2025 Adjudicators

Soprano Allison Cecilia Arends is noted for her "lyrical upper tones" and "empathetic acting" (Opera Canada), as well as voice that is "stunningly beautiful [and is] used with great sensitivity" (Hnatyshyn Foundation). Allison is a graduate of Calgary Opera's Emerging Artist Program, and holds a Master of Music from the University of Toronto Opera School and a Bachelor of Music from the University of Victoria Voice Performance Program. Having performed across Canada, the United States, Germany, Austria, Italy, England, Israel, and China, she is an avid interpreter of opera, oratorio, and new music. Allison has performed most of the major Oratorio works with orchestras throughout Canada, and roles of note include the title role in Lucia di Lammermoor, Gilda in Rigoletto, Violetta in La Traviata, Adina in L'elisir d'amore, both Adele and Rosalinda in Die Fledermaus, Musetta in La Bohème, Lauretta in Gianni Schicchi, Cleopatra in Giulio Cesare, and new compositions in productions with Soundstreams and Tapestry Opera. Allison toured with the Brahms Symphony Orchestra across China in a series of Viennese concerts, and was honoured to perform at Rideau Hall, as well as for International Dignitaries in Calgary and Toronto.

She has been the recipient of numerous awards and grants, including the Hnatyshyn Foundation Artist's Grant, a Metropolitan Opera Encouragement Award, a B.C Arts Council Senior Award, and prizes through the Spazio Musica opera competition in Italy, the Barrie Alexander international voice competition, and the Joy in Singing art song competition in New York, among others.

In addition to her performing, Allison maintains a busy private music studio in Toronto, is frequently engaged as a clinician in master classes and choral workshops, is a voice examiner for the Royal Conservatory of Music, and regularly adjudicates music festivals from coast to coast. Many of her students have gone on to study at secondary arts schools in Toronto and prestigious post-secondary programs in Canada, the U.S, and Europe, have won numerous prizes at local and provincial music festivals and competitions, and have professional careers in opera, musical theatre, and as singer-songwriters.

She lives in Toronto with her beloved husband and dog. A great lover of nature, she is an active pursuant of outdoor activities and sports.