Gloria Gassi
Lyric soprano, Gloria Gassi, has been described as “vocally outstanding with an empathy for the spirit of the song,” (LFP) particularly for her performance of Handel’s Messiah, and “dramatically captivating, with beautiful tone and a prowess for ringing high notes” (CFP) for her role as Fiordiligi in Mozart’s Cosi fan tutte. In her performance of the New Prioress in Poulenc’s Dialogues des Carmélites, Ms. Gassi was noted as “a sensitive performer with great respect to the profound meaning of the role.” Recent solo performances include Pergolesi’s Stabat Mater with Sophie Louise Roland, mezzo-soprano at St. Peter’s Cathedral Basilica, London, Ontario and Newfoundland Folk Songs by Michael Parker with Marie Johnson, clarinet, at the Don Wright Faculty of Music in a performance for Canada Music Week.
A graduate of the University of Western Ontario, Ms. Gassi holds a Masters in Music with Honours in Voice Performance and Literature, a Licentiate in Voice Performance, an Associateship of Music in Voice Performance and an ARCT in Piano. She was the only Canadian chosen to sing at the International Master Classes with Elly Ameling and Rudolf Jansen held at the Hochschüle für Musik, in Munich, Germany. In England, Ms. Gassi studied Voice with Jessie Cash in London, and sang at the Britten Pears School for Advanced Studies in Aldeburgh. She has worked with distinguished Canadian teachers and coaches such as Mary Morrison and Jacqueline Richard.
Ms Gassi sang as soloist and in ensemble with the acclaimed Elmer Iseler Singers, “Canada's esteemed professional choir of twenty voices, known for the unique beauty of their sound.” She performed in concerts, broadcasts and recordings throughout Canada, the US, Europe and the Orient, and had the distinct privilege of singing under such renowned conductors as Dr. Elmer Iseler, O.C., Sir Andrew Davis, Sir David Willcocks and Helmuth Rilling. She is recorded with the Elmer Iseler Singers in Laudate Dominum and Handel's Messiah.
Ms. Gassi brings a wealth of experience to her teaching. Her students have successfully attained university degrees in Voice Performance and Music Education, sung professionally in opera, choirs, musical theatre, and have won awards at the local, provincial and national levels. In her teaching, Ms. Gassi believes in developing the unique gift of each individual voice while building a strong foundational technique and sensitive artistry.
As Associate Teacher in Music Education with OISE, University of Toronto and York University, from 1990-2003, Ms. Gassi has served in mentoring future music teachers. With experience at all levels of education, she has conducted children’s, youth and adult choirs.
Notably, she initiated the Voice and Choral Program at Cardinal Carter Academy for the Arts, Toronto’s leading high school for the Performing Arts. Under her direction, the CCAA Singers consistently won top awards in major festivals, and participated in concert tours in Canada and England. Her choirs have been described as having “a warm, resonant tone with precise attention to intonation and artistic musical expression.”
A frequent presenter of workshops in Voice and Choral Techniques, she has adjudicated festivals in Ontario, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Alberta. Ms. Gassi is appointed to the Department of Performance Studies at the Don Wright Faculty of Music, University of Western Ontario, where she teaches Voice and conducts the St. Cecilia Singers.
Education
Master of Music in Voice Performance and Literature, Dean’s Honour List, UWO
Honours Bachelor of Music in Performance, Dean’s Honour List, UWO
Licentiate in Voice Performance
Associateship of Music in Voice Performance, Gold Medal
Gr. 10 Voice Performance, Silver Medal
Associateship Royal Conservatory of Toronto, Piano
Certification for Principal Development O.I.S.E.
Ontario Teacher’s Certificate
Ministry of Education Instrumental Music Specialist
Ministry of Education Religion Specialist
Advanced Studies
COSI - Centre for Opera Studies in Italy,
Independent Study Program for Voice Teachers-Professional Development, Sulmona, Italy
Teaching Sopranos, Jacob’s School of Music, Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana
Voice Care Network, St. John’s University, St. John’s Minnesota
International Master Classes with Elly Ameling and Rudolf Jansen, Hochschüle für Musik, Munich, Germany
Britten-Pears School for Advanced Musical Studies, Aldeburgh, England
Representative Roles and Solo Performances
Fiordiligi, Cosi fan Tutte, Mozart
New Prioress, Dialogues des Carmélites, Poulenc
Second Lady, Die Zauberflöte, Mozart
Euridice, Orpheus and Euridice, Gluck
Messiah, Handel
Saul, Handel
King David, Honegger
St. John Passion, Bach
Requiem, Brahms
Lord Nelson Mass, Haydn
Jauchzet Gott in allen Landen, Bach
Ode to St. Cecilia, Purcell
Serenade to Spring, Vaughan Williams
Mass in G Minor, Vaughan Williams
Mass in F, Schubert
Missa Brevis, Haydn
Mask of Time, Tippett
Stabat Mater, Pergolesi
Recordings
Laudate Dominum, Elmer Iseler Singers and Toronto Mendelssohn Choir, First Soprano, Elmer Iseler, Conductor
Messiah. Handel, Elmer Iseler Singers and Toronto Mendelssohn Choir, First Soprano, Sir Andrew Davis, Conductor
My Soul doth Magnify the Lord, Cardinal Carter Academy Singers, Gloria Gassi, Artistic Director and Conductor, Compact Disc, Released 2000
Holy Night, A Festival of Lessons and Carols, Cardinal Carter Academy Singers, Gloria Gassi, Artistic Director and Conductor, Compact Disc, Released 2001
Eternal Light, Cardinal Carter Academy Singers, Gloria Gassi, Artistic Director and Conductor, Compact Disc, Released 2003
Membership
National Association of Teachers of Singing
Choirs Ontario
Association of Canadian Choral Conductors
American Choral Directors’ Association
The Voice Care Network, St. John’s University, Collegeville, Minnesota
Contact Information
E-mail: ggassi@uwo.ca
Voice Studio: Music Building 28
Phone: 519-661-2111 ext. 84346
For complete contact information, please consult the Alphabetical Directory.
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