Canadian mezzo-soprano Hillary Tufford is a versatile and engaging performer. Growing up in Middlemarch, Ontario, focused on Music Theatre, singing the title role in Anne of Green Gables, Clara in The Light in the Piazza and Cinderella’s Mother in Into the Woods.
A Graduate of Western University (Masters in Literature and Performance), Hillary switched to the mezzo-soprano repertoire, and became a member of the Yulanda M. Faris Young Artist Program at Vancouver Opera. She sang Hebe in their 2022 production of HMS Pinafore, and “almost stole the show” as Lola in their concert performance of Cavalleria Rusticana.
Recently, Hillary debuted as Carmen with Toronto City Opera, and performed German, English and French Art songs as a Fellow in the Vocal Academy of Toronto Summer Music Festival. This season, Hillary looks forward to singing Messiah in her debut with the Hamilton Philharmonic Orchestra and Bach Elgar Choir.
On the concert stage, Hillary made her Toronto debut with Elmer Iseler Singers as a soloist in Messiah and was a guest artist in Duruflé’s Requiem with Victoria Philharmonic Choir. Hillary performed with Vancouver Bach Choir in performances of Rossini’s Petite messe solennelle and recently debuted in Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony with Kingston Symphony.
Hillary was “warm and fun as Hermia” in Vancouver Opera’s recent production of Britten’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream, was a finalist in the Northwest Metropolitan Opera Laffont Competition in Seattle, and sang Flora in Brott Opera’s 2023 production of La Traviata.
Hillary is a bursary recipient from the program, Les Jeunes ambassadeurs lyriques, funded by Théâtre Lyrichorégra 20, and has received grants from the RBC Emerging Artist Project and the Hazel CrydermannWees Foundation.