MI6 FEATURED ENSEMBLE
MARLISE RITCHIE - Soprano (Moneypenny)
Winnipeg born Soprano Marlise Ritchie holds both a Bachelor of Music and Post-Baccalaureate Diploma from the University of Manitoba where she studied with Monica Huisman.
This past January Marlise had her role debut singing Susanna (Le Nozze di Figaro) with University of Ottawa. She has also sung Gianetta (The Gondoliers) with Opera NUOVA and Diana (Orphée aux Enfers) with Manitoba Underground Opera. Other credits include; Dulcine (Angry Birdsong) and Caffeina (Triumph of Caffeina) both with Little Opera Company, and Noèmie (Cendrillon) with Manitoba Underground Opera. Marlise also premiered the role of Nadine (Mai '68) at the Winnipeg New Music Festival in 2015. Upcoming engagements include Second Lady (The Magic Flute) with Opera NUOVA and she is very excited to be singing with Malfi Productions for the first time in the ensemble and as Money Penny this spring.
Marlise will be graduating this spring with her Master in Music from University of Ottawa under the tutelage of Christiane Riel.
CARMEN HARRIS - Soprano (Speaker)
Since singing in children's choirs at the age of seven, Carmen Harris has enjoyed immersing herself in the world of vocal studies. She is currently completing her Master of Music at the University of Ottawa, studying with Christiane Riel. Carmen recently graduated with a Bachelor of Music in Vocal Performance, and a Post-Baccalaureate in Voice through the Desautels Faculty of Music at the University of Manitoba, studying with Monica Huisman.
Past performances include Susanna and Cherubino with the University of Ottawa (2017), Musetta in La Boheme (2017) and Susanna in Le nozze di Figaro (2014), with Opera Kelowna, Venus in Offenbach’s Orphee aux Enfers (2016), with Manitoba Underground Opera, and Angela in Angela and her Sisters (2016) with the University of Manitoba School Tour.
She has also performed numerous operatic scenes including: Die Zauberflöte (Papagena) and Cosi fan tutte (Despina) with Opera Kelowna and Elisir d'amore (Adina), Dialogue of the Carmelites (Soeur Constance), with the U. of Manitoba Opera School. Besides opera, she has also sung as a soloist with the Okanagan Symphony Orchestra, the Chilliwack Symphony Orchestra in British Columbia, and the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra.
REBA SIGLER - Coluratura Soprano
Reba is a coloratura soprano who has impressed audiences from the time she was a child.
She has studied voice with Dianne Baird and Diana Sharp in Kanata and has just completed her Associate Diploma in Vocal Performance from the Royal Conservatory of Music.
In the summer of 2017 Reba participated in the American Institute of Musical Studies' Opera Studio Program in Graz, Austria studying with J. David Brock and performing in multiple concerts. Reba has performed locally in Ottawa with various organizations, including Maple Leaf Productions, Orpheus, Suzart, Kanata Theatre and the Savoy Society.
ADRIANA GODOY-SMIRNOVA - Soprano (Vendor)
Soprano Adriana Godoy-Smirnova is currently in her fifth year of her Bachelor of Music with a specialty in performance.
Adriana played the role of Mercedes in last years production of Carmen. She also played the role of the Third Spirit in a production of The Magic Flute the year prior.
Adriana aspires to continue her studies after her undergrad in the hopes of one day becoming a professional opera singer.
MATHIEU MAZUR-GOULET - Tenor (Protester)
A native Ottawan and proud Franco-Ontarian, Mathieu is an amateur opera singer who learned his craft over more than a decade studying with some of city's best known and loved opera performers and teachers.
A member of the Ottawa Savoy Society since his 2010 début as Colonel Fairfax in Gilbert and Sullivan's Yeomen of the Guard, Mathieu most recently performed the role of Samuel in the Society's 2015 production of Pirates of Penzance.
In addition to his solo work, Mathieu has sung in many choirs in and around town. Besides being an avid singer, Mathieu is a dedicated public servant and splits his free time among his many passions including reading, meditation, physical fitness, playing guitar and spending an inordinate amount of time contemplating the mysteries of life, the universe and everything.
EVAN SOKOLOWSKI- Baritone (Investor)
Evan Sokolowski is very excited to be a member of the Featured Ensemble, and Blocking Master. It is his second time performing James Bond: A Convenient Lie with Malfi Productions.
Recently, Evan has played Nate in Big Nate the Musical with Electric Moon Theatre and Uncle Henry/The Guard in The Wizard of Oz with the Lower Ossington Theatre.
Evan enjoys Music Directing, and teaching voice and acting. He graduated from Randolph Academy's College program with the class of 2016.
He would like to thank his Mom, family and friends
DAVID SHIPLEY - Baritone
After years of singing in choirs in Canada, the U.K., and the U.S., Dave returned to studying music with the initial aim of becoming a better chorister. He studied voice privately with Sylvia Larrass and James O’Farrell and harmony with Kevork Andonian, gaining his grade ten in vocal performance in the Royal Conservatory of Music program in 2007.
In 2007 he also returned to musical theatre, singing the role of Mr. Bumble in Oliver! in two different community theatre productions. The following year he sang the role of Max in a community theatre production of The Sound of Music. In autumn of 2008, Dave was invited to join the chorus of Opera Lyra Ottawa. His first production as a member of the chorus was Eugene Onegin in April 2009. He subsequently performed in Opera Lyra productions of Macbeth, Turandot, Pagliacci, Cavalleria Rusticana, Carmen, Tosca, and Barber of Seville. Since then, he has performed in Pellegrini Opera productions of Rigoletto and Tosca.
In his day job, Dave is an energy engineer, working for a consulting firm that helps utilities plan the programs that encourage their customers to use energy more efficiently.
RYAN HOFMAN - Baritone (Herr Tod)
A 2017 Brian Law Opera Competition Finalist and National Music Festival runner-up, Baritone Ryan Hofman is a recent graduate from the University of British Columbia Master of Music in Opera program.
Originally from Peterborough, Ontario, Ryan was a proud member of the UBC Opera Ensemble from 2015-2017 where he made his company debut as De Brètigny in Massenet's Manon (November 2015). In February 2016, Mr. Hofman also appeared with the ensemble as Delaqua in Johann Strauss II’s Eine Nacht in Venedig. He recently completed a successful tour with the ensemble in the Czech Republic as Bartolo in Rossini’s Barber of Seville.
In April 2015, Mr. Hofman made his company debut with Pellegrini Opera (Schaunard; La Boheme) where he was hailed as “performing with gusto...[Mr. Hofman} sang with a pleasing and strong voice in a limited role which promises well for the future” (National Capital Opera Society; Summer 2015 Newsletter). This past March, he returned to the company and appeared as the Sacristan in Tosca.
The 2017-2018 proved to be quite a busy season for Mr. Hofman as he appeared with the Ottawa Choral Society and was awarded the National Capital Region NATS Senior Scholarship.
This past November and December respectfully, he appeared as the Baritone soloist for Fauré's Requiem and Handel's Messiah with the Cantata Singers of Ottawa and CAMMAC Ottawa. This past March, he most recently appeared as Betto in Puccini's Gianni Schicchi with Southern Ontario Lyric Opera (Burlington, Ontario).