everything from opera and musical theatre performance, stage and screen acting, writing, and composition. A recent graduate of both the University of Manitoba’s Bachelor of Music program and the Village Conservatory for Musical Theatre, Paul excited to be back with Manitoba Underground Opera for a fifth time, having previously performed in the chorus for Idomeneo, Dido|Anaeas, and Orphee et Euridice as well as Antonio in Le Nozze di Figaro. He has also appeared in Manitoba Opera’s production of La Cenorentola, and has sung with the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra in multiple choral engagements. His most recent engagement was playing the title role in the 2023 Winnipeg Fringe Festival production of Creating Rem Lezar. He also works as a section lead and soloist for St. Andrews River Heights United Church. When not singing, Paul keeps himself busy with acting, writing, composing and teaching, with the occasional break to cuddle two adorable cats.

Wes Rambo (he/him) is a Winnipeg-based multi-genre singer and performer who has worked professionally in opera, musical theatre, event band, acappella, and studio settings. Career highlights include: Lead vocalist for the Big City All Star Band, Ron Paley Big Band, member of renowned Winnipeg acappella group Those Guys, as well as roles at Rainbow Stage, Winnipeg Studio Theatre, Manitoba Underground Opera, and the Village Conservatory. He is also a busy voice actor and member of the talent roster for daCapo Productions, and made his film debut with two lead roles in “Small Town Ghost Stories,” a series of short films by Prairie Sky SciFi Club. 

Originally from New Brunswick, Acadian soprano Mélanie Dupuis is currently enrolled in a Master’s in Voice Performance at the University of Manitoba, under the tutelage of Tracy Dahl, after recently completing her Bachelor of Music in voice at Mount Allison University. At home on the operatic stage, Mélanie has recently premiered the role of Middle Sister in Rebeka Schroeder’s Three Sisters, performed as Dorothée in the Desautels Faculty of Music (DFOM) production of Massenet’s Cendrillon, and Mélisse in Gluck’s Armide with the Halifax Summer Opera Festival. This fall she will once again perform with the DFOM as Presendia in Nico Muhly’s Dark Sisters. Also passionate for musical theatre, Mélanie most recently portrayed Christine Daaé (Phantom of the Opera) in the DFOM Musical Theatre Ensemble’s scenes concert, and has also played roles such as Miss Barley/Woman 3 (A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder), Babette (Beauty and the Beast), Ms. Andrew (Mary Poppins), and Kitty (The Drowsy Chaperone). A lover of choral music, Mélanie has sung with numerous choirs, including Mount Allison’s Elliott Chorale, the New Brunswick Youth Choir, and the 2022 National Youth Choir. Mélanie will be completing her Master’s in Voice Performance at the University of Manitoba in the spring of 2024.