Gryphon Gallery: Allison Ward

December 2, 2022

Alumni

Stuart Brambley, Archivist Stuart Brambley, Archivist photo

Allison joined GNS halfway through her Grade 5 year. “I loved GNS because it offered the arts, the theatre and the music that I was passionate about. It laid the groundwork for me to be able to later sing on an international stage and not be terrified singing in front of thousands of people.”

Praised for her musicality and dramatic presence, as an emerging Canadian soprano Allison has delighted audiences both at home and abroad. She was accepted at L’École Normale de Musique de Paris and then relocated to Leipzig, Germany to study the works of Richard Wagner.

Allison completed her Artist Diploma at the Vancouver Academy of Music. With also having a BFA in Theatre from the University of Victoria and considerable stage experience, she has a thoroughly well-rounded approach to opera. Her professional debut took place with Pacific Opera Victoria as Madrigal Singer in Manon Lescaut, and Cretan Woman in Mozart’s Idomeneo.

Allison has earned a Professional Development Grant from the BC Arts Council, and was the recipient of both the Career Development Grant and the Young Talent in Opera Grant, from the Vancouver Opera Guild. She also garnered the national women’s charitable organization’s IODE Scholarship and second prize in the Kay Meek Scholarship Competition in Vancouver. She has performed under the baton of Mario Bernardi, Umberto Finazzi, Timothy Vernon, Giuseppe Pietraroia, Leslie Dala and Rosemary Thompson. A member of Pacific Opera Victoria’s chorus for eight seasons, she has sung multiple comprimario roles, and is also involved in the companies’ community engagement program, Opera Etc.

Most recently, Allison sang a beautiful tribute at the Celebration of Life for Scott Clazie, teacher-librarian at GNS 1992 to 1999, who sadly passed away from pancreatic cancer in September.

Allison’s favourite quote on her grad page was, “Within your heart, keep one still secret spot, where dreams may go” (Louise Driscoll). Hopefully, she is fulfilling all her dreams as she pursues her singing/acting career and is keeping all those memories in that secret spot as well!