ANNOUNCING OUR
2024/25 EMERGING ARTISTS

Connor Hoppenbrouwers

BARITONE

Spencer Kryzanowski is a passionate crossover artist working as a conductor/music director, répétiteur, and vocal coach in both musical theatre and opera.

Spencer is a staff member in the University of Toronto Opera department; an assistant conductor and pianist with Edmonton Opera; resident music director for Good Mess Opera Theatre; and resident music director with Pop Goes the Opera in Edmonton, Alberta. On top of these regular positions, Spencer maintains a busy freelance schedule.

As a conductor and music director, Spencer has worked on numerous opera and musical theatre productions across Canada. Most recently, he music directed Newsies and Mean Girls: The Musical with Bravo Academy and Hank & Gremlin with Good Mess Opera. Hank & Gremlin is a new adaptation of Humperdinck's Hansel and Gretel. His other conducting and music directing credits include Gilber and Sullivan's Trial by Jury, Massenet’s Cendrillon, Puccini's Il tabarro, Arthur Benjamin's A Tale of Two Cities, Puccini’s La bohème, and Puccini’s Suor Angelica.

Spencer's recent répétiteur credits include Guerrero's El huésped del sevillano with Toronto Operetta Theatre, Nino Rota's Il cappello di paglia di Firenze, and a comedic triple-bill of Hindemith's Hin und zurück, Offenbach's Monsieur Choufleuri, and Douglas Moore's Gallantry. Other credits include Humperdink's Hänsel und Gretel with Berlin Opera Academy; Copland's The Tender Land; Rossini's Il barbiere di Siviglia; Puccini’s Gianni Schicchi; and Tchaikovsky's Eugene Onegin. Spencer had the pleasure of workshopping Melancholia, an opera based on the Lars von Trier film, by Mikael Karlsson and Royce Vavrek in 2023 for the Royal Swedish Opera. Additionally, Spencer assisted as a répétiteur and vocal coach in a workshop of Indians on Vacation by Ian Cusson and Royce Vavrek in 2024 as part of a collaboration with Against the Grain Theatre and Edmonton Opera.

Spencer has participated in a number of prestigious training programs in Canada and Europe including the Opera in the 21st Century program at the Banff Centre, St. Andrew's Opera Workshop, Berlin Opera Academy, and Opera NUOVA. 

Spencer completed his Bachelor of Music in Piano Performance at the Augustana Campus of the University of Alberta and a Diploma in Operatic Performance (Répétiteur) at the University of Toronto.

New This Season

This season, Edmonton Opera is proud to announce our collaboration with both MacEwan University’s Arts and Culture Management Program, as well as the Yukon Arts Centre. These two new partnerships will enhance Edmonton Opera’s Emerging Artist Residency Program by offering a unique and more well-rounded experience.  

The Emerging Artist Residency Program is an in-person multiple residency opportunity for portfolio career professionals. The goal of this program is to help artists gain stage and role experience, while developing practical skill extensions to create sustainable careers in the arts. The multi-disciplinary program will take place in Edmonton, Alberta at Edmonton Opera, with module extensions to the Yukon, in collaboration with the Yukon Arts Centre. 

Program Highlights

• Performance opportunities including roles and understudy roles.  

• Coaching sessions with Edmonton Opera’s Music Director, Head Coach and Artistic Director. 

• Networking with nationally respected singers, conductors, and directors. 

• Mentorship from Edmonton Opera’s leadership team in artistic and professional development opportunities. 

• Opportunity to audit courses in collaboration with MacEwan University’s Arts and Culture Management program. 

• Outreach and community leadership development in the Yukon, in collaboration with the Yukon Arts Centre. 

• Education sessions about business and life in the industry (including marketing, government relations, production, patron services, etc).  

• Participation at public performance and outreach events including Opera Pubs and more.  

this program is supported by