From coast to coast — and far beyond — the artists who have competed in the Rumbold Vocal Prize are lighting up stages, releasing albums, and building extraordinary careers. Discover what our talented alumni have been up to this year.
Lauren Margison
Soprano
First Place Winner, 2022
2nd Photo - Rumbold Vocal Prize Grand Finale, 2022
3rd Photo - Puccini’s Le villi, Straatstheatre Mainz, 2024
Since winning the Rumbold Vocal Prize, Lauren Margison has quickly become one of Canada’s most exciting young sopranos. She was recently named the 2025 winner of the Elizabeth Connell Prize International Singing Competition and the 2024 Sullivan Award Winner.
Recent highlights include her return to the mainstage of Opéra de Montréal as Mimì in La Bohème and her debut in the title role of Alceste with Toronto’s Opera in Concert. She has also revisited the roles of Nedda (Pagliacci) and Anna (Le Villi), and made her debut as Desdemona in Verdi’s Otello.
Other notable performances include Micaëla (Carmen, Pacific Opera Victoria), Tatyana (Eugene Onegin, Highlands Opera Studio), Sylva Varescu (The Csárdás Princess, Toronto Operetta Theatre), and Vanessa (Barber’s Vanessa, Opera in Concert).
Vartan Gabrielian
Bass-Baritone
Second Place Winner, 2022
2nd Picture - Rumbold Vocal Prize Grand Finale, 2022
3rd Picture - Puccini’s Madama Butterfly, Opéra nationale de Paris, 2024
Since competing in the Rumbold Vocal Prize, bass-baritone Vartan Gabrielian has continued to establish himself as one of Canada’s leading young voices. A national semi-finalist in the 2023 Metropolitan Opera Laffont Competition, he has performed across North America and Europe in both emerging and principal roles.
In the 2025/26 season, Vartan makes both a house and role debut at the Royal Ballet and Opera as Robert in Les Vêpres siciliennes, followed by returns to the Opéra national de Paris as Figaro (Le Nozze di Figaro), Zuniga (Carmen), and Angelotti (Tosca). He will also make his Opéra de Lausanne debut as Sparafucile in Rigoletto.
A former resident artist with Opera San José, Gabrielian appeared as Basilio (The Barber of Seville), Frère Laurent (Roméo et Juliette), and Capitán (Florencia en el Amazonas). In 2023, he returned to Edmonton Opera as Fasolt in Das Rheingold.
Madison Montambault
Dramatic Soprano
Third Place Tie, 2022
2nd Photo: Rumbold Vocal Prize Grand Finale, 2022
3rd Photo: Wagners Das Rheingold, Edmonton Opera, 2024
Praised by Opera Canada for her “enthusiasm and attractive singing,” mezzo-soprano Madison Montambault continues to bring energy and artistry to her growing career on stages across Canada and abroad.
Last season, she joined Opera on the Avalon’s Emerging Artist Program in St. John’s, Newfoundland, and participated in Newfoundland’s Tapestry Project. She also made her European debut at Malta’s Teatru Manoel, portraying Georgina Stirling.
We were delighted to welcome her back to Edmonton Opera’s 2023/24 season as Wellgunde in Das Rheingold. Madison was also a finalist in the 2024 International Hans Gabor Belvedere Singing Competition and a semi-finalist in the 2023 George London Foundation Competition.
Spencer Britten
Tenor
3rd Place Tie, 2022
2nd Photo: Rumbold Vocal Prize Grand Finale, 2022
3rd Photo: Rossini’s L’Italiana in Algeri, Hungarian State Opera 2023
This season, Spencer appears in Montréal for performances of Carmina Burana and Turandot with the Orchestre Philharmonique et Chœur des Mélomanes, makes his house and role debut as Tonio in La fille du régiment with Boston Lyric Opera, and travels to Hungary to reprise Lindoro in L’Italiana in Algeri with the Hungarian State Opera.
