Tayte Mitchell, Artistic Director
Tayte Mitchell was born and raised in small town Vulcan, Alberta, Canada and is now based in Calgary. Tayte’s directing debut was awarded first place by the National Opera Association Opera Production Competition for his production of Poulenc’s La Voix Humaine featuring soprano Juliana Zara with Oberlin Chamber Opera. Last April 2023, in addition to covering the role of Macduff with Calgary Opera, Tayte was also the Assistant Director under Rachel Peake for their 50th Anniversary finale production of Verdi’s Macbeth.
Most recently, Tayte sang with The Brott Opera Festival as Alfredo in La Traviata by Verdi conducted by Alain Trudel and directed by Anna Theodosakis. Tayte has successfully completed his residency as a McPhee Artist with Calgary Opera. For the past few summers, he has been both a Vocal Fellow at Marilyn Horne’s Music Academy of the West and a Studio Artist with Wolf Trap Opera. Tayte looks forward to being the Stage Director in Residence with Vancouver Opera for the 2024-2025 Season as part of their Yulanda M. Faris Young Artist Program
In 2018, Tayte earned his Bachelors Degree in Music at the Oberlin Conservatory of Music, dual majoring in Voice Performance under Lorraine Manz and Opera Directing under Jonathon Field. Tayte’s Masters degree in Voice at the Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music, under the tutelage of William E. McGraw, was greatly aided by the Arts Graduate Scholarship he won from the Government of Alberta both in 2019 and 2020.
Maria Fuller, Music Director
“Her bright, volatile personality, and rich imagination make the orchestra shine. She tells stories full of colors and vivid images. At the same time, she is specific, she can both persistently pursue, and let go.”
Ruch Muzyczny - The 11th Grzegorz Fitelberg International Conducting Competition, Katowice, Poland
Hailed as an artist of “subtle control, careful focus and thorough professionalism,” by the Chronical Journal of Thunder Bay, and as “fiery and dynamic,” by The Walleye Magazine, Canadian Conductor MARIA FULLER demonstrates unparalleled energy and an infectious joy in her music-making. Admired for her diverse breadth of abilities, she performs internationally as a conductor, pianist, trumpeter, and is also an acclaimed vocal coach, award-winning composer, and sought after arranger.
In 2019, Maria was awarded the David Effron Conducting Fellowship at the renowned Chautauqua Institute, in NY, and also began her two year residency with the Thunder Bay Symphony and Chorus. In 2021, she represented Canada in the inaugural La Maestra International Conducting Competition, in Paris, and this fall she was a finalist and award winner at the 11th Fitelberg International Conducting Competition in Poland.
Maria is currently a fellow of Tapestry Opera in Toronto, through whom she works with 25 orchestras and opera companies across Canada. Last season she conducted debut performances with the Victoria, Winnipeg, Kingston, and Hamilton orchestras, as well as with New Music Concerts Toronto, and Music Niagara Festiva. She has also assisted at the Toronto Symphony, National Arts Centre Orchestra, Symphony Nova Scotia, Pacific Opera Victoria, and Manitoba Opera. This season, debut engagements are with the Calgary Philharmonic, Kamloops Symphony, San Francisco Philharmonic, Ammolite Opera, Manitoba Underground Opera, and the Łódź theatre in Poland.
Maria is the founding Music Director of Ammolite Opera, in Calgary, and the Onstage Music Director of the Canadian Badlands Passion Play. When she can, Maria enjoys arranging and composing. Her holiday arrangements are performed by ensembles across North America.
Education: Bachelor of Music degree in Piano, McGill University, Masters of Music in Piano, Artist Diploma in Operatic Coaching, Masters of Music in Orchestral Conducting, with Mo. Mark Gibson, from the College-Conservatory of Music (CCM).