Canadian mezzo-soprano Lillian Brooks has been praised for her legato, lyric sound, and “easy handling of coloratura” (Schmopera), and is known for “delivering a powerful performance” in a wide range of repertoire (The Globe & Mail). Hailed as “Canada’s emerging opera star” (FYI Music), Lillian has appeared in many operatic roles and as an oratorio soloist both in Canada and abroad.

Lillian received her undergraduate degree in vocal performance at York University in Toronto, where she studied with renowned mezzo-soprano Catherine Robbin, and graduated cum laude. She then completed the Artist Diploma program at the Glenn Gould School in Toronto, where she worked with celebrated industry professionals including Adrianne Pieczonka, Wendy Nielsen, Leon Major, and Gerald Finley. Lillian was a member of the Britten-Pears Young Artist Programme in 2018, where she studied the performance of Classical art song with internationally acclaimed mezzo-soprano Anne-Sofie von Otter.

           Her roles on the operatic stage include Cornelia in Giulio Cesare, Bradamante in Alcina, Filipyevna in Tchaikovsky’s Eugene Onegin, Mrs. Nolan in Menotti’s The Medium, Maddalena in Rigoletto, and Third Lady in The Magic Flute, Cherubino in Le nozze di Figaro, and Flora in La Traviata. Lillian has sung as a soloist in many prestigious venues in Ontario, including Koerner Hall, Roy Thomson Hall, and the Sony Centre for the Performing Arts. Lillian has had the pleasure of singing with Calgary Opera for the past two years (2019-2021) as part of their Emerging Artist Program. In 2021, she performed the role of Hansel in Hansel and Gretel (Humperdink) for CO’s young audience outreach program. She also enjoyed working on 3 brand new compositions as part of CO’s “Opera Labs” project, and looks forward to returning as an Emerging Artist for their 2021/2022 season.