Past Events 

 The Winners of This Year's Met Auditions 

Vancouver Opera Guild hosted the 2009 Metropolitan Opera Auditions on November 8, 2009 at the Vancouver Academy of Music. The winners of this year's competition are:

• Cat Affleck
• Michael MacKinnon
• Hiather Darnel-Kadonaga
• Erin Armstrong

Four “encouragement grants” of $200 were awarded to Teresa Sedlmair, Sunny Shams, Jacob Kinderman and Tiffany Desrosiers.

The judges were Armen Guzelimian. Erie Mills and Alyce Rogers.

Welcome Back 2009

To start the operatic year off in the right mood, the Guild hosted a wonderful evening of operatic singing, brilliant costumes and evening refreshments. The highlight of the Welcome Back Event were opera scenes from Cosi fan tutti and La traviata sung by five singers from the Vancouver Academy of Music, Directed by David Meek and wearing costumes provided by Vancouver Opera. Our thanks to David Boothroyd who accompanied the singers on the piano and Parvin Murhaddi who arranged the fabulous costumes from the Vancouver opera.

The other highlight of the event was our location, the PAL Theatre on the 8th floor of the Performing Arts Lodge (PAL) in Coal Harbour. Resident Joy Coghill, one of Canada's treasured actresses, welcomed us to the Lodge.

 Pasta and Puccini Dinner, 2010

Our fifth annual Pasta and Puccini Dinner took place on Monday, April12th, 2010. (6:30 pm for Dinner at 7:00 pm.) This year's dinner was jointly hosted by the Vancouver Opera Guild and by Francesco Alongi. It was a a gala evening of Vancouver`s finest Italian food, magnificent singing from rising young singers from UBC`s Opera School and an exciting raffle with exciting prizes This event has become one of the most noted events on Vancouver`s social calendar.

This year's event was held at DON FRANCESCO Ristorante, 860 Burrard Street Vancouver.

Vice-President, Margaret Archibald; President Elect Gwyneth Westwick; Roy Westwick 

 Special events Chairperson Anne Pearson looks on as auctioneer Christopher Gaze (of Shakespeare in the Park) and our host Francesco Alongi discuss the evening's program.

David Steiner begin_of_the_skype_highlighting     end_of_the_skype_highlighting and Vera Panaioti get ready for the 50/50 draw.

Met Auditions winner (2009) soprano Simone Osborne and baritone Andrey Andreychik were among the singers from UBC's Opera Studio whose glorious voices were a highlight of the evening.

 Susan Kessler enjoys a moment with Judy Westacott.

Don Francesco's excellent staff get ready for the first course.

Volunteerism in the Arts

The 2009 Conference took place on February 16th, 2009 at Vancouver Museum. This year's theme was Health and the Arts - Volunteering for the Health of It.

Presenters explored the many ways in which the arts and health are connected, both from professional and personal perspectives. The discussions also included how volunteering in the arts can contribute to the health of individuals, neighbourhoods, community and society.

For more information click on the following link:

VOG Spring Luncheon

Our Spring Luncheon was held on May 23 2010 in Quilchena Terrace Room of the Arbutus Club. A wonderful lunch was accompanied by opera excerpts sung by three  singers from the UBC Opera School. They were accompanied by David Boothroyd on piano.A silent auction earned over $600 for the Guild. An audience of 60 guests enjoyed this annual event.