Scholarship recipients flock to Opus 37

In the past four decades, there are a great many musicians who owe a debt of gratitude to the Anne Burrows Music Foundation for its continued scholarship support – occasionally in the thousands of dollars.

Eight appreciative musicians from the area and across the world are paying their debt of gratitude with a performance at Opus 37 – Christmas Fundraising Concert, the foundation’s annual recital that takes place Dec. 27 at Holy Trinity Anglican Church.

One of those performers is Mairi Irene McCormack, 29, the 2013 Rose Bowl recipient at St. Albert’s Rotary Music Festival. Currently a second-year student at Indiana University’s Jacobs School of Music, she is the only opera singer on the program.

For the evening she has selected three pieces suited to her mezzo-soprano voice: Francis Poulenc’s indolent setting of Hotel, Benjamin Britten’s charming lullaby The Highland Balou, and William Balcom’s cabaret song Amor.

“This is a fantastic program. It has a lot of variety. It’s exciting to see the next generation of artist students studying in different places. They will be performing in many places in the world and to see them at this stage is very exciting,” said McCormack.

Born on Cape Breton Island, the young beauty was quickly surrounded by her family’s sweet harmonies. Her parents produced traditional Gaelic music, and she soon followed in their footsteps singing and playing multiple instruments including fiddle, guitar and piano.

When McCormack was 12, economic reasons forced the family to move to Alberta. She grew up in Wainwright and completed undergraduate music studies in vocal performance at Camrose’s Augustana College.

McCormack moved up to Edmonton in 2010 and for four years was a vital part of St. Albert Parish’s youth and music ministry.

Her involvement was extensive, selecting music for all occasions including masses, funerals and weddings, coordinating schedules, leading children’s choirs and the youth ministry.

In 2014 McCormack applied to the Centre for Opera Studies (COSI) in Sulmona, Italy to join a month-long comprehensive summer training program that immerses emerging opera artists into the complete world of opera.

She studied under vocal trainer Timothy Noble, among others. But it was his influence that prompted McCormack to steer her vocal education outside Canada.

Noble, a former baritone with mentoring ties to the Canadian Opera Company, is a distinguished professor at Indiana University.

“We hit it off in Italy. I connected with him and I wanted to work with him. I took lessons every day from him and learned the technical knowledge I needed. He was very encouraging without trying to control me. He was very helpful in helping me plan the next steps,” McCormack said.

The reality of paying a $26,000 annual tuition caused some anxiety. Indiana offered the emerging Alberta singer a substantial scholarship. But McCormack still needed an additional $5,000 plus living expenses.

An application to the Anne Burrows Music Foundation, netted McCormack a $10,000 scholarship for the first year and $5,000 to complete the second.

As a way of showing her gratitude, the aspiring mezzo is delighted to perform for an appreciative home crowd.

“It’s wonderful to be part of a community of people who are kind, supportive and generous.”

Emerging classical guitarist Travis Luckert, a 2015 St. Albert Rotary Music Festival scholarship winner and two-time performer at St. Albert Chamber Music Society series, is also on the program.

Michael Massey, conductor of the Edmonton Youth Orchestra and Order of Canada recipient, is guest pianist and will accompany four performers.

A complete list of performers is available at burrowsfoundation.org.