Theresa Thibert Attracts the Attention of Opera Lovers

No longer will opera enthusiasts in Thunder Bay need to watch productions in the local movie theatre or out of town. They now have the opportunity to watch it live – thanks to Lakehead alumna Theresa Thibert (HBA’08, BEd’13).

“People ask, ‘Why opera in Thunder Bay?’” says Theresa. “To me, it’s not a matter of why, but rather why not?”

After four years away, Theresa moved back to Thunder Bay because she loves the city and its arts community, which passionately supports both a successful professional theatre and symphony.

Opera Northwest, founded by Theresa along with friend and pianist Sean Kim, made its debut with a concert this past January. Theresa saw a big appetite for opera, signalling to her that there is also room for a local opera company.

Theresa, who is Opera Northwest’s artistic director, is now preparing a fully-staged production of Mozart’s The Marriage of Figaro this June. Mozart is a favourite of hers. “His characters are relatable and his stories are big audience-pleasers.”

The Figaro production will feature Theresa along with other classically-trained and veteran singers from Thunder Bay, London, Mount Brydges, Toronto, and Kenora. Theresa wants local artists to keep working in their community. Opera Northwest is described as an opera company for young, emerging artists in Thunder Bay.

Theresa began performing in musicals at St. Patrick High School in Thunder Bay. Her love of singing and acting led her to Lakehead University’s music program. “Being able to study voice with a small faculty allowed me the opportunity to be asked to sing as a soloist with the Thunder Bay Symphony Orchestra, something I have now done three times,” she says.

Theresa also had one of the lead roles in Lakehead’s first opera, Purcell’s Dido and Aeneas, with director and conductor Professor Dean Jobin Bevans.

After Lakehead, Theresa attended the University of Manitoba for a Post-Baccalaureate Diploma in Performance (opera), then received a full academic scholarship for a Master of Music (opera/vocal performance and pedagogy) at Western University.

She has since participated in many young artist development programs including the Canadian Operatic Arts Academy and Accademia Europea dell’Opera (AEDA) in Lucca, Tuscany.

While in Italy, Theresa sang roles from Handel, Puccini, Mozart, and Rossini operas – a career highlight, she says. Her others include solo performances with the Roy Coran Big Band, Mood Indigo Jazz, Cambrian Players, Orchestra London Canada, and singing anthems at Lakehead Thunderwolves hockey games.

She is returning, by special invitation, to Italy this summer to perform a third season with the AEDO in Tuscany singing Handel’s Radamisto.

Performing can be a challenging career choice. “This is a skill one needs to develop and exercise in order to work,” Theresa says. “If you’re willing to create your own art and opportunities, you will flourish and inspire others to perform and engage as well.”

For now, Theresa plans to continue teaching, directing, and pursuing her passion for theatre in Thunder Bay – motivating other local performers to create their own destinies.