About Grace / Ministry Info / Upcoming Events / Music / Contact Info
Grace Chan
Mezzo-soprano Member: Canadian Actor's Equity
4411 Steveston Hwy.Richmond, BC V7E 2K4 Phone/fax (604) 272-7824 gschan@interchange.ubc.ca
PROFILE
Grace is an effective communicator with substantial achievement in the operatic and the concert stage. She is familiar with performance, theatre, commercial business, academic, and philanthropic systems having worked in the above-mentioned environment both as soloist, actress, manager, teacher, lecturer, writer, mentor, and board member. To all her tasks, Grace applies passion, solid research, dramatic integration, communication, and excellence.
OPERA PERFORMANCE
Lucia di Lammermoor Alisa Vancouver Opera
Romeo et Juliette (Gounod) Gertrude Vancouver Opera
Pirates of Penzance (Gilbert & Sullivan) Ruth Vancouver Opera Touring
Ensemble
Suor Angelica (Puccini) La Principessa Viva Musica
Un Ballo in Maschera (Verdi) Ulrica Silesian Opera
Die Zauberflöte (Mozart) Dritte Dame Silesian Opera
University Roles
La Finta Giardiniera (Mozart) Ramiro UBC Opera
Hansel and Gretel (Humperdinck) Witch UBC Opera
Hansel and Gretel (Humperdinck) Witch Burnaby Lyric Opera
Hansel and Gretel (Humperdinck) Witch Okanagan Symphony
The Medium (Menotti) Baba Univ. of British Columbia
Hin und Zurück (Hindemith) Helene Univ. of British Columbia
ORATORIO CONCERT, RECITAL
Mahler Kindertotenlieder Janacek Glagolithic Mass
Mahler Rückertlieder Vivaldi Gloria
Handel Messiah Verdi Requiem
Concert for Asian Heritage Month Vancouver Sun Concert Series
Début Recital (CBC Radio Broadcast) Début Series, with Rena
Sharon
Four Hands, One Voice Vancouver Asian Heritage Month
Viola Songs Vancouver Chamber Music Festival
Intimate Songs Sonic Boom Festival
Bizet's Carmen in Concert Vancouver Public Library Fundraiser
Jazz meets Opera Shows with Jazz Singer, Christine Duncan
Benefit appearances with Asian Heritage
STUDIES & TRAINING
· Vancouver Opera Touring Ensemble
· Bachelor of Music in Opera Performance and Master of Music in Voice
Performance (UBC)
· Banff Centre for the Arts - Richard Armstrong
· 4th International Opera Workshop, Czech Republic
· Vocal Institute, University of California in Santa Barbara
AWARDS and HONORS
· Vancouver Foundation Advanced Arts Study
· BC Arts Council and Richmond Community Arts Council
· Western Concert Opera Competition, first place
· Burnaby Clef Scholarship Competition - Grand winner
· UBC Concerto Competition winner
· Queen Sinclair Scholarship in Music
· Bayard Haddock Memorial Scholarship
· Coquitlam Music Festival- Grand winner
· UBC School of Music 25th Anniversary Scholarship
OTHER TRAINING and EXPERIENCE
Writing and Lecture
Vancouver Recital Society - program notes and pre-concert lectures (1999-2000
season)
Choral Affiliation
UBC Singers Manila Oratorio Society
Mennonite Chamber Choir Various Church Choir (leadership)
Community Service
West Coast Mennonite Chamber Choir - 3 Fundraising CD projects
First Baptist Church Vancouver, BC
Asian Community Benefits
Charity and Private works (nursing homes, shut-ins)
Vancouver Board of Trade member
Board Director, Philippine Chinese Church Music Association (1990-1992)
Conductor and children's music director, Grace Christian Church;
Junior Choir conductor, Fujian Evangelical Church
Languages
Spoken : English, Chinese (Mandarin & Hokien, some Cantonese), Tagalog
Sung : German, Italian, Spanish, French, Czech, Russian, Chinese (Mandarin,
Cantonese)
Union Affiliation and contact:
Canadian Actor's Equity
#44 Victoria St. 12th Floor , Toronto, ON M5C 3C4
Tel: 1-800-387-1856
Grace Chan 4411 Steveston Hwy. Richmond, BC V7E 2K4 Phone/fax (604) 272-7824
+ + +
GRACE CHAN
mezzo-soprano
Biography
Grace Chan has achieved critical respect for the diversity of her repertoire and the quality of her voice.
