Leslie Fagan
Soprano
Reviewing Leslie Fagan's New York appearances, Opera News names her performance of the Poulenc Gloria as “ one of the most memorable performances of the season,” and the New York Times noted the soprano's “transcendent moments” in Handel's Messiah at Carnegie Hall. In demand for concert appearances from North America to Europe and Asia, Ms. Fagan's engagements include Mahler's Symphony No. 2 under the direction of Hans Graf; a Stravinsky and Debussy concert with The Orchestre National Bordeaux Aquitaine in France; Bach's Das Weinachtsoratorium BWV 248 in Stuttgart, Germany; Handel's Messiah at the Royal Albert Hall in England and with Tafelmusik Orchestra and Choir in Canada; and an engagement as guest soloist at the International Choral Festival in The Netherlands. She has performed with conductors Sir David Willcocks, Boris Brott, Jukke-Pekke Saraste, Elmer Iseler, Kent Tritle and Daniel Lipton with orchestras such as the National Symphony, the Rochester Philharmonic and the Toronto Symphony. Her recent engagements include concerts in Spain at the Festival Internacional de Música Clásica de Ribadeo and in the United Arab Emirates at the American University of Sharjah.
On the opera stage, Ms. Fagan has sung the title role in Donizetti's Linda di Chamounix; Pamina in Mozart's Die Zauberflöte; Sophie in Massenet's Werther; Musetta in Puccini's La Boheme and Nanetta in Verdi's Falstaff. At the Aldeburgh Festival in England Ms. Fagan performed the roles of Tytania in Britten's A Midsummer Night's Dream and Zerlina in Mozart's Don Giovanni.
Ms. Fagan has been fortunate enough to share the stage with many great artists including Victor Borge, Lois Marshall and Maureen Forrester and has performed on CBC radio and television, BBC radio and television and NPR.
Leslie is co-founder of the Canadian Art Song Project, whose mandate is to champion the legacy of Canadian song. The first two CD’s in the series, “Thread of Winter” and “Halibut Cheeks and other Love Songs” have been received with rave reviews. www.canadianartsong.ca
When not on the world stages, Leslie is an Assistant Professor who teaches aspiring singers at Wilfrid Laurier University. Earlier this year, Leslie received the distinct honour of being appointed to The Order of Ontario. www.lesliefagan.com
Lorin Shalanko
Collaborative Pianist
Lorin Shalanko is a much sought out pianist, praised for his sensitive and evocative playing. At Wilfrid Laurier University he provides instruction, accompaniment and coaching to many musicians on their way to the next stage of their careers.
Internationally, Lorin's career has taken him to France, where he lived and worked for several years. While overseas, he taught privately and accompanied for various soloists and choirs. Lorin was invited to perform as a solo artist in France, Italy, Switzerland and the Netherlands.
Lorin is a co-collaborator of the Canadian Art Song Series along with Leslie Fagan O.Ont. Whole Note Magazine reviewed their 2016 release, Thread of Winter describing Lorin’s playing as “superb – fully supportive and intelligent, bringing to mind some of Gerald Moore’s best recordings.” Other reviews of the recording state “Lorin has the ability to create luscious statements at the keyboard and is a superb collaborator”.
The second recording in the Canadian Art Song Series entitled Halibut Cheeks and other Love Songs will be presented as part of the 2nd International Symposium on Singing and Song in St. John’s Newfoundland in association with The Singing Network at Memorial University. The concert will be a multi sensory encounter as the repertoire will be presented in a mixed media feast incorporating music, poetry and visual arts.
Lorin holds an honours degree in Piano Performance from Wilfrid Laurier University, Waterloo, Canada. After graduation he studied with Martin Katz at the University of Michigan.
In a position he finds equally rewarding, Lorin is a committed teacher to his students at The Beckett School of Music at Wilfrid Laurier University in Waterloo, Ontario.