Ian Sabourin, Contre-ténor

Ian is a Canadian countertenor raised in Ottawa and based in Montreal, renowned for his unique sound, powerful high notes, and diverse repertoire. He has been awarded the Fellowship Stingray Audience Award and recently joined the Opéra de Montréal’s Atelier Lyrique as their first countertenor. Ian is also a professional chorister in Montreal with various professional ensembles such as Juno award winning ensembles Ensemble Caprice, Harmonies des Saisons, and Ottawa Bach Choir.

Upcoming performances include his soloist role for Handel’s Israel in Egypt with Choeur Classique de Montreal, his soloist role for Bach’s St. Matthew Passion with The Peterborough Singers, and his debut with ODM as Ottone from L’incoronazione di Poppea.

Ian’s clarity and evenness of tone have been highly praised in his 2022/2023 season, which includes covering a staged version of Pergolesi’s Stabat Mater at Edmonton Opera, as soloist in Bach’s Mass in B Minor and Solomon in Handel’s Solomon with Caelis Academy Ensemble in Ottawa, touring with Musique Royale for Handel’s Messiah, and as Orlando in Handel’s Orlando with Opera McGill in his final year of studies.

Ian also appeared as a bass-baritone on contemporary ensemble Lyrico’s debut album ‘Noel à l’Opéra,’ recorded with Orchestre Philharmonique et Chouer Mélomanes. In July 2022, at the Lameque Baroque Festival, Ian’s voice was described as “stunning, with a powerful timbre – the kind of voice you can listen to for hours without getting tired.”

Ian earned a Masters in Early Music/Opera Performance from McGill University, where he studied with mezzo-soprano Annamaria Popescu. He also holds a Graduate Diploma in Voice Performance from McGill University, where he studied with soprano Dominique Labelle. Ian obtained his Bachelors in Music from the University of Toronto, where he studied with countertenor Daniel Taylor. 

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