In the 2023/24 season, Spencer debuted with the Hungarian State Opera in L’Italiana in Algeri, followed by performances of The Messiah with Yannick Nézet-Séguin and the Orchestre Métropolitain, and The Bells by Rachmaninoff with the Helena Symphony.
Since competing in the Rumbold Vocal Prize, Spencer has also returned to Edmonton Opera for Home for the Holidays (2022) and Opera al Fresco (2024).
Sydney Baedke
Soprano
First Place Winner, 2023
2nd Photo: Rumbold Vocal Prize Grand Finale, 2023
3rd Photo: Mozart’s Le Nozze di Figaro, Pacific Opera Victoria, 2024
Noted by Opera Canada as a “rising star to watch,” soprano Sydney Baedke continues to make her mark on stages across North America and Europe as both an emerging and principal artist.
Recent highlights include Contessa Almaviva in Le Nozze di Figaro with Pacific Opera Victoria, Ma Zenger in Mazzoli’s Proving Up with Ammolite Opera, and her Calgary Philharmonic debut as soprano soloist in Bruckner’s Te Deum. Internationally, she recently appeared as Gertrudis in the German premiere of Reznicek’s Till Eulenspiegel, and this season returns to Montréal’s Maison symphonique for her role debut as Liù in Puccini’s Turandot.
Jamal Al Titi
Baritone
Second Place Winner, 2023
2nd Photo: Rumbold Vocal Prize Grand Finale, 2023
3rd Photo: Pergolesi’s La serra padrona, Montreal Opera’s Lyric Workshop, 2024
Currently a member of Opéra de Montréal’s Atelier lyrique, baritone Jamal Al Titi continues to build an impressive career both in Canada and abroad.
This year, he joined the International Meistersinger Academy in Germany and sang the title role in Gianni Schicchi at the Netherlands Lyric Opera Festival. In the 2024/25 season, Jamal performed the title role in the world premiere of Le Phare and appeared as Uberto in La Serva Padrona.
With Opéra de Montréal, he returns this season as Dancaïro in Carmen. His recent accolades include winning the 32nd National Lyric Audition’s Young Lyric Ambassadors Program (2025), the Western Canada District of the Metropolitan Opera Laffont Competition (2023), the Stingray Audience Choice Award at Opéra de Montréal’s Gala Talent (2024), and third place in the 2025 National Capital Opera Competition.
Danielle MacMillan
Mezzo-Soprano
Third Place Tie, 2023
2nd Photo: Rumbold Vocal Prize Grand Finale, 2023
3rd Photo: Strauss’ Die Fledermaus, Edmonton Opera, 2024
Since competing in the Rumbold Vocal Prize, mezzo-soprano Danielle MacMillan has continued to make her mark as a versatile and expressive performer.
In 2024, Danielle appeared with Opera Atelier in their remounted production of All Is Love at Koerner Hall and returned for Charpentier’s David and Jonathan later that spring. She also performed Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9 with the Cathedral Bluffs Symphony Orchestra and rejoined Edmonton Opera as Prince Orlofsky in Die Fledermaus.
Her debut album, Songs of Hope, was recently released in collaboration with the Scarborough Philharmonic Orchestra and the Odin Quartet. She later appeared with Opera Atelier in The Magic Flute in October 2025 and performed Verdi’s Requiem for the first time with the Kindred Spirits Orchestra in June 2025.
Nicholas Burns
Countertenor
Third Place Tie, 2023
2nd Photo: Rumbold Vocal Prize Grand Finale, 2023
3rd Photo: Photo borrowed from Nicholas’ Instagram
Since competing in the Rumbold Vocal Prize, countertenor Nicholas Burns has continued to earn acclaim for his artistry and versatility on both Canadian and international stages.
In 2025, Nicholas won second place in the National Capital Opera Competition and first place at the Mathieu-Duguay Classical Music Competition as part of the 49th annual Laméque International Baroque Music Festival.
