An opera for children that is just right!

Sawyer Craig is a colorful, versatile artist hailing from Edmonton, Alberta. Equally comfortable on the stage and at the director’s table, Sawyer has been praised as a “standout” performer (Edmonton Journal), “particularly radiant in coloratura passages” (Opera Canada). She is committed to telling stories in vibrant, collaborative, and inclusive ways. 

Sawyer did her undergraduate studies at UBC in opera performance. She followed this with a Masters degree in Voice Performance at the University of Manitoba. Under the tutelage of Monica Huisman, she developed a wide repertoire of art song and a fascination with the medium of the recital. She is currently based in Montréal, studying stage direction at McGill’s Schulich School of Music.

Recent highlights include performing Szymanowski’s Songs of a Fairytale Princess with the U of M Symphony Orchestra as a winner of the Concerto Competition, and directing the Canadian premiere of Verdi’s Un Giorno do Regno with Opera McGill. In the summer of 2021 she, along with longtime best friend Gwendolyn Yearwood, co-founded Good Mess Opera Theatre, an indie company dedicated to empowering and creating opportunities for young artists.

When she is not making loud noises with her face, Sawyer enjoys running half marathons, black coffee, and relaxing at home with her cats, Toby Flenderson and Stevie Nicks..

Monica Hultin has been performing and organizing musical performances for over 40 years in Toronto, Kingston and Winnipeg. She is a recently received her BMus studying voice at the University of Manitoba’s Desautels Faculty of Music. While there she acted as Assistant Stage Manager for scenes from Mozart’s Cosi fan Tutte and Tchaikovsky’s Iolanta with University of Manitoba Opera Theatre. Monica looks forward to Stage Managing with Manitoba Underground Opera.

Jacqueline Arthur, mezzo-soprano, began her training in Medicine Hat and demonstrated passion and commitment in her music at an early age. Jacqueline later received a Bachelor of Music degree, graduating with great distinction, from University of Lethbridge and a Master of Music Degree in Vocal Performance from the University of Manitoba. Jacqueline’s vocal versatility has allowed her to perform many operatic roles including Nellie March (the Fox), Fernando (Rodrigo), Bianca/Rosabella (Angela and her Sisters), La Peinture (Les art’s florissants), Maurya (Riders to the Sea), Mrs. Peachum (The Beggers Opera), Sandman (Hansel and Gretel), and Second Witch (Dido and Aeneas). In addition to performing, Jacqueline also works as a voice teacher and enjoys sharing her love of music with the next generation.

Baritone Nathan Dyck hails from the windswept prairies of Manitoba’s Northern Interlake region. He’s been steeped in music from an early age, beginning with guitar and having many opportunities to perform in school and church. His formal education began after completing his first B.A. in Theology. While attending seminary, he acquired a taste Classical music by performing Carl Orff’s Carmina Burana and Mahler’s Auferstehungsinfoniewith the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra and Mennonite Festival Chorus. This prompted a transfer to Canadian Mennonite University where he completed a B.Mus in Vocal Performance under Dr. Matthew Pauls. 

Nathan’s performance experience includes both opera and musical theatre productions with David Klassen. Under David, he played a police officer in Gilbert and Sullivan’s Pirates of Penzance, Balthazar in Menotti’s Amahl and the Night Visitors, and Al the Foreman in City Workers in Love by Neil Weisensel and Michael Cavanagh. He is continuing his studies at Western University in London Ontario under the tutelage of Dr. Todd Wieczorek. More recent performances include the unflappable Sergeant Belcore in Western’s staging of Donizetti’s L’elisir D’amore in March 2022. He also enjoys sacred music, having sung solos in Buxtehude’s Membra Jesu Nostri and Fauré’s Requiem.

MUO's Opera for Children Tour began in 2017, when we visited two Winnipeg locations. Since then, we've expanded our tour outside of Winnipeg, and this summer we'll be bringing opera to children in Northern communities for the first time. We'll be visiting libraries in The Pas, Flin Flon, Thompson, Swan River, and more! Families all over Manitoba will get to experience live opera right in their own communities. And since there is no admission fee for any of our performances, there are no financial barriers for any child who wishes to attend. We are able to present our Opera for Children Tour at no cost to hosting organizations or attendees thanks to the support of public grants and donations from generous opera lovers like you. Click here to donate today, and help us continue making opera accessible for Manitoba families.