Re-Introducing Nathan Keoughan; Another reader submission

Canadian Barihunk Nathan Keoughan

We love it when our readers send us new barihunks to follow and post for your pleasure. The latest is Canadian Nathan Keoughan, who will be competing in the Canadian Opera Company Ensemble Studio competition on Tuesday, November 26, 2013 at the Four Seasons Centre in Toronto. We originally posted about him, albeit briefly, when he participated in last year's competition, but we feel he's worth a re-introduction.

Keoughan was born and raised in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island and completed his bachelor of music at the University of Prince Edward Island. He went on to study at the prestigious New England Conservatory of Music in Boston, where he completed a master’s degree in Vocal Performance in 2012.

An accomplished theatre actor, Nathan portrayed Royal Gardner in Anne & Gilbert  at the Harbourfront Theatre for three consecutive summers, and also played Edwin Simpson in Nine Lives, a musical about the life of L.M. Montgomery, for the Charlottetown Festival.

Keoughan’s opera roles include Colline in La Bohème (Cowtown Opera, Highland Opera Studio), Sarastro in The Magic Flute (Highland Opera Studio), the Mayor in Dr. Miracle (New England Conservatory) and excerpts of Figaro (The Marriage of Figaro, New England Conservatory).

His dream roles are Wotan in Wagner’s Der Ring des Nibelungen and Scarpia in Puccini's Tosca.
You can follow him on Twitter @nathankeoughan.

Tickets to the Ensemble Studio Competition and Centre Stage cocktail celebration are $100. For more information and to purchase tickets visit COCCentrestage.ca or call 416-363-8231.

At the sold-out Ensemble Studio Competition in 2012, six singers including barihunk Gordon Bintner, Charlotte Burrage, Aviva Fortunata, Clarence Frazer, Andrew Haji and Danielle MacMillan – were selected out of 10 finalists to join the 2013/2014 Ensemble Studio. Bintner was the First Prize Winner and People's Choice Award recipient.

We post a lot about young artists and vocal competitions because this site is dedicated to providing both PR support and financial support to emerging baritones. One way that you can assist us is by purchasing a Barihunks Charity Calendar. We receive $10 for every calendar that is sold and every penny goes to helping, supporting and promoting young artists. Buy yours today. They are great stocking stuffers, so order one for your yourself and a few for your friends! Click on the button below to order today.

Barihunks to compete in Canadian Opera Company Competition

Gordon Bintner

Ten Canadian singers, including three baritones, have been selected to compete for a place in the Canadian Opera Company's Ensemble Studio training program. The final ten participants were selected from a pool of 146 singers. Saskatchewan native Gordon Bintner, who has been featured on this site leads the pack of low voices, which also includes Ontario native Clarence Frazer and Prince Edward Island native Nathan Keoughan

The competition will be held on November 29th at the Richard Bradshaw Amphitheatre at the Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts in Toronto. The competition is open to the public. Tickets are $15 and be available for purchase online, by calling COC Ticket Services at 416-363-8231, or in person at the Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts Box Office, located at 145 Queen St. W., Monday to Saturday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Nathan Keoughan

Each finalist must perform two arias to showcase his or her vocal technique and range before an audience and panel of judges.  Organizers will award a first prize of $5,000, a second prize of $3,000, a third prize of $1,500 as well as a People’s Choice Award of $1,500.

The jury, headed by Canadian Opera Company general director Alexander Neef, will select an unspecified number of finalists to join the COC’s 2013/2014 Ensemble Studio. Graduates of the program include stars such as Ben Heppner, Isabel Bayrakdarian and David Pomeroy.

Other singers in the competition are mezzo-soprano Charlotte Burrag, soprano Aviva Fortunata, tenor Andrew Haji, mezzo-soprano Danielle MacMillan, tenor Michael Marino, soprano Lara Secord-Haid and soprano Kelsey Vicary.

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