Summer 2026 Emerging Artists Summer Opera Intensive 

Canadian stage director Rob Herriot’s career has taken him across North America. In the past year, Rob has been very fortunate to have stayed busy. He directed At the Statue and of Venus and Bon Appetite for the Little Opera Company’s I Need Opera…and Dance that premiered in the fall of 2020. Earlier this year he wrote and directed a 6-part series called Opera School for Manitoba Opera. He has directed productions of Madama Butterfly, Lucia de Lammermoor, La Boheme, Carmen, Rigoletto, and Don Pasquale (Manitoba Opera), Barbar of Seville, Don Pasquale (Livermore Valley Opera), La Traviata, Don Pasquale (Opera Hamilton), Carmen, Don Pasquale (Arizona Opera), Don Pasquale (Connecticut Opera, Utah Opera), new productions of Rigoletto (2019), HMS Pinafore (2018), Hansel and Gretel, and Magic Flute. Other productions from Edmonton include Turandot, Pirates of Penzance, La Fille Du Regiment, HMS Pinafore (Edmonton Opera-winner of a Sterling Award for Outstanding Musical of the Season); Tosca, The Mikado, La Cenerentola, all nominated for Sterling Award’s Best Musical Production of their year. For Calgary Opera he has directed productions of Tosca and Barber of Seville, both nominated for Betty Mitchell awards for Best Musical of 2009 and 2018 seasons, as well as La Boheme for the 40th anniversary of the company. Other productions for Calgary include The Magic Flute, Pirates of Penzance and Candide, as well as numerous shows for their Emerging Artists program.

Vlad Soloviev is a Toronto-based pianist, conductor and operatic vocal coach. As an operatic repetiteur, Vlad has worked at the Canadian Opera Company, Wolftrap Opera, Opera Theatre of Saint Louis, Opera Arizona, Opera Sarasota, Highlands Opera Studio and University of Toronto Opera School and more. As a conductor, Vlad has worked at Wolftrap Opera, Opera Sarasota, Berlin Opera Academy, Mississauga Symphony Orchestra and more. As a concert pianist, Vlad has played at institutions like Carnegie Hall (New York), Salle Cortot (Paris), Bohemian National Hall (New York), Koerner Hall (Toronto). As a collaborative pianist, Vlad has performed at institutions like Koerner Hall (Toronto), National Arts Center (Ottawa), Richard Bradshaw Amphitheater, the Kaufman Center (NYC), Toronto Summer Music Festival and more. Vlad has worked at institutions like the Eastman School of Music, Mannes College of Music, University of Toronto and the Glenn Gould School, performing over 200 recitals over the past ten years. As a vocal coach, Vlad helped singers prepare for successful auditions at institutions like the Paris Opera, Deutsche Oper, Metropolitan Opera, Merola, Santa Fe, Canadian Opera Company, Vancouver Opera, Opera de Montreal, and more.

Denise Williams is a seasoned professional in the world of music and performance education, dedicated to nurturing the next generation of talent. With over 30 years of experience as an international soloist, Denise has graced concert, opera, and theatre stages, collaborating with renowned organizations such as The Nathaniel Dett Chorale, the Toronto Symphony Orchestra, Mirvish Productions, and Theatre Northwest. ​ Denise founded No Strings Theatre with a vision to empower young artists by building their musical theatre skills and equipping them with essential life and team skills. As a respected voice educator, Denise has taught privately for over 25 years and serves as a Vocal Instructor at Sheridan College’s Music Theatre department. She is also an advanced voice teacher certified by the Royal Conservatory of Music (RCM) and a voice professor at Canada Christian College. ​ Her professional affiliations include her role as Vice President of the National Association for Teachers of Singing (NATS), and member of Canadian Actors Equity. Denise’s leadership and commitment to inclusivity in the arts continue to inspire and guide No Strings Theatre’s mission to provide accessible, high-quality training and performance opportunities for emerging artists.

Bass-Baritone John Holland has embarked on a diverse career of opera, oratorio, and art song. In 2020, John won a JUNO award for a recording of Handel’s Dixit Dominus. His Operatic credits include Figaro in Le Nozze di Figaro at the Mozarteum in Salzburg, Leporello in Don Giovanni at the Estates Theatre in Prague, Kecal in The Bartered Bride, Purkrabi in Dvořák’s Jakobín, Belcore in L’Elisir d’amore, Dr. Falke in Die Fledermaus, Papageno in The Magic Flute, Escamillo in Carmen, Don Alfonso in Cosi fan tutte, and Alberich in The Ring Cycle. On the oratorio side, John has been bass soloist for Mozart’s Requiem, Handel’s Messiah, Bach’s St. John Passion, Haydn’s Creation, Beethoven’s 9th Symphony, and several Bach cantatas. He is a frequent performer with The Mississauga Symphony, York Symphony Orchestra, Windsor Symphony, and Opera York. John has also performed at Bachfest in Leipzig (2014, 2022), San Marco in Venice, and has shared the stage with the likes of Placido Domingo, Sherrill Milnes, Rene Pape, and Lorin Maazel. Recent recordings include, Bass Soloist for a CD recording of Bach’s Motets, and Handel’s Dixit Dominus, both on the ATMA Classique label. John has been a clinician and vocal coach with No Strings Summer Opera Intensive since 2022, serving as an artist-mentor and instructor. Known for his comedic timing, and stage presence, John has also been praised for his performance of Gilbert and Sullivan roles such as, Captain Corcoran in HMS Pinafore, and the Sergeant of Police in The Pirates of Penzance, both with Opera York. On the podium, John is currently the Artistic Director of both the Toronto Classical Singers and Chorus York, and has been the longtime music director at Blessed Trinity Parish. He has also conducted the choirs at York University, the Ontario Youth Choir, the West Elgin Choral Society, and other choirs around Ontario. Dr. Holland completed his PhD in Musicology in 2018. His scholarship is focused on the study of Czech Opera, Art Song, and Choral Works. His book, The Lost Tradition of Dvořák's Operas: Myth, Music, and Nationalism was published in 2023 through Lexington Books. In 2024, John co-produced the Year of Czech Music Opera Fest. He is the founder of the Canadian Institute for Czech Music, and a contract faculty member at York University. At Avenue Road Music and Performance Academy, John is the Director of Fundraising and Community Programming, spearheading such initiatives as the Music for Life adult music courses. https://www.johnhollandmusic.ca/ https://canczechmusic.ca/index.html

