Mission Statement

When you’re passionate about singing, it’s exciting to learn about vocal technique and see yourself improve. It’s the beginning of a life-long journey of exploration and discovery. How satisfying to be able to tap more and more into expressive colours, as well as shape lines, text and music in a performance. Freedom in singing also makes the experience more enjoyable. And I believe that if I enjoy the experience, others can sense this too, and it enhances the performance.

I think that learning vocal technique also is a journey of self-discovery. When you tackle obstacles in the process of discovering your true voice it