Her numerous appearances have included the roles of Alisa in Lucia di Lammermoor, Gertrude in Romeo et Juliette for Vancouver Opera, Ama in the world premiere of "Iron Road" for Toronto-based Tapestry New Opera, As a chamber musician, Grace has appeared in song recitals in Canada, Asia and the United States. Locally, she has sung for the Vancouver Symphony, Vancouver Philharmonic, UBC Symphony, Abbotsford Symphony, Okanagan Symphony and Kamloops Symphony. She has sung with the Vancouver Chamber Music Festival, the Vancouver Sun Community Concert Series, Festival Vancouver and the Debut Series. Her voice is frequently heard over CBC.
Grace is equally at home with gospel and jazz genre, having a successful run with jazz singer, Christine Duncan. Grace also sang the role of Bloody Mary in Theatre Under the Stars' production of South Pacific in summer of 2000.
Grace Chan, mezzo-soprano
REVIEWS
"Grace Chan is an absolute knockout….Chan grasps
all of the good-natured eccentricity and energy that both her part and this
musical are about …… with majesty and charm."
South Pacific
Georgia Straight, Colin Thomas
"Grace Chan as Bloody Mary……..show the troupe
how Happy Talk and Bali Ha'i are sung so every note rings true."
South Pacific
Vancouver Sun, Peter Birnie
"Leading the way is mezzo-soprano Grace Chan who steals
the show as the sassy Bloody Mary… Chan is ruthless over the top as the
scheming character….her stellar singing and hammy performance are perfect
for the role."
South Pacific
Richmond Review, Ted Townsend
"Chan is a knockout as Bloody Mary…She's got
attitude and a voice to match.
……….Chan's voice, both speaking and singing fills Malkin Bowl
with room to spare."
South Pacific
Vancouver Courier, Jo Ledingham
"………Grace Chan as the unusually natural
and vocally secure Gertrude"
Romeo et Juliette
Floyd St-Clair, Opera Canada
" The star (on opening night) had to be Grace Chan
as the witch, bold and bawdy, cackling and crowing…..Chan brought humour
and energy to the production and kept it cooking down to the last curtain."
Hansel and Gretel
Jo Ledingham, Vancouver Courier
HEADLINE: "Roseanne-style Witch Steals the Show."
Grace Chan as the campy witch is alive and well and she stole the show..."
Hansel and Gretel
Daily News Kamloops, Sandy Wiseman
Grace Chan, mezzo-soprano
REVIEWS (cont'd)
"….the young mezzo-soprano Grace Chan - whose
artistry reaches new peaks with her every appearance - was lyrically riveting
in her solo."
Georgia Straight, Douglas Hughes
"…..rich toned…'
Vancouver Sun, Lloyd Dykk
"[her] warm and powerful voice resonates ever more
deeply as she gives it freer and freer play. Strengthened by the discipline
of serious study…..Grace Chan is on track at last, with a whole life
in her song."
Okanagan News, Dave Nordstrom
"..the audience was warmed up by the performance of
Bizet's Habanera from the opera Carmen. Grace Chan as Carmen…eased the
tension in the audience and performers….."
Ubyssey, Ronald Nurwisah
"…featuring accomplished singer, Grace Chan.
[Her] rich voice resonated throughout the Auditorium with her expressive interpretations
of Rückert's German poetry."
Mahler Rückertlieder, UBC Symphony
Ubyssey, Alison Cole
"Grace Chan…..a small woman with a quick smile
and philosophical mind…Music, a universal language encompassing all of
life."
Richmond News
"..creates a doughty nurse."
Vancouver Courier, Louise Phillips
"Grace Chan made a believable and funny Gertrude……
North Shore News, Ben D'Andrea
Grace Chan in Recital with Richard Coombes, pianist and
special guest, Marcus Mosely
First Baptist Church,
June 19, 2004 Saturday
7:30pm
Tickets 20/15 at the door or call the church: 604-683-8441
4411 Steveston Hwy.Richmond, BC V7E 2K4 Phone/fax (604) 272-7824 gschan@interchange.ubc.ca
Grace Chan - from Ricepaper Arts & Culture Magazine - Vancouver
Grace Chan - Vancouver Opera Press Releases