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Cara Lianne McLeod’s musical and artistic journey has been winding and rewarding. In 2023, she performed the demanding role of Queen Elisabetta in Roberto Devereux, both with Calgary Concert Opera Company, and with her newly formed company CLM Productions. She followed that up with singing in a fall tour of the prairies with Rocky Mountain High - An Evening of John Denver. She has appeared with organizations such as Alberta Symphony Orchestra, Vocal Alchemy, and Edmonton Youth Orchestra. Over the past couple of years, Cara has released 4 singles in the blues/pop/jazz genres, and is working on completing an EP in 2025. She remains a sought-after performer, teacher, and adjudicator, and recently returned to her alma mater, Western University, to present a recital and masterclass. Audiences can catch her singing with her newly-formed jazz trio, McLeod, Bowman & Bray, in January 2025!
Cara Lianne McLeod — Official Website
Italian concert pianist, composer and conductor, Emilio De Mercato holds Master’s Degrees in Piano and in Composition from the Conservatory of Music “Giuseppe Verdi” in Milan and the Konzertdiplom in Piano from the Hochschule für Musik in Bern. Since his move to Canada in 2012, he has been a featured pianist and conductor on many stages performing in numerous tours and festivals. In 2015 he founded the Alberta Symphony Orchestra Society which presented events such as Symphony of Hope, Celebrate The Season at the Alberta Legislature Building, A Stradivarius for the People, Tribute to Renoir, Music in the Air, the Ode to Humanity 2022/23 Series, Verdi-ssimo, and Tribute to Glenn Gould for Canada’s 150th anniversary at the Winspear Centre for Music in partnership with the Toronto Symphony Orchestra featuring 55-piece Alberta Symphony Orchestra and Emilio as the pianist and conductor. In 2017 Emilio debuted in a piano recital at the renowned 63rd Puccini Festival in Torre del Lago, Italy. Emilio is currently a member of the Piano Faculty at the Mount Royal University Conservatory in Calgary, and Piano Instructor at the Windermere Music Academy in Edmonton.
Emilio De Mercato
Music Director – Alberta Symphony Orchestra
Emilio de Mercato | MRU (mtroyal.ca)
GUEST ARTIST
Born in Cagliari, Italy, Andrea Pinna did not start singing until he was 33 years old. Singing in an exhibition in a tourist village was a wonderful experience which prompted Andrea to seek professional training from renowned teachers in Italy. In 2014, the Pinna family left Italy and made the decision to make Edmonton their new home. After a gala show organized by the Italian community, the Artistic Director of Edmonton Opera invited Andrea to be part of the chorus where he is still collaborates. Andrea was chosen by "Pop Goes The Opera" as principal in Cavalleria Rusticana, Pagliacci, and Il Tabarro. Andrea has performed in numerous shows in Alberta and Saskatchewan, including events by the Italian Consulate, Edmonton Opera at the Devonian Gardens, Heritage Festival, Edmonton Metropolitan Orchestra, Opera Nuova.
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