What is Fear No Opera?
An opera company in Victoria, B.C. for emerging artists, we offer opera that's up-close and accessible, brought to life by talented and vibrant performers.
Anne Grimm, internationally acclaimed soprano, speaks on behalf of Fear No Opera:
An opera company in Victoria, B.C. for emerging artists, we offer opera that's up-close and accessible, brought to life by talented and vibrant performers.
Anne Grimm, internationally acclaimed soprano, speaks on behalf of Fear No Opera:
What’s an emerging artist?
Fear No Opera’s singers have all completed music degrees and have extensive stage experience. The purpose of an emerging artists’ company is to provide opportunities to perform in staged productions as a bridge from formal studies to the full-time professional world of singing.
Fear No Opera's Artists
Amy Steggles
Amy Steggles has sung in Germany, Italy and from coast to coast in Canada. Praised for her warm sound and powerfully expressive performance, notable roles include Fiordiligi from Così fan tutte, Norina from Don Pasquale, and Gretel from Hänsel und Gretel. A versatile performer, Amy is equally at home singing opera, operetta, oratorio and art song.
As FNO co-founder, Amy's ambition is to share the magic of the music, and the story behind it, with as many people as possible.
Learn more about Amy by checking out her website.
As FNO co-founder, Amy's ambition is to share the magic of the music, and the story behind it, with as many people as possible.
Learn more about Amy by checking out her website.
Neil Reimer
Baritone and FNO co-founder Neil Reimer is an accomplished performer with captivating stage presence and comedic flair.
Neil's opera credits include Don Polidoro in FNO's Canadian premiere of Cimarosa's L'Italiana in Londra, Don Alfonso in Mozart's Cosi fan tutte, Dr. Malatesta in Donizetti's Don Pasquale, Demetrius in Britten’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Antonio in Mozart’s The Marriage of Figaro, Simone in Puccini’s Gianni Schicchi, Grandpa Moss in Copland’s The Tender Land and Mr. Olsen in Weill’s Street Scene. Neil has also played the Commandante in Puccini’s Manon Lescaut with Pacific Opera Victoria. He performed the role of Jim Wilson in the first-ever staging of scenes from Robert Wilson’s Canadian opera The Brideship with Winnipeg's Contemporary Opera Lab. Aside from FNO, Neil has performed with Opera Nuova, Halifax Summer Opera Workshop, and Winnipeg's Contemporary Opera Lab as well as chorus with Pacific Opera Victoria. His oratorio credits include Pilate and Peter in Bach’s St. John Passion.
Neil completed his Bachelor of Music in Voice at the University of Victoria in 2007. He studies with Kathleen Brett in Victoria and Roberta Cunningham in Berlin.
Neil's opera credits include Don Polidoro in FNO's Canadian premiere of Cimarosa's L'Italiana in Londra, Don Alfonso in Mozart's Cosi fan tutte, Dr. Malatesta in Donizetti's Don Pasquale, Demetrius in Britten’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Antonio in Mozart’s The Marriage of Figaro, Simone in Puccini’s Gianni Schicchi, Grandpa Moss in Copland’s The Tender Land and Mr. Olsen in Weill’s Street Scene. Neil has also played the Commandante in Puccini’s Manon Lescaut with Pacific Opera Victoria. He performed the role of Jim Wilson in the first-ever staging of scenes from Robert Wilson’s Canadian opera The Brideship with Winnipeg's Contemporary Opera Lab. Aside from FNO, Neil has performed with Opera Nuova, Halifax Summer Opera Workshop, and Winnipeg's Contemporary Opera Lab as well as chorus with Pacific Opera Victoria. His oratorio credits include Pilate and Peter in Bach’s St. John Passion.
Neil completed his Bachelor of Music in Voice at the University of Victoria in 2007. He studies with Kathleen Brett in Victoria and Roberta Cunningham in Berlin.
Kassandra Schantz
Kassandra Schantz is a mezzo-soprano from Westlock, AB. She grew up performing
musical theatre and then she discovered opera. She completed her BMus, majoring in
vocal performance at the University of Victoria under the guidance of Benjamin
Butterfield. During her degree, she performed as Tessa in Opera NUOVA’s production of the Gondoliers and as Marcellina in the Victoria Conservatory’s production of Nozze di Figaro. She is a choral scholar at Christ Church Cathedral and the Emerging Young Artist for Ensemble Laude. In the fall she will be starting her Masters at the University of Ottawa. As an aspiring opera singer, her dream is to one day sing at Teatro alla Scala.
musical theatre and then she discovered opera. She completed her BMus, majoring in
vocal performance at the University of Victoria under the guidance of Benjamin
Butterfield. During her degree, she performed as Tessa in Opera NUOVA’s production of the Gondoliers and as Marcellina in the Victoria Conservatory’s production of Nozze di Figaro. She is a choral scholar at Christ Church Cathedral and the Emerging Young Artist for Ensemble Laude. In the fall she will be starting her Masters at the University of Ottawa. As an aspiring opera singer, her dream is to one day sing at Teatro alla Scala.
