Highlands Opera Studio

Valerie Kuinka & Richard Margison

Photo courtesy of Brendan Friesen

Valerie Kuinka and Richard Margison spend their summers in the Haliburton area where they operate Highlands Opera Studio. It is a 5-week intensive program providing advanced professional training, highly specialized coaching, and international networking opportunities.

Valerie brings a wealth of experience and unique creativity. The list of artists who she has collaborated with is extensive: Placido Domingo, Anna Netrebko, Roberto Alagna, Richard Margison, Jose Cura, Nathan Gunn, Matthew Polenzani, Veronica Tennant, Rex Harrington, Quartetto Gelato, Alannah Myles, Frank Moore and Shauna Rolston.

Richard is one of the most critically acclaimed opera singers from Canada. An Officer of the Order of Canada, the recipient of three honorary doctorates, two life-time achievement awards and the Royal Conservatory of Music’s highest honour, the Honorary Fellowship. Richard has performed as a principal artist over the past 3 decades in the worlds leading opera houses including 15 consecutive years at the Metropolitan Opera, La Scala, the Royal Opera House Covent Garden, Deutsche Opera Berlin, Vienna Staatsoper, San Francisco Opera, Opera Australia (Sydney Opera House), the Liceu (Barcelona), La Monnaie (Brussels), Opera de Montreal, Opera de Quebec, Vancouver Opera, Calgary Opera, Manitoba Opera, Edmonton Opera and the Canadian Opera Company.

Valerie and Richard love the Kawarthas. “The natural beauty of the lakes and hills, we enjoy it all while making music,” says Richard. Valerie adds, “We bought the property and originally thought of it as a sanctuary to rest from our busy schedules, but we set up the Studio and have never worked harder.”

Richard got his start in music playing rock and roll. “I was always mimicking opera and rock and roll singers. I had my first voice lessons in high school and became the Tenor soloist in the church choir. I gave up rock and roll and went to the University of Victoria and auditioned for the performance major in voice.

After the first year, I wanted to go straight into the vocal program but was turned down as they said I wasn’t good enough. So I left there and went to the Victoria Conservatory,” he says.

Valerie adds, “THEY SAID HE WASN’T GOOD ENOUGH! (she laughs) He also started off with a big career in Pop. His group performed for the Queen and all kinds of high profile events in their teens and it’s such a cool start to such an illustrious operatic career. I mean singing is singing.” Richard continues, “On my 16th birthday I sang for the Royal Family in Victoria and sang for the Queen quite a few times both as a Pop singer and an Operatic singer, which is kind of cool. I was The Folk Singing Opera Star (a documentary available on Youtube), which is the story of my life. I also worked with Bruce Cockburn and did a video of his tune Lovers in a Dangerous Time.”

Their daughter, Lauren, works with the Canadian Opera Company, and sings with her father in a show called Back to Back. Richard says, “We don’t do that very much as she is busy with the Canadian Opera Company but she also started from the Pop culture and ended up in the Operatic world, which is ironic. I always told her there’s more money in Pop” (he laughs).

Valerie is equally as interesting. She says, “I’ve had various incarnations, so to speak. I started my career as a professional classical violist and principal

violist in the Saskatoon Symphony. I moved back to Toronto, worked in multiple orchestras like Canadian Opera Company, National Ballet Orchestra and many more. I always had an interest in the stage as you’re usually playing in the pit. So from a visual standpoint I had an eye on directing. I worked at The Metropolitan Opera for several years with the likes of Placido and other stars. Eventually Richard and I decided to create the Highland Opera Studio to help young aspiring singers. We bring in top professionals to work with these young people and it’s wonderful to see the students come through our program and enjoy careers all around the world.”

Photo by David Sweeney

The Program is offered to Canadian candidates free of charge. They rely on fund raising to continue with the Studio. Richard says, “We sort of fall through the cracks of the grants from government sources. With program costs at around $10,000 per student. The funding is huge and the concerts that we provide also help raise money.” Valerie adds, “When we put on these performances and people from the area show up they are excitedly surprised. They are so moved by the beauty and power of the human voice.”

Balance between parents and younger talented singers that would like to have an early start on a career should be viewed with a bit of caution. Val says, “Yes, our daughter was offered to sing on the Jay Leno Show when she was 12, as an agent had seen her perform and I said No.”

I asked Valerie and Richard if they ever go to sleep, and if not, what is their secret? “Well, we have several clones we use,” laughs Valerie.

If you would like to support the Arts right here in the Kawarthas this is the perfect place to do so. Valerie and Richard are doing amazing work at their registered charity. There are Government funding cutbacks to the Arts in rural areas, such as the Kawarthas, and we need to protect this important Program. To donate please go to their website. www.highlandsoperastudio.com

Phone: (855) 455-5533 toll free

Instagram: @Highlands Opera

Facebook:@HighlandsOperaStudio

Article by Jay Cooper - Contributor / Musican

Photo by Linda Jenkins