Recent performance highlights include appearances with Les Arts Florissants, the Orchestre symphonique de Montréal, Tafelmusik, and the Carmel Bach Festival. In 2023, alongside his Rumbold recognition, he also won the New York Oratorio Society Competition at Carnegie Hall. Upcoming engagements include performances with Opera San Miguel de Allende, the Arion Baroque Orchestra, Symphony Nova Scotia, and more.
Tessa Fackelmann
Mezzo-Soprano
First Place Winner, 2024
2nd Photo: Rumbold Vocal Prize Grand Finale, 2024
3rd: Bravi! Opera’s Greatest Hits, Edmonton Opera, 2025
Since placing first in the 3rd annual Rumbold Vocal Prize last November, mezzo-soprano Tessa Fackelmann has been making remarkable strides on stages across North America and beyond.
Her recent performances include Cherubino in Le Nozze di Figaro with Sarasota Opera, Angelina in Rossini’s La Cenerentola with Santa Fe Opera, and the world premiere of The Righteous with Santa Fe Opera. She also appeared in Silence – A New Opera with Opera NUOVA here in Edmonton.
This season, Tessa Fackelmann returned to Edmonton Opera in Bravi! Opera’s Greatest Hits as a featured soloist. At Opéra de Montréal’s 2024 Talent Gala, she was awarded the Jury Prize for her performance of “Enfin, je suis ici” from Massenet’s Cendrillon, and was also a finalist in the 2025 Hans Gabor Belvedere Singing Competition in Bern, Switzerland.
Elizabeth Polese
Soprano
Second Place Winner, 2024
2nd Photo: Rumbold Vocal Prize Grand Finale, 2024
3rd: Professional debut of Ember Ensemble at Festival de Lanaudière, 2025
In the year since competing in the Rumbold Vocal Prize, soprano Elizabeth Polese has continued to make her mark as both a performer and creator.
Elizabeth is the founder of the Ember Ensemble, a Montréal-based chamber music group that held its official launch concert for friends and family before making its professional debut at the Festival de Lanaudière.
In 2025, she appeared as a soloist with the Symphonic House, performing works including Pierre Mercure’s Cantata for une joie and Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9. She also performed with Toronto Summer Music in the world premiere of I Will Greet the Sun Again by Pouya Hamidi. Later this season, she returns to Edmonton Opera as Woodbird in Wagner’s Siegfried, opening in May.
Alex Halliday
Bass-Baritone
Third Place Tie, 2024
2nd Photo: Rumbold Vocal Prize Final, 2024
3rd Photo: Janáček’s Cunning Little Vixen, Canadian Opera Company 2024
Named one of CBC’s 2025 “30 Hot Canadian Classical Musicians Under 30,” bass-baritone Alex Halliday continues to earn recognition for his artistry and commanding presence on stage. The Globe and Mail has praised him for finding “a beautiful balance between strapping and lyric.”
This season marks several exciting milestones for Alex. He makes both his role and company debut as Angelotti in Puccini’s Tosca with Pacific Opera Victoria, followed by his company debut as Colline in Puccini’s La Bohème with Vancouver Opera. He also returns to Edmonton Opera for his role and company debut as Fafner in Wagner’s Siegfried, and rejoins the Canadian Opera Company to perform the Duke in Gounod’s Roméo et Juliette.
Angelo Moretti
Tenor
Third Place Tie, 2024
2nd Photo: Rumbold Vocal Prize Grand Finale, 2024
3rd Photo: Canadian Opera Company Ensemble Studio, 2025
Since competing in the Rumbold Vocal Prize, tenor Angelo Moretti has continued to make exciting strides in his career.
Shortly after the competition, he performed in Handel’s Messiah, earning praise for “easily scaling up and down its tricky intervallic jumps, demonstrating great breath control and text painting.”
Angelo went on to take on his first title role as the Emperor of Rome in Mozart’s La Clemenza di Tito. In 2025, he made his Canadian Opera Company debut as Benvolio in Gounod’s Roméo et Juliette, and joined the COC Ensemble Studio at the start of the 2025/26 season.