Nolan Kehler
Hailing from small-town southern Manitoba, tenor Nolan Kehler brings a passion and energy to the stage that is tangible and infectious for an audience. Nolan studies with Benjamin Butterfield at the University of Victoria, where he is pursuing a Masters in Music in vocal performance. His most recent appearances have included the tenor soloist in the Victoria Philharmonic Choir’s performance of Puccini’s Messa di Gloria, and in the title role of the Halifax Summer Opera Festival’s production of Albert Herring. Nolan has also enjoyed two performances with the Victoria Baroque Players in their 2017/2018 season singing the cantatas of J.S. Bach. This summer will see Nolan performing in his third season with Opera NUOVA in Edmonton, performing the roles of Valère in Kirke Mechem’s Tartuffe and as Jack in Into the Woods. When he isn’t performing music, Nolan enjoys spending quiet evenings on a back deck listening to records, or else catching the ball game on TV. Nolan is thrilled to be making his debut with Fear No Opera!
Bree Horton
Mezzo Soprano, Bree Horton, is thrilled to be back on Vancouver Island after her recent move to Toronto, Ontario, to share this exquisite Duparc repertoire.
A graduate of the New England Conservatory in Boston, some of Bree's favourite roles include Naomi (Ruth) with Arcady, Mercédès (cover) (Carmen) with Brott Opera, The Witch (Hansel and Gretel) with Opera Nanaimo, Dorabella (Cosi fan tutte) at the Halifax Summer Opera Festival, Miss Todd (The Old Maid and the Thief) with Fear No Opera, and Mrs. Herring (Albert Herring) at the New England Conservatory.
A graduate of the New England Conservatory in Boston, some of Bree's favourite roles include Naomi (Ruth) with Arcady, Mercédès (cover) (Carmen) with Brott Opera, The Witch (Hansel and Gretel) with Opera Nanaimo, Dorabella (Cosi fan tutte) at the Halifax Summer Opera Festival, Miss Todd (The Old Maid and the Thief) with Fear No Opera, and Mrs. Herring (Albert Herring) at the New England Conservatory.
Braden Young
Born in Grand Forks, BC, Braden Young began studying piano at the age of seven. He entered the Camosun College Piano Performance Diploma Program with Dr. Jamie Syer at age 16 and graduated two
years later winning the prestigious Irving K. Barber Scholarship. He completed his undergraduate degree in Music Scholarship (Piano) at UBC in the studio of Dr. Corey Hamm. Braden studied with Steven Philcox
at the University of Toronto and completed his Master’s Degree (2016) in Collaborative Piano.
Braden has won many solo and collaborative piano awards including: The Women’s Musical Club of Toronto Foundation Graduate Fellowship (2014-2016), the Philcox Collaborative Piano Scholarship
(2014-2015) and a University Fellowship (2014-2016). He has also been the collaborative pianist for two
recent winners of the Roberto and Mary Wood Scholarship (2012/2014). Two years ago, Braden had the
privilege of attending the Centre for Opera Studies in Italy as a collaborative pianist.
Having returned to Victoria to pursue a career in music, Braden divides his time between accompanying
community and church choirs, collaborative piano at the Victoria Conservatory of Music, private vocal
coaching and making music with individual artists and ensembles throughout the city.
years later winning the prestigious Irving K. Barber Scholarship. He completed his undergraduate degree in Music Scholarship (Piano) at UBC in the studio of Dr. Corey Hamm. Braden studied with Steven Philcox
at the University of Toronto and completed his Master’s Degree (2016) in Collaborative Piano.
Braden has won many solo and collaborative piano awards including: The Women’s Musical Club of Toronto Foundation Graduate Fellowship (2014-2016), the Philcox Collaborative Piano Scholarship
(2014-2015) and a University Fellowship (2014-2016). He has also been the collaborative pianist for two
recent winners of the Roberto and Mary Wood Scholarship (2012/2014). Two years ago, Braden had the
privilege of attending the Centre for Opera Studies in Italy as a collaborative pianist.
