About Camille
Performer
A dynamic interpreter of opera, concert works, and musical theatre, specializing in historically informed performance
Researcher
Investigating how problematic historical works of music theatre can be transformed and made relevant through the bodies of modern queer performers
Educator
Committed to imparting a passion for thoughtful and informed performance to students and young musicians
Biography
Mezzo-soprano Camille Rogers (they/them) has been praised for their “tremendous stage presence” and “real flair for comedy” as well as their “gathered sound” and the “striking clarity" of their coloratura. In 2019 Camille appeared as Aeneas with OperaQ (Dido and Aeneas), and as Suli/Suzie in Buddies in Bad Times’s world premiere of Pomegranate. Previous engagements include the role of Lake in FAWN's collectively improvised techno opera, Belladonna, Young Girl with Opera Atelier (Marriage of Figaro), and the title role in L’Italiana in Algeri with MYOpera. Camille has been featured as a soloist with the Toronto Bach Festival, Centric MusicFest, and Cor Unum Ensemble. They hold both a Master of Music and a Master of Arts in Musicology from the University of Toronto, and have been the recipient of several major academic awards, including the Joseph-Armand Bombardier Canada Graduate Scholarship, the Alberta Heritage Fund Arts Graduate Scholarship, and the Janet Stubbs Graduate Fellowship in Opera. Camille currently studies at the University of Toronto, pursuing a Doctor of Musical Arts with a Collaborative Specialization in Sexual Diversity Studies. Their research investigates how potentially problematic historical works of music theatre can be transformed and made relevant to today's audiences through the bodies of modern queer performers. Camille is a founding member of Cor Unum Ensemble and Co-Artistic Director of Toronto’s queer opera collective OperaQ.
Select Performance Credits
Suli/Suzie (Pomegranate- Marshall) - Buddies in Bad Times (2019)
Director: Michael Mori
Music Director: Jennifer Tung
Aeneas (Dido and Aeneas- Purcell) - OperaQ (2019)
Director: Madison Angus
"She Shines on the Earth" Solo Recital - Centric MusicFest (2018)
Artistic Director: Ryan Kolodziej
Lake (Belladonna) - FAWN Chamber Creative (2018)
Director: Amanda Smith
Alto (Stabat Mater- Pergolesi) - Cor Unum Ensemble (2018)
Artistic Director: Ruth Denton
Young Girl (The Marriage of Figaro- Mozart) - Opera Atelier (2017)
Director: Marshall Pynkoski
Music Director: David Fallis
Isabella (L'Italiana in Algeri- Rossini) - MYOpera (2017)
Director: Anna Theodosakis
Music Director: Natasha Fransblow
Alto (St. Mark Passion- Bach) Toronto Bach Festival (2017)
Music Director: John Abberger
Tirinto (Imeneo- Handel) U of T Opera (2017)
Director: Tim Albery
Music Director: Dan Taylor
Alto (Gloria- Vivaldi) Schola Cantorum (2016)
Music Director: Paul McCreesh
Public Presentations
Post-Performance Panel (The Queen in Me) Amplified Opera (2019)
"L'Eraclito Amoroso" Lecture and Performance (2018)
Nikka Yuko Japanese Garden
Baroque Dance Workshop (2018)
Lethbridge Registered Music Teachers' Association
Publications
"Listening for a Queer Utopia: Unexpected Pleasures in Baroque Castrato Roles." Whatever: A transdisciplinary journal of queer theories and studies 2, no. 1 (2019).
Education, Awards & Scholarships
Doctor of Musical Arts - University of Toronto (2019-present)
Joseph-Armand Bombardier Canada Graduate Scholarship (2019)
Master of Arts, Musicology - University of Toronto (2017-present)
Jack Hallam Award of Excellence (2018)
Ontario Graduate Scholarship (2018)
Master of Music, Music Performance (Opera) - University of Toronto (2017)
SSHRC Canadian Graduate Scholarship - Masters (2016)
Janet Stubbs Graduate Fellowship in Opera (2015)
Alberta Heritage Fund Arts Graduate Scholarship (2015)
University of Lethbridge Faculty of Fine Arts Gold Medal (2015)
Bachelor of Music with Great Distinction - University of Lethbridge (2015)
Current Positions
Co-Artistic Director - OperaQ
Teaching Assistant - University of Toronto
Research Assistant - University of Toronto
Private Instructor - Voice & Theory
Past Positions
Gender Diversity Consultant - Opera Laurier (2019)
Opera Division Assistant - U of T Opera (2016-2017)
Music Director - Lethbridge Shakespeare in the Park (2015)
Senior Student Instructor - University of Lethbridge Conservatory (2014-2015)
Programming Intern - Lethbridge Symphony Orchestra (2013-2015)