In the Drawing Room

March 16, 2024
Hycroft Manor, Vancouver BC

You are cordially invited to a special fundraising concert in support of our 2024/25 programming. Enjoy an intimate evening of song set in a historic Edwardian home.

7:00PM Light Refreshments
7:30PM Music

Nicole Koh

Soprano

Nicole Koh is an internationally-recognized soprano from Daly City, California, recently relocated to Vancouver. In the coming months, she will perform Gretel (Hansel and Gretel) with the Chautauqua Opera Company and make her debut with Opera San Jose as Queen of the Night and Papagena (The Magic Flute). Previous engagements include the title role in Janáček’s The Cunning Little Vixen with Chautauqua Opera Conservatory and Winnie (cover) in Beecher’s Sky on Swings as a young artist at Opera Saratoga. She graduated with a Master of Music at The San Francisco Conservatory of Music under the tutelage of Rhoslyn Jones, where she sang the title role in Monterverdi’s L’incoronazione di Poppea. Nicole received her Bachelor of Music at the University of British Columbia where she studied under Nancy Hermiston, was a soloist with the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra, and performed the roles of Papagena and Nella (Gianni Schicchi).

Taryn Plater

Mezzo-soprano

Taryn Plater is a versatile performer and creator. Recognized for her “dramatic and vocal thrust” (Opera Canada), the Vancouver-based mezzo-soprano was a 2021–2022 RBC Artist Fellow with the Association for Opera in Canada. Taryn's portfolio focuses on Ukrainian art song, new works, and the intersection of jazz and classical music, driven by an interest in opera's relationship to different genres and mediums. She created the digital artist statement First Steps with Against the Grain's 2021 National Opera Intensive exploring her cultural heritage through Ukrainian art song, and in 2022, received a Ukraine – Heritage, Spirit and Future award in recognition of her artistic focus on Ukrainian art song. In addition to her performance endeavours, Taryn is a mentor with Opera InReach and the founding Artistic Director of Opera Unbound.

Derek Stanyer

Piano

Derek Stanyer has performed extensively both as a soloist and as a collaborative pianist throughout Canada, France, Belgium, Austria, USA, and Mexico. He has trained at the Vancouver International Song Institute and Songfest, and has taught at the Valhalla Suzuki Institute, the UBC Summer Vocal Academy, and the CYMC summer program. Derek’s recent notable performances include the NATSAA vocal competition, the Vancouver Fringe Festival, the Silk Purse Gallery concert series, Music Friends concert series in Vancouver, and recordings with opera companies Good Mess Opera, and Opera Unbound. He earned his DMA at the University of British Columbia with a full Doctoral Fellowship, and is on staff at UBC Opera as a vocal coach.