Board of Directors
Artistic Director:
Spencer Duncanson
President / Secretary: Robert Campbell
Treasurer: Donnalynn Grills
Rob Herriot
Odette Heyn
Lisa Rumpel
Rory Runnells
Muriel Smith
Eldene Spencer
Artistic Director, Spencer
Duncanson
Spencer Duncanson grew up in Brooklyn,
New York where, as a child attending
performances at New York City’s Town Hall
Theatre, he was introduced to the world of
opera. These performances, along with an
innate love of music fed his passion for the arts
and later broadened his awareness of art’s
ability to change lives.
Since arriving in Canada, he has provided
invaluable local leadership through numerous
community contributions. Having served
previously as chair of the Winnipeg Arts Council,
volunteering on the board of The Winnipeg
Foundation where he chaired the Strategic
Initiatives Committee, he presently serves on the
boards of Agassiz Chamber Music Festival, The
Winnipeg School of Contemporary Dance and
Rainbow Stage. He is also very excited about his
involvement with a committee formed to design
and promote a Human Rights Forum.
Spencer Duncanson has been active in the
Manitoba Arts scene as a singer, actor
(stage/film), clinician, and arts administrator. His
initial calling was to arts education, an interest
that still percolates and influences his
involvements. Spencer completed his
undergraduate degree at Brooklyn College and
later combined work at University of Nevada -
Reno and the University of Manitoba to
complete his master’s degree concentrating in
performance and art education.
Spencer’s primary focusses these days are
centered around The Little Opera Company,
conducting the senior division of The Winnipeg
Boys’ Choir, teaching in his private studio along
with a variety of committee work.
Artistic Director /
Board of Directors
The Little Opera Company is a not-for-profit
charitable organization, whose mission is the
promotion of opera and the promotion of the
talented artists that contribute to the
production of opera in Winnipeg and Manitoba.
We have been producing operas, showcasing
the significant talents of local singers and
musicians since 1995. Our purpose is as much
about developing artists as it is about staging
operatic works: developing emerging vocalists
and instrumentalists, providing coaching and
practical experience within the context of its
productions, providing opportunities for artists
and artisans to advance their skills in the design
of costumes, sets and lighting, and developing
production personnel, by providing
opportunities to assist in productions The LOC
offers a unique opportunity to experience
chamber opera in English; opera that engages
individuals of diverse backgrounds. We are
committed to selecting repertoire that not only
provides accessible entertainment for
individuals who are new to the genre, but that
which is engaging and refreshing for seasoned
opera lovers. We also wish to offer educational
forays into realms of opera not frequently
explored within our community.