Shawne Elizabeth is a proud Canadian Soprano with generations of musicians on both sides of th family. Her childhood was filled with the voices of Sutherland, Callas, Pons, Korjus, Stella, Caballe, de Los Angeles, as well as British Marine Bands, Ukrainian Men’s Choruses, English Choral and Anglican Choir Music. Her father was invited to study composition and conducting with Canadian Composer Jean Coulthard. Her mother was the first Canadian recipient of the San Francisco Merola Opera Training Programme and was hailed by British critics as the next Schwarzkopf.
Singing came naturally to Shawne and she was taken on by Double Gold Medalist, Belgian born soprano Fanny Levitan as a pupil. At sixteen Shawne made her debut tour of the Haliburton Region singing Handel’s Rejoice Greatly (Messiah) and Gounod’s Je Veux Vivre (Romeo et Juliette). Prominent teachers Shawne has studied with include Canadian International Diva Maria Pellegrini, Quebecoise Legend Fernande Chiocchio and Laurier University Professor Victor Martens.
Shawne combines many years of Church training with private lessons, as well as course work at the Royal Conservatory and several universities, in theory, piano, history, acting, stage deportment, role interpretation and languages. Shawne earned her Diploma in Music Performance at Carleton University. On the lighter side Shawne has worked in the field with musical theatre, jazz, operetta and Broadway, developing along the way specialty repertoire for Canadiana, Victorian and World War I and II concerts.
Over time Shawne performed most of the coloratura repertoire including Chacun le sait, Una voce poco fa, Caro nome, Voci di primavera, Der Hölle Rache, Il bacio, L’air des clochettes, Ardon gl’incensi, Regnava nel silenzio, Les oiseaux dans la charmille, Mein Herr Marquis, Rejoice greatly, Alleluia (Mozart). Her superb technical mastery and sparkling delivery made her a favorite with crowds and critics alike.
Shawne’s bell like voice has been heard interpreting most standard sacred works including Mozart Requiem recorded with the Blackburn Chorus and the Fauré Requiem with the Choeur Classique de L’Outaouais accompanied by Ottawa Chamber Orchestra. The voice is well suited to Mozart and she also sings his Mass in C, Coronation Mass and Vespers. Others include Haydn’s Creation and Harmony Mass, Handel’s Messiah, Rutter’s Requiem, Schubert’s Mass in G, Vivaldi’s Gloria, and Mendelssohn’s St. Paul.
Initiated early into the Art Song repertoire, Shawne commands Mélodie groupings by composers like Fauré, Debussy, Duparc, and Hahn. In the Lieder category she loves to interpret Wolf, Brahms, R. Strauss, and Schubert . Many of these songs were featured in Ooh La La Opera’s Theatrical Fusion productions, where Shawne was a company member.
Shawne Elizabeth currently teaches voice at the Centre d’excellence artistique de l’ Ontario in Ottawa (De La Salle High School). She holds an Honours Degree in French and German . She is an Ontario Certified Teacher which helps her to deliver an integrated, holistic and credible programme. She is a member of ORMTA and an active performer in the Capital Region.
Shawne Elizabeth 