Tara Marlena Laberge
Leon Leontaridis
Soprano
Tenor
Betterina
Reggio
Tara holds a Doctorate of Musical Arts from the University of Minnesota, and is also an adjudicator, music director, and stage director. Select credits include Delphinia (Babes in Toyland – Troupe America, National tour 2005/2007), Elsa/Maria us (The Sound of Music - Broadway Palm Florida) Angelina (A Servant’s Christmas – History Theatre, St. Paul MN), Anna (The King and I – Morris Park Players), Lesbia (Catulli Carmina – Calgary Festival Chorus), Soprano Soloist (St. Paul-Mendelsohn, Calgary Festival Chorus), Lead Singer (Magic Moments of the Movies – Actors Theatre of Minnesota 2006/2008), Mother (A Christmas Story – Storybook Theatre), Joy Davidman (Shadowlands – Hit & Myth/Fire Exit Theatre), Melissa (The Savannah Disputation – Fire Exit Theatre), Inez (No Exit – Theatre BSMT), Martha/Woman (DURANGED! – Theatre BSMT), Soloist (Opera BOB opens his drawers! – Minnesota Fringe Festival).
Natalie Fagnan Soprano
Veronica Natalie received her Bachelor’s of Music from the Oberlin Conservatory. She is an alumnus of Calgary Opera’s Emerging Artist Program and is also the 2011 winner of the Metropolitan Opera District Competition. On top of performing, Natalie has her own business in the financial services industry. Natalie has played Maria (West Side Story), Yum-Yum (The Mikado), Lauretta (Gianni Schicchi), Poppea (L’incoronazione di Poppea), Despina (Così fan tutte), Alcina (Alcina), Gretel (Hansel and Gretel). For Cowtown Opera: Pamina (The Magic Flute), Christine (Phantom of the Opera). Natalie appears with the support of the Canadian Actors’ Equity Association.
Leon has performed all over the world including the 2008 Beijing Olympics, Miss USA Pageant, Las Vegas, a cross-Canada Tour with the Rankin Family and Canadian country singer George Canyon. Leon received his BMus in Performance from UVIC and currently teaches voice at The Conservatory at MRU. He is also the music director at Cowtown Opera for their Hire-Us gigs. For Cowtown Opera: Host (The Bachelor), Hugo (Wrecking Balls The Opera), Tenor Chorus (Cowtown Cabaret), Singing Waiter (Brett Wilson Summer Garden Party), Alberta Days Expo (P.E.I). Elsewhere: The Herald (Cinderella), Raiph Rackstraw (HMS Pinafore), Giuseppe (La Traviata). Leon is formerly of the Canadian Tenors and Pop-Opera group Destino. Recently he performed as a solo pop/rock artist The Gentleman Leon.
Ian Fundytus Bass-Baritone
Jugocapo Hailing from Okotoks Alberta, Ian Fundytus graduated from the University of Lethbridge where he studied vocal performance with Dr. Blaine Hendsbee. Ian has been involved with the U of L Opera Workshop, singing in productions such as Strauss Jr.’s Die Fledermaus (Frank), Mozart’s The Magic Flute (Papageno) and The Marriage of Figaro (Figaro). Ian has also performed with Opera NUOVA in Strauss’ Ariadne auf Naxos (Truffaldino) and Donizetti’s L’Elisir d’Amore (Dr. Dulcamara); Calgary Concert Opera in Mozart’s Così Fan Tutte (Guglielmo); Morpheus Theatre in Gilbert and Sullivan’s Ruddigore (Robin Oakapple/Sir Ruthven Murgatroyd), the Halifax Summer Opera Festival in Floyd’s Susannah (Rev. Olin Blitch) and most recently, Il Barbiere di Siviglia (Dr. Bartolo) with Fraser Lyric Opera. Ian is delighted to reprise the role of Jugo-Capo in Cowtown Opera’s Archiebaldo! opera in the village 13