Kyeong-Ok Kim is a collaborative pianist and dedicated music educator whose career bridges the vibrant musical landscapes of South Korea and Canada. Her approach to music is deeply informed by her lifelong devotion to the piano, which began at the age of five under her mother’s tutelage. After pursuing non-musical studies early in her undergraduate years, she returned to her true passion at 24, eventually earning both her Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Piano Performance from Dankook University. With over 15 years of experience in higher education preparation, Kyeong-Ok has become a sought-after mentor for students aiming for conservatory and university entrance. Her pedagogical focus is grounded in the science of performance: she specializes in teaching healthy body mechanics, helping singers, string players, and pianists alike achieve physical freedom and a natural, resonant tone. Kyeong-Ok’s pursuit of excellence led her to the University of Toronto, where she completed her Master of Music in Collaborative Piano in 2023. As a versatile collaborator, she brings a wealth of experience in choral conducting, vocal accompaniment, and musical theater. Kyeong-Ok is committed to fostering artistic growth in her students while remaining active as a collaborative pianist, continually refining her craft to serve both performance and education in the North American and international music scenes.

Maddy Cooper is a director, producer, poet and performing artist living in the quiet, east-end of Toronto. Since moving to the city in 2021 she has left no painted-stone unturned; peeking into the jazz, burlesque, choral and poetry scenes, among others. These days, she spends most of her energy with the opera community in various capacities or outside, gardening. Maddy’s greatest joy is to explore.

Marcia Whitehead sang professionally as a mezzo soprano with Opera companies and Symphonies across Canada for over 15 years. She apprenticed with Montréal Opera's L'Atelier Lyrique, and is an alumnus of numerous operatic young artist programs. Today, Marcia focusses on preparing the next generation of singers via her private teaching studio, high-energy masterclasses, and as a music festival adjudicator. As well, she gives motivational talks centred around her book, Botox Me - A memoir, which recounts the highs and lows of her her roller-coaster ride with muscle tension dysphonia. Marcia is thrilled to be back with No Strings Theatre's 2025 summer program as a mentor and masterclass clinician. To learn more about Marcia, please visit marciawhitehead.com

Brett Polegato’s artistic sensibility has earned him the highest praise from audiences and critics: “his is a serious and seductive voice” says The Globe and Mail, and The New York Times has praised him for his “burnished, well-focused voice” which he uses with “considerable intelligence and nuance.” The Italian-Canadian baritone appears regularly on the world’s most distinguished stages, including those of Lincoln Center, the Metropolitan Opera, La Scala, the Concertgebouw, the Opéra National de Paris, Glyndebourne Festival Opera, the Lyric Opera of Chicago, Houston Grand Opera, the Teatro Real, Roy Thomson Hall, the Kennedy Center, Carnegie Hall and Wigmore Hall, and has collaborated with such conductors as Yannick Nézet-Séguin, Daniele Gatti, Andris Nelsons, Bernard Haitink, Seiji Ozawa, Jeffrey Tate, Marc Minkowski, and Martyn Brabbins. He can be heard as soloist in the Grammy Awards’ Best Classical Recording of 2003 – Vaughan Williams’ A Sea Symphony (Telarc) with the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra under the baton of Robert Spano. https://brettpolegato.com/

Ash was born in Montreal, Quebec and started working at a young age as an actor, getting his first agent at the age of 10. He moved to London, England at the age of 20 to attend the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art for 3 years on a scholarship. He graduated with a R.A.D.A. Diploma and a Bachelor’s Degree in Acting from the University of London. He remained in England acting in various productions before returning to Canada and performing at the Stratford Festival of Canada. Ash has been fortunate to work with some of the most talented artists in the U.K. (Birmingham and London), the U.S.A. (New York), all over Canada, and even Uganda (Kampala). Ash was nominated for a Dora award as Best Actor (Brothel #9), and as Best Director (Tyson’s Song); for a Critic’s Choice award for Directing (Tragedie of Lear), and a Pauline McGibbon Award in Directing for 2024. His first play, Enkidu and Gilgamesh was work-shopped in London, England (2011) and New York City (2013). He is currently working on a translation and adaptation of Cyrano de Bergerac with Pleiades Theatre. He’s been part of numerous new play development workshops, regularly works on directing/teaching Shakespeare workshops, and recently participated in The Michael Langham Workshop for Classical Directing. He is currently the Artistic Executive Director of Pleiades Theatre.

Former singer and conductor, Professor Emeritus of Music at York University

Justyn Nishimura is a queer stage manager based in Tkaronto who is super excited to be making his No Strings debut as the stage manager for both 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee and Le Nozze di Figaro. Select credits include How to Feel (Sawdust Co.), Seussical (TYT Theatre), Natasha, Pierre... Great Comet of 1812 (Sheridan College). Upcoming: Pippin (Bowtie Productions). When not in the theatre, Justyn can be found curled up with a good book, his partner, Cas, and their cat, Mr. Noodles.