The Little Opera Company proudly continues its 30th anniversary season with a moving tribute to the trailblazing Black Divas who shaped the operatic
world, further illuminated by a tribute to the dream of Martin Luther King, Jr.
Dates: Friday, March 14, 2025 at 7:00 PM Saturday, March 15, 2025 at 7:00 PM Location: St. Andrew’s River Heights United Church (255 Oak Street, Winnipeg, Manitoba) Ticket Information: General Admission (Adults & Seniors): $35 Students (13+): $30 Seniors: $25 Social Circle $120 (4 General Admission Tickets - Save $20!) Be captivated by the soaring voices of Jonelle Sills and Erin Cheeseborough as they bring to life the stories of these unsung heroines. Feel the spirit of solidarity and hope as The LOC Ensemble pays homage to the vision of MLK through powerful music and storytelling. Jonelle Sills was named one of York University’s 2022 “Top 30 Alumni Under 30” and in 2020 was one of “Canada’s 30 Hot Classical Musicians Under 30” by CBC Music. Erin Cheeseborough has worked with renowned experts from the world’s leading institutions, including the Metropolitan Opera, Washington National Opera, Chicago Lyric Opera, Santa Fe Opera, Glimmerglass, and Florida Grand Opera. This concert is a highlight of our milestone 30th season—a celebration of artistry, resilience, and community. Don't miss this unforgettable evening of operatic excellence and inspiration. Join us in honoring the voices of the past and the dream that continues to inspire.
Erin Cheeseborough
Lyric soprano, Erin Cheeseborough, is a native of Tallahassee, Florida. In the summer of 2024, Erin performed the role of Sister Rose in Jake Heggie’s Dead Man Walking for the Miami Classical Music Festival. Also, in the summer of 2024 Ms. Cheeseborough covered the role of Lady Billows in Benjamin Britton’s Albert Herring for the Chicago Summer Opera. In 2022 Erin performed the role of Micaëla in Bizet’s Carmen at the Miami Classical Music Festival. The South Florida Classical Review said of her performance, “One of the standouts of the evening was Erin Cheeseborough as Micaëla. Her Act III aria, “je dis que rien ne m’épouvante” soared with an emotionally charged rendition, communicating where Micaëla finds strength after being deeply hurt by Don José.” In prior summers, while attending the Harrower Summer Opera Workshop, Ms. Cheeseborough performed Santuzza in Mascagni’s Cavalleria Rusticana, and Cio-cio san in Puccini’s Madame Butterfly in several opera scenes performances. Other roles in Ms. Cheeseborough’s repertoire include The Mother in Amahl and the Night Visitors, La tasse chinoise in L'enfant et les sortileges, and Donna Anna in Mozart’s Don Giovanni. Erin has also been a member of the ensemble for Opera Tampa’s La bohème, as well as for Opera Orlando in their productions of La Traviata and Carmen. Ms. Cheeseborough is a graduate of the College of Music at Florida State University where she earned a Bachelor of Arts in Music.Jonelle Sills
Canadian Soprano Jonelle Sills (pr. Ya-Nell) is one of the most exciting young sopranos of her generation. Recently nominated for a 2025 JUNO Award with The Canadian Art Song Project for Classical Album of the Year for Known to Dreamers: Black Voices in Canadian Art Song. Named one of CBC Music’s 30 Hot classical musicians under 30 in 2022. Jonelle recently made her company debut at the Canadian Opera Company as Mimi in La bohème, a performance that was lauded as being a “beautifully sensitive Mimi with careful control and colour” (The Globe and Mail). Past highlights include Rosalinde (Die Fledermaus) and Donna Anna (Don Giovanni) with Edmonton Opera, Micaëla (Carmen) and Helena (A Midsummer Night’s Dream) with Vancouver Opera, Anna Glawari (The Merry Widow) with Toronto Operetta Theatre and, in recital for the Prince Edward County Chamber Festival with the Viano Quartet. Her company debut with Toronto’s Against The Grain Theatre in Vivier’s Kopernikus earned her a 2019 Dora Award as a member of the ensemble.
Watch the Classic 107
interview
We were thrilled to sit down with Nolan Kehler from Classic 107 FM
for an in-depth interview about the upcoming performance and the
significance of this tribute. Check out the full interview here -->
Read all about it in the University of Winnipeg’s Uniter Paper
The Little Opera Company proudly continues its 30th
anniversary season with a moving tribute to the
trailblazing Black Divas who shaped the operatic
world, further illuminated by a tribute to the dream of
Martin Luther King, Jr.
Dates: Friday, March 14, 2025 at 7:00 PM Saturday, March 15, 2025 at 7:00 PM Location: St. Andrew’s River Heights United Church (255 Oak Street, Winnipeg, Manitoba) Ticket Information: General Admission (Adults & Seniors): $35 Students (13+): $30 Seniors: $25 Social Circle $120 (4 General Admission Tickets - Save $20!) Be captivated by the soaring voices of Jonelle Sills and Erin Cheeseborough as they bring to life the stories of these unsung heroines. Feel the spirit of solidarity and hope as The LOC Ensemble pays homage to the vision of MLK through powerful music and storytelling. Jonelle Sills was named one of York University’s 2022 “Top 30 Alumni Under 30” and in 2020 was one of “Canada’s 30 Hot Classical Musicians Under 30” by CBC Music. Erin Cheeseborough has worked with renowned experts from the world’s leading institutions, including the Metropolitan Opera, Washington National Opera, Chicago Lyric Opera, Santa Fe Opera, Glimmerglass, and Florida Grand Opera. This concert is a highlight of our milestone 30th season—a celebration of artistry, resilience, and community. Don't miss this unforgettable evening of operatic excellence and inspiration. Join us in honoring the voices of the past and the dream that continues to inspire.
Erin Cheeseborough
Lyric soprano, Erin Cheeseborough, is a native of Tallahassee, Florida. In the summer of 2024, Erin performed the role of Sister Rose in Jake Heggie’s Dead Man Walking for the Miami Classical Music Festival. Also, in the summer of 2024 Ms. Cheeseborough covered the role of Lady Billows in Benjamin Britton’s Albert Herring for the Chicago Summer Opera. In 2022 Erin performed the role of Micaëla in Bizet’s Carmen at the Miami Classical Music Festival. The South Florida Classical Review said of her performance, “One of the standouts of the evening was Erin Cheeseborough as Micaëla. Her Act III aria, “je dis que rien ne m’épouvante” soared with an emotionally charged rendition, communicating where Micaëla finds strength after being deeply hurt by Don José.” In prior summers, while attending the Harrower Summer Opera Workshop, Ms. Cheeseborough performed Santuzza in Mascagni’s Cavalleria Rusticana, and Cio-cio san in Puccini’s Madame Butterfly in several opera scenes performances. Other roles in Ms. Cheeseborough’s repertoire include The Mother in Amahl and the Night Visitors, La tasse chinoise in L'enfant et les sortileges, and Donna Anna in Mozart’s Don Giovanni. Erin has also been a member of the ensemble for Opera Tampa’s La bohème, as well as for Opera Orlando in their productions of La Traviata and Carmen. Ms. Cheeseborough is a graduate of the College of Music at Florida State University where she earned a Bachelor of Arts in Music.Jonelle Sills
Canadian Soprano Jonelle Sills (pr. Ya-Nell) is one of the most exciting young sopranos of her generation. Recently nominated for a 2025 JUNO Award with The Canadian Art Song Project for Classical Album of the Year for Known to Dreamers: Black Voices in Canadian Art Song. Named one of CBC Music’s 30 Hot classical musicians under 30 in 2022. Jonelle recently made her company debut at the Canadian Opera Company as Mimi in La bohème, a performance that was lauded as being a “beautifully sensitive Mimi with careful control and colour” (The Globe and Mail). Past highlights include Rosalinde (Die Fledermaus) and Donna Anna (Don Giovanni) with Edmonton Opera, Micaëla (Carmen) and Helena (A Midsummer Night’s Dream) with Vancouver Opera, Anna Glawari (The Merry Widow) with Toronto Operetta Theatre and, in recital for the Prince Edward County Chamber Festival with the Viano Quartet. Her company debut with Toronto’s Against The Grain Theatre in Vivier’s Kopernikus earned her a 2019 Dora Award as a member of the ensemble.
Watch the
Classic 107
interview
We were thrilled to sit down with Nolan Kehler
from Classic 107 FM for an in-depth interview
about the upcoming performance and the
significance of this tribute. Check out the full
interview here -->
Read all about it in the
University of Winnipeg’s Uniter
Paper
