Little London Community Opera

Here is our fantastic Stage Director, Margaret Martin, who is working hard with our cast to bring this important story to life.

Margaret Martin is a Southern Ontario native who dreams of reviving the general public’s interest in the world of opera. She believes very strongly in music’s power to promote healing and wellness, and in its power to enrich the lives of everyone it touches. As a soprano who recently completed both her Bachelor of Music and her Artist Diploma at University of Western Ontario’s Don Wright Faculty of Music, Margaret is poised to enter the world of professional performance. Having spent so many years studying at Western, she is deeply invested in the London arts’ community, and jumped at the chance to be a part of the Little London Community Opera. She is thrilled to be working alongside such passionate and gifted local musicians to bring more opera to the Southwestern Ontario area

Today we introduce Ethan Lacey, the Music Director for Don Giovanni, playing at the TAP Centre on October 5& 6

Originally from Collingwood Ontario, Ethan was interested in music and language from a very young age. Often choosing to improvise and invent at the keyboard instead of following his teachers’ instructions, he aspired to study music seriously at age 10. The study of foreign languages began as a serious interest in high school which led to interest in collaborative musicianship, vocal music, and opera. Ethan spent four years in the Georgian Triangle area as a vocal and instrumental coach before attending Mohawk College, where he completed a degree in Applied Music in Piano Performance with Alexi Gulenco, and studied vocal and instrumental conducting with Laura Thomas. It was during his time at Mohawk College that Ethan developed his improvisational and collaborative interests further in jazz music - frequently sitting in on recording sessions and performing with singers and ensembles. He earned his bachelor’s degree in Piano Performance at Western University studying with Stéphan Sylvestre, and is currently pursuing a Master’s degree in Collaborative Piano Performance.

He is active in the London and Toronto area as a recitalist, collaborative pianist, vocal coach, and chamber musician.

When not attempting to further the revival of improvisation in common musical practice, Ethan enjoys reading, cooking, and gardening ~ despite being mildly allergic to nearly everything green.”

Tonight we reveal Don Giovanni's last target- the fiesty Zerlina, played by our very own Melina García Zambrano! Don Giovanni goes live October 5th and 6th at the TAP Centre https://www.facebook.com/events/2155134548036332/

Colombian-born soprano Melina García Zambrano is passionate about Canadian art song and opera, especially contemporary works. Raised in Toronto, she now makes London, Ontario her home. Melina holds a Master’s degree in Music Performance and Literature from Western University.

In 2018, she debuted the roles of Aurelia (Padajuca Zviezda), and Lucinda (The Covenant) at Vera Causa Opera's Canadian Opera Fest. Some of her other roles include Pamina (Die Zauberflöte), Elvira (Don Giovanni), covering Elvira (L’italiana in Algieri) at MYOpera and Micaela at BrottOpera. Her love for the music industry inspired her to co-found the Little London Community Opera, and she seeks to connect the many artists in the city with the wider London community.

Fun Fact: Besides a newly-found passion for organizing concerts and events, Melina has a great interest in cross-cultural relations. During her university years, she spent a summer in Bangladesh, and a summer in China for student cultural exchanges.