Bud Roach, Tenor
Described by Opera Canada as having an "attractive, bright sound", Bud Roach has quickly made a name for himself as a performer of both early music and the contemporary. Beginning his career as an oboist, he began singing tenor in 2005, and since that time has performed with many of Canada's finest ensembles.
After earning a Master of Music degree from Yale University in oboe performance, Bud performed frequently with the orchestras of the National Ballet of Canada, the Canadian Opera Company, and Orchestra London. From 1997-2004 he held Oboe and English Horn positions in the United States, with the Toledo Symphony Orchestra, Michigan Opera Theater, and the Buffalo Philharmonic.
After earning a Master of Music degree from Yale University in oboe performance, Bud performed frequently with the orchestras of the National Ballet of Canada, the Canadian Opera Company, and Orchestra London. From 1997-2004 he held Oboe and English Horn positions in the United States, with the Toledo Symphony Orchestra, Michigan Opera Theater, and the Buffalo Philharmonic.
Since his invitation by Lydia Adams in 2005 to join the Elmer Iseler Singers, Bud has had many solo opportunities with that ensemble, including the role of "Trickster" in the Melissa Hui/Tomson Highway opera The Journey, the first opera in the Cree language (Soundstreams Canada). This performance prompted the Toronto Star to declare him a "must-hear lyric tenor". The Globe and Mail was equally enthusiastic: "Bud Roach was superb…this oboist-turned-singer not only has a beautiful lyric tenor, but is a natural on stage".
In concert, he has appeared with the Toronto Consort, Soundstreams, The Toronto Chamber Choir, the Grand River Baroque Festival, the Ottawa Choral Society, the Amadeus Choir, Arcady, the Tallis Choir, the Toronto Continuo Collective, and the Jerusalem Early Music Workshop, performing the title role in Carissimi's Jephte. Bud has been a frequent soloist with the Aradia Ensemble, earning critical praise from the American Record Guide and BarnesandNoble.com for the Naxos label recording of Handel's Israel in Egypt. A second Naxos recording (Samuel Arnold's ballad opera Polly) will be released in May of 2010. On the operatic stage, Bud has appeared with Opera Atelier, the Canadian Opera Company, and performed the role of Tamino in Mozart's Die Zauberflote in Fidenza, Italy.
Recent projects include the Canadian premiere of Andrew Staniland's "Calamus 6" (Walt Whitman) as part of the Canadian Music Centre's "Intimate Spaces" project at Toronto's Nuit Blanche Festival. Bud also attended the Britten-Pears School at Aldeburgh for performances of the St. John Passion with Mark Padmore, and performed Bach's B Minor Mass at the Canadian Bach Festival in South Huron.
In 2009 Bud formed the ensemble Capella Intima, which received a very enthusiastic welcome to the early music scene. This ensemble specializes in the sacred music of the 17th century. Further information can be found at http://www.capellaintima.com
His work with Lucas Harris and the Toronto Continuo Collective has led to a keen interest in the lost art of the self-accompanied musician. With the generous assistance of the Canada Council, studies on the theorbo and baroque guitar have led to performances at the American Bach Soloists Summer Academy, as well as frequent appearances in Toronto, including Capella Intima.
Recent projects include the Canadian premiere of Andrew Staniland's "Calamus 6" (Walt Whitman) as part of the Canadian Music Centre's "Intimate Spaces" project at Toronto's Nuit Blanche Festival. Bud also attended the Britten-Pears School at Aldeburgh for performances of the St. John Passion with Mark Padmore, and performed Bach's B Minor Mass at the Canadian Bach Festival in South Huron.
In 2009 Bud formed the ensemble Capella Intima, which received a very enthusiastic welcome to the early music scene. This ensemble specializes in the sacred music of the 17th century. Further information can be found at http://www.capellaintima.com
His work with Lucas Harris and the Toronto Continuo Collective has led to a keen interest in the lost art of the self-accompanied musician. With the generous assistance of the Canada Council, studies on the theorbo and baroque guitar have led to performances at the American Bach Soloists Summer Academy, as well as frequent appearances in Toronto, including Capella Intima.
Highlights for the 2011-2012 season will include a concert of English anthems with the Aradia Ensemble, a concert of duos and dialogues with the Musicians in Ordinary, performances of Handel's Messiah with the Bach Elgar Choir, London Fanshawe singers, the Gerald Fagan Singers, and Arcady, and motets by Rosenmuller with the Toronto Consort. Please address all enquiries to Nancy Knowles of Gossage Artists (nancy@gossageartists.com)