Having returned to Victoria to pursue a career in music, Braden divides his time between accompanying
community and church choirs, collaborative piano at the Victoria Conservatory of Music, private vocal
coaching and making music with individual artists and ensembles throughout the city.
Nathan McDonald
Canadian-American baritone, Nathan David McDonald, is an artist committed to fostering connection and cultivating beauty through the vocal arts. Often lauded for his vocal versatility, Nathan commands a repertoire spanning several centuries, from Renaissance Polyphony to Modern Opera. With a diverse musical background, including a degree in trumpet and seven years as a church Music Director, Nathan brings a wealth of experience and musicianship to his craft.
Active as an oratorio singer, Nathan has appeared with a variety of West Coast ensembles such as the Pacific Baroque Orchestra, Victoria Baroque Players, Cowichan Consort, and Vox Humana Chamber Choir. 2016-2017 season highlights included Handel's Joshua and Mozart's Requiem with the Victoria Choral Society, Monteverdi's Vespers with the Victoria Philharmonic Choir, Bach's St. John Passion with the Victoria Baroque Players, Bach's Magnificat with the Sook Philharmonic, the debut of a recently uncovered cantata by Graupner at the Pacific Baroque Festival, a solo recital featuring Brahms' Four Serious Songs, and a concert of Venetian choral music with the Tallis Scholars under Peter Philips in New York City.
Recent operatic highlights include Nathan's mainstage debut with Pacific Opera Victoria (POV) as Fiorello in Rossini's Barber of Seville; solo chorus in the POV's school touring production of Mary's Wedding by Andrew Macdonald; performing the role of Papageno in POV's Living Opera in schools program; and singing the role of Marcello in Puccini's La Bohème at Edmonton's NUOVA festival. Other operatic roles include Il Conte (Le Nozze di Figaro - Mozart), Dandini (La Cenerentola – Rossini), Don Alfonso (Cosi fan tutte – Mozart), Marco (Gianni Schicchi – Puccini), Colas (Bastien und Bastienne – Mozart), and Mr. Gobineau (The Medium – Menotti).
Nathan has presented recitals in Canada and the United States, and has sung professionally in choirs on 4 continents. A veteran of youth-oriented choral projects, Nathan has sung several times with the National Youth Choir of Canada and World Youth Choir, as well as the Carnegie Hall Chamber Choir (New York, NY), JSB Ensemble (Stuttgart, Germany), and Academia Internacional Teatro del Lago (Chile). Nathan is a member of the Voice Factuly at the Victoria Conservatory of Music, and is mentored by soprano, Nancy Argenta.
Active as an oratorio singer, Nathan has appeared with a variety of West Coast ensembles such as the Pacific Baroque Orchestra, Victoria Baroque Players, Cowichan Consort, and Vox Humana Chamber Choir. 2016-2017 season highlights included Handel's Joshua and Mozart's Requiem with the Victoria Choral Society, Monteverdi's Vespers with the Victoria Philharmonic Choir, Bach's St. John Passion with the Victoria Baroque Players, Bach's Magnificat with the Sook Philharmonic, the debut of a recently uncovered cantata by Graupner at the Pacific Baroque Festival, a solo recital featuring Brahms' Four Serious Songs, and a concert of Venetian choral music with the Tallis Scholars under Peter Philips in New York City.
Recent operatic highlights include Nathan's mainstage debut with Pacific Opera Victoria (POV) as Fiorello in Rossini's Barber of Seville; solo chorus in the POV's school touring production of Mary's Wedding by Andrew Macdonald; performing the role of Papageno in POV's Living Opera in schools program; and singing the role of Marcello in Puccini's La Bohème at Edmonton's NUOVA festival. Other operatic roles include Il Conte (Le Nozze di Figaro - Mozart), Dandini (La Cenerentola – Rossini), Don Alfonso (Cosi fan tutte – Mozart), Marco (Gianni Schicchi – Puccini), Colas (Bastien und Bastienne – Mozart), and Mr. Gobineau (The Medium – Menotti).
Nathan has presented recitals in Canada and the United States, and has sung professionally in choirs on 4 continents. A veteran of youth-oriented choral projects, Nathan has sung several times with the National Youth Choir of Canada and World Youth Choir, as well as the Carnegie Hall Chamber Choir (New York, NY), JSB Ensemble (Stuttgart, Germany), and Academia Internacional Teatro del Lago (Chile). Nathan is a member of the Voice Factuly at the Victoria Conservatory of Music, and is mentored by soprano, Nancy Argenta.