Hannah Crawford

Hannah Crawford’s first paid gig was singing “O Canada” for the Rockhound Gembouree in her hometown of Bancroft, Ont. It’s the mineral capital of Canada - a mining town that also happens to have a vibrant arts community.

 

Hannah has been singing “since the beginning.” Her mom taught piano to kids in town, including Hannah and her three older brothers. She began formal lessons at 7, helped with community musical theatre productions and scooped up prizes at the Kiwanis music festival. She found a sanctuary in high school music and drama classes. And along with her parents, both avid musicians and active on the community arts scene, she co-founded a summer concert series, looked after the social media and marketing, and even handled chair rentals for outdoor events.

 

After high school, Hannah joined the Voice Performance program at Cambrian College in Sudbury and was suddenly immersed in the uncharted world of opera. That’s where she discovered her own distinctive sound as an aspiring dramatic soprano - a voice full of colour and depth and scope. 

 

During her undergrad at Wilfrid Laurier University in Waterloo, Ont., she realized she wanted to make opera her world. She also discovered the joy of working as part of a team. She thrives on collaboration and believes the success of any production involves everyone from the set painter to the stage director. Community is everything.

 

At Wilfrid Laurier, she won the concerto competition, along with first prize at the Sudbury Symphony’s Young Performers Competition. She recently took 2nd Place at the Canadian Opera Company’s Centre Stage Competition.

 

“When I stepped out on that stage,” she recalls, “I felt I knew my purpose in life. It was amazing. I just love sharing the energy and joy from an audience.”

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She also co-hosts a weekly podcast, “The Dreaming Divas”,  with soprano Simmie J Patoka. It’s a place for open conversations with all kinds of people working in opera about issues that affect emerging artists, from how to network to coping with body image.

 

“Every one of us is unique - human, imperfect, but genuine and blessed with an individual talent,” she says. “My voice is big and beautiful and I bring my entire being to every performance.”

 

This season, Hannah is part of The Rebanks Family Fellowship and International Performance Residency Program in Toronto.