Michèle Bogdanowicz

Biography

Canadian Michèle Bogdanowicz is poised to take a commanding place among the singers of her generation. A 2007 Fellow at Ravinia’s Steans Institute for Young Artists, she was chosen to present the world premiere of a set of songs by acclaimed American composer Jake Heggie and as a member of the prestigious Merola Program of the San Francisco Opera, she had a resounding success as Susanna in LE NOZZE DI FIGARO. A young Mozartean of note, Ms. Bogdanowicz also appeared in several recent productions of DON GIOVANNI as Zerlina (Opera Ontario, Opera Lyra Ottawa, Pacific Opera Victoria and Orchestra London) and sang Papagena in THE MAGIC FLUTE in Andrew Porter’s staging for the Canadian Opera Company Ensemble. As a member of the COC’s Ensemble Studio, she appeared in mainstage productions of CARMEN as Mercédès, Ruders’ THE HANDMAID’S TALE as New Ofglen and ALBERT HERRING as Nancy.

Recent and upcoming engagements include Yum Yum in MIKADO for Toronto Operetta Theatre, Gretel in HANSEL AND GRETEL and 2nd Lady in THE MAGIC FLUTE for Opera Hamilton, Despina in COSI FAN TUTTE for Pacific Opera Victoria, a Puccini Gala Concert for Opera Santa Barbara, a programme of Berlioz and Mendelssohn with the Hamilton Philharmonic, Handel’s MESSIAH with the Fanshawe Chorus London and Rossini’s PETITE MESSE SOLENNELLE with the Ottawa Cantata Singers.

Her activities on the concert stage include a recital at the National Arts Centre in Ottawa broadcast by CBC’s Radio Two, an appearance with the Ottawa Choral Society in “Notes from America”, an evening of American music and an all-Debussy programme for the Aldeburgh Connection. She was named a winner in the New Discovery Auditions adjudicated by Music Directors from the Montreal Symphony Chorus, Ottawa Choral Society, Choeur St. Laurent and the Cantata Singers of Ottawa. The prize included a debut recital in Ottawa. She was also a Regional Finalist in the Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions.

Ms. Bogdanowicz has appeared as a soloist with many groups and festivals both nationally and internationally; among them, the renowned EMI recording artists The St. Lawrence String Quartet, the Orford Festival, the Aldeburgh Festival and the Aldeburgh Connection, the Brevard Music Center Festival, the Leith Summer Festival and the Northern Lights Music Festival in Mexico.

Born and raised in Toronto, her heritage is French and Polish and she is fluent in both French and English. She has received grants recognizing her talent from the Chalmers Foundation of the Ontario Arts Council, the Jacqueline Desmarais Foundation, the Toronto Symphony, the Canadian Opera Company and the Merola Opera Program. Ms. Bogdanowicz holds an Honours Bachelor Degree in Music and a Diploma in Operatic Performance from the University of Toronto.