Spencer Duncanson, Artistic Director

Dear Friends, As the holiday season approaches, we invite you to step back with us into a simpler time—a time when the warmth of family and the spirit of Christmas were treasures beyond measure. The House Without a Christmas Tree is more than an opera; it is a heartfelt story of love, resilience, and the quiet magic that binds us together during the holidays. In this beautiful work by Royce Vavrek and Ricky Ian Gordon, we meet Addie Mills and her family as they navigate loss and longing, ultimately rediscovering the joy of connection. It reminds us that even in moments of absence, the true gift of Christmas lies not beneath a tree but within the bonds we share. We are thrilled to bring this touching story to life with an extraordinary cast and creative team. Our hope is that, as you join us, you will feel the embrace of music and memory—a celebration of tradition and togetherness that speaks to the heart of the season. Thank you for supporting The Little Opera Company and for allowing us to share this journey with you. May your holidays be filled with peace, warmth, and song. Spencer Duncanson Artistic Director The Little Opera Company

Rob Herriot, Director

When we hear the word Christmas, we often picture festive lights, swirling snow, and beautifully decorated trees. It’s a season of nostalgia and memories, of family and friends, of exchanging gifts and gathering for feasts. A time of celebration and joy. But we rarely stop to consider how Christmas feels for those who have experienced loss, or for those who have very little. For some, the season is a painful reminder of loved ones gone, financial hardship, or the ache of going without. The House Without a Christmas Tree explores this very theme. At its heart is the story of a man who has lost his wife, and the daughter who helps heal him by bringing Christmas joy back into their home. It reminds us that Christmas is, above all, a time of hope, renewal, and new beginnings. I remember asking myself in December 2020: Will this be a sad or happy Christmas memory? Isolated from family and friends, I faced the holiday alone. Yet I recalled past years filled with laughter, presents piled around a glowing tree, and the warmth of tradition. That memory sparked hope. I decorated, cooked a ham, and even wrapped a gift for myself. What could have been a lonely day became a beautiful memory. Once again, the magic of Christmas prevailed. This is the essence of The House Without a Christmas Tree: even in the face of loss and adversity, the joy of Christmas has the power to heal the most broken hearts. Rob Herriot, Director The House without a Christmas Tree

Armand Singh Birk, Music Director /

Conductor

One of two 2023 conducting fellows at the Tanglewood Music Center, Canadian conductor Armand Singh Birk recently completed a conducting fellowship with the Orchestre Métropolitain mentored by Yannick Nézet-Séguin. Having started university as a biology major, he only learned to read music after he found his love and passion for classical music and conducting in 2014. His primary teachers have been Jonathan Girard and Petar Dundjerski, and in addition, he has had the privilege of learning from Andris Nelsons, Stefan Asbury, Dima Slobodeniouk, Alexander Shelley, Xian Zhang, Dame Jane Glover, James Ross, and James Lowe. Recent and upcoming professional engagements include working with the Leipzig Gewandhaus Mendelssohn- Orchester Akademie, the Tanglewood Music Centre Orchestra, l’Orchestre Métropolitain, Atelier Lyrique de Montréal, the Saskatoon Symphony Orchestra, the Little Opera Company, the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra, and the River City Chamber Orchestra, which he founded in 2019. He is a devoted orchestral and operatic conductor who has dedicated his life to helping new audiences connect with music in life- changing ways.

Sara Schabas, Addie Mills

Praised for her “beautifully clear, light lyric soprano” (Ludwig Van), Sara Schabas has performed as a soloist on three continents. Nominated for the Dora Award for Outstanding Performance by an Individual, Sara is the 2024 winner of the Wirth Vocal Prize, a previous District Winner and Regional Encouragement Award Winner from the Metropolitan Opera Laffont Competition, a three- time laureate of the Jeunes Ambassadeurs Lyriques, and a recent alumna of Barbara Hannigan's Equilibrium Young Artists. An avid interpreter of new music, she enjoys close collaborations with composers including James Rolfe, Danika Lorèn, Cecilia Livingston, and Amy Brandon. The 2025/2026 season sees Sara in returns to the Little Opera Company of Winnipeg and debuts with the Victoria Philharmonic Choir in British Columbia, the Toronto Beach Chorale and Winnipeg’s Dead of Winter, and recital debuts for the Women’s Musical Club of Winnipeg and La Chapelle musicale du Bon-Pasteur in Montreal. In the spring, New Focus Records will release her recording of James Rolfe’s O Greenest Branch conducted by David Fallis as well as her performance of Amy Brandon’s The Bond, a song cycle written for her with poems by Miriam Waddington. Her first opera libretto, an adaptation of Christina Rossetti’s Goblin Market with music by Danika Lorèn, will be workshopped by the University of Toronto Opera School in January. Sara's previous career highlights include a recital tour of mainland China as well as residencies in Germany and France with the Jeunes Ambassadeurs Lyriques. She has premiered and performed roles for Vancouver Opera, Pacific Opera Victoria, Tapestry Opera, the Dayton Opera, Aspen Opera Centre and Loose Tea Music Theatre. Recent concert performances have included Messiah across Canada and the United States, Mahler's Fourth Symphony under the late Lorin Maazel at the Castleton Festival, James Whitbourn's Annelies with Kitchener's Grand Philharmonic Choir, and recitals in venues including the Zurich Opera House Spiegelsaal, Concerts Lachine and the COC's Richard Bradshaw Amphitheatre. She holds degrees from the University of Toronto and Roosevelt University with additional studies at Vienna’s Universität für Musik und darstellende Kunst, the Franz-Schubert-Institut, Highlands Opera Studio, the Aspen Opera Center, Toronto Summer Music Festival and the Castleton Festival. Sara is also a certified yoga teacher and a founding board member of the charity Sharing Notes, which brings free musical performances to hospitals and prisons. She is currently pursuing doctoral studies at McGill University researching the Austrian-Canadian mezzo- soprano, Emmy Heim, and is the editor of Art Song Canada e-magazine.

Donnalynn Grills, Grandma Mills

Mezzo soprano Donnalynn Grills is a versatile and engaging performer. Equally at home in opera, oratorio and musical theatre, Donnalynn has had the privilege of performing with several musical ensembles across Western Canada. She has been a guest soloist with the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra, the Manitoba Chamber Orchestra, the Vancouver Symphony, the Vancouver CBC Orchestra and the Regina Symphony Orchestra. Some of Donnalynn’s favourite stage credits include Berta – The Barber of Seville, Marcellina – Le Nozze de Figaro, Alisa - Lucia di Lammermoor, Mrs. McLean – Susannah, Annina – La Traviata, Mother Abbess – The Sound of Music, Mrs. Eynsford Hill – My Fair Lady, Madame Flora/Baba – The Medium, Mama Maddelena – Nine, Dinah – Trouble in Tahiti & Amahl’s Mother – Amahl & the Night Visitors as well as many roles with The Winnipeg Gilbert & Sullivan Society. She is also a proud member of The Winnipeg Singers and Dead of Winter providing her with opportunities to perform a wide variety of choral music. When not rehearsing for one performance or another, Donnalynn can be found at the U of M Desautels Faculty of Music as the program coordinator for the Prep Studies Division. She is also a proud “pawrent” to her wee westie, Joey. Wishing everyone a wonderful holiday season!!!

Lara Secord-Haid, Adult Addie Mills /

Helen Mills / Miss Thompson

Lara Secord-Haid is a versatile singing artist with a rich artistic practice. Her work as an opera and classical singing artist has been praised for its “impassioned strength” (Classical Scene) and for being “capable of the highest flights of coloratura and possessing a rich and expressive overall quality” (Attencion San Miguel). Lara explores a wide range of classically informed music, from the antique to contemporary. Lara’s operatic highlights include Frasquita in Carmen, Titania in The Fairy Queen by Henry Purcell, Governess in The Turn of the Screw at Nashville Opera; Micala in La Tragedie de Carmen with City Lyric Opera, Zerbinetta in Ariadne auf Naxos, Manhattan Opera Studio; Suor Genovieffa in Suor Angelica, Manhattan Opera Studio; Cendrillon in Cendrillon, New York Lyric Opera; Sophie in Werther, Manitoba Opera; Cendrillon in Cendrillon, New York Lyric Opera; Marzelline in Fidelio, Manitoba Opera; Miss Jessel in The Turn of the Screw, Opera on the Avalon; Miss Silverpeal in The Impresario for North Shore Music Festival, Tytania in A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Opera on the Avalon; Donna Elvira in Don Giovanni, Banff opera as Theatre; Giulia in La Scala di Seta, Juilliard opera; the Woodpecker in Janacek’s The Cunning Little Vixen, Juilliard opera; Marsinah in Kismet, Little Opera Winnipeg; Loon Returns: An environmental operetta by Daniel Janke, The Longest Night Society; Jessie Anderson in the new opera No One’s Safe by Lizée and Ivany; Silent Light by composer Paola Prestini and librettist Royce Vavrek. Lara holds a Master of Music from The Juilliard School and a Bachelor of Music from The New England Conservatory of Music. She was a fellow at the Internationale Meistersinger Akademie, attended Highlands Opera Studio, the Banff Center, the Conservatoire de Nice summer academy, and the Spoleto Vocal Arts Symposium. larasecordhaid.com

Dion Mazerolle, James “Dad”

Addison Mills III

Acadian baritone Dion Mazerolle has forged a solid reputation in Canada and Europe as an artist of the highest calibre. A former member of the Atelier lyrique de l'Opéra de Montréal, he is acclaimed for his musical finesse and strong stage presence, both in opera and in concert. Following his recent triumph as Alberich in Das Rheingold, in 2026 Dion returns to Edmonton Opera as Alberich in Siegfried and debuts with Calgary Opera as Dr. Bartolo in The Barber of Seville. Winnipeg audiences will see Dion as James in The Little Opera Company’s production of The House without a Christmas Tree (Vavrek/Gordon). Dion's recent and upcoming concert engagements include Bach’s Magnificat with Montreal’s Ensemble Caprice, Carmina Burana with Toronto’s Pax Christi Chorale, Haydn's Creation with Galileo Orchestre as well as Brahms’ Requiem with L’orchestre symphonique de l’Estuaire, Verdi’s Requiem with Toronto’s Kindred Spirits Orchestra and “A Canadian Valentine” with Confluence Concerts. Dion recently starred as Golaud in Debussy's Pelléas et Mélisande at the Teatri di Piacenza in Italy. In France, Dion debuted as le Roi de Trèfle in Prokofiev’s surreal opera L’Amour des trois oranges with Opera National de Lorraine in Nancy. Dion performed the role of Dr. Falke with Stratford Symphony in their concert version of Die Fledermaus and sang Zuniga in Carmen with Montreal’s Festival Classica.

Ashley Schneberger, Carla-Mae,

Addie's best friend

Originally from Cochrane, Alberta, is a dynamic mezzo-soprano with a passion for performance and a deep curiosity for musical growth. She earned her Master of Music in Vocal Performance from the University of Manitoba, studying under Tracy Dahl, and completed her Bachelor of Music at the University of Lethbridge under the guidance of Dr. Janet Youngdahl. Ashley has brought her enthusiasm and artistry to a wide range of roles, including Allecto in Monsters Made (Good Mess Opera Theatre), Alto House in Rocking Horse Winner (Manitoba Underground Opera), and Minskwoman in Flight (NUOVA Vocal Arts). With the University of Manitoba Opera Theatre, she performed as Augusta Tabor in The Ballad of Baby Doe, Madame de la Haltière in Cendrillon, and Ottone in L’incoronazione di Poppea. Her international experience includes performances with Chicago Summer Opera, where she appeared as Arnalta in L’incoronazione di Poppea and covered Dorabella in Così fan tutte. In 2024, Ashley appeared with the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra as Alto Soloist in Handel’s Messiah and A Traditional Christmas. Other concert highlights include Berlioz’s Les nuits d’été with the University of Manitoba Symphony Orchestra and St. John Passion with Dead of Winter and the Winnipeg Baroque Festival. Ashley received the prestigious Rose Bowl Trophy at the 2023 Winnipeg Music Festival, along with the George H. Price Memorial Scholarship and the Herbert & Audrey Belyea Trophy. She was also a finalist in the National CFMTA Voice Competition, earning the “Best Musical Diversity” prize for her performance of Métis composer Ian Cusson’s Where There’s a Wall. In addition to her performance work, Ashley is dedicated to arts education and maintains a private voice studio, where she helps singers of all levels develop their technique and confidence. Upcoming engagements include The House Without a Christmas Tree with The Little Opera Company.

Karyn Kumhyr, Stage Manager

Some of Karyn’s most recent shows in Winnipeg are Romeo and Juliet (RWB), Ma-Buhay! (Rainbow Stage), Little Women, The Secret to Good Tea, Three Musketeers (RMTC), End of the Line (TPM), and Feast (PTE). She has had the opportunity to work in theatres across Canada with highlights that include the Shaw Festival, Charlottetown Festival, Atlantic Theatre Festival, CanStage, The Grand Theatre, Citadel, ATP, Ship’s Company Theatre, and has even flown shows into remote communities for Manitoba Culture & Heritage on a Twin Otter float plane! Next up she will be off to Ontario for a production of the musical 42nd Street with Drayton Entertainment.

Abby Corpus, Gloria Cott

Canadian soprano Abby Corpus is currently based in Winnipeg, Manitoba, where she studies under Tracy Dahl as a Post-Baccalaureate student at the University of Manitoba. She holds a Bachelor of Music from the University of Victoria and has worked and performed in several major cities across Canada. Last season saw Abby in her Victoria Symphony solo debut as the Guest Vocalist in their Best of Broadway concert alongside Tony Award-nominated performer Melissa Errico and conducted by Sean O’Loughlin. In addition to her work as a performer, Abby has a wealth of experience in theatrical production and management and also works regularly as a voice teacher, music director, and theatre educator.

Jyoti Jhass, Billy Wild

Jyoti Jhass is a newcomer to the Winnipeg music scene and is pleased to be making his operatic stage debut with The Little Opera Company. An alumnus of The Winnipeg Boys’ Choir where he began his musical journey, he is now studying voice with noted soprano, Monica Huisman while working to complete his BA at the Desautels Faculty of Music. His concert performances included ‘A Traditional Christmas Concert with The Little Opera Company and Friends’, an event at which he performed two years consecutively. As a scholarship winner of The Little Opera Company, he has demonstrated a musicality and quality of voice that will touch the hearts of many listeners to come.