Recently named one of CBC's “30 Hot Classical Musicians under 30”, mezzo-soprano Alex Hetherington is rapidly solidifying her position as a versatile interpreter of operatic and concert repertoire. Currently in her second year of residency at the Canadian Opera Company's Ensemble Studio, Alex has already graced major stages across her home country of Canada.

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In the 2022-23 season, Alex made her Canadian Opera Company (COC) debut as Mercédès in Carmen, and later returned to the Four Seasons stage as the Slave in the COC’s production of Salome. Additionally, she had the opportunity to cover Cherubino in Le nozze di Figaro and Suli in the world premiere of Kye Marshall and Amanda Hale’s Pomegranate with the company. Upcoming COC engagements in the 2023-24 season include singing the role of Lapák in a performance of Cunning Little Vixen, covering Zerlina in Don Giovanni and performing as the Second Handmaiden in Cherubini’s Medea. 

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Highly skilled in the realm of new music, Alex has recently joined Tapestry Opera as the House (mezzo) in Gareth Williams and Anna Chatterton’s Rocking Horse Winner and premiered the role of [Riley] in Nicole Lizée’ and Nicholas Billon’s R.U.R. A Torrent of Light, for which she won a 2022 Dora Mavor Moore Award. Further operatic credits include Rosina in Il barbiere di Siviglia, Carmen in La tragédie de Carmen (UofT Opera), and Nicklausse in Les Contes d’Hoffmann (Toronto City Opera). She looks forward to making company debuts with Pacific Opera Victoria and Vancouver Opera next season.

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On the concert stage, Alex made her National Arts Center Orchestra debut in 2022 as the alto soloist in Mozart's Requiem under the baton of Bernard Labadie. This marked the beginning of a series of collaborations with the orchestra, including notable performances of Ana Sokolović’s Golden Slumbers Kiss Your Eyes and the premiere of Cecilia Livingston’s orchestral arrangements of lieder selections by Clara Schumann, led by Maestro Alexander Shelley. Other recent concert highlights include performing Ian Cusson’s Songs from the House of Death with the Victoria Symphony under the baton of Christian Kluxen, and Peter Lieberson’s Neruda Songs with the University of Toronto Symphony Orchestra. A consummate recitalist, she showcased her artistry with an exquisitely curated program for the renowned Norcop Art Song Recital held at the University of Toronto.

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Alex has garnered many notable accolades in the last few years, securing the 3rd Prize in the Christina and Louis Quilico Awards, earning the status of a finalist in the Concours Orchestre symphonique de Montréal, and receiving an encouragement award from the Metropolitan Laffont Competition. She holds a Bachelor’s in Voice Performance and a Master's in Opera Performance from the University of Toronto, where she was recognized with the Jim and Charlotte Norcop Award in Art Song and named the winner of the UTSO Concerto Competition. Throughout her studies, Alex conducted a research-creation project exploring art song performance practice through the lens of modern gender theory. In her spare time, Alex can be found reading, gardening, and doting on dogs (primarily, but not exclusively, her family’s sweet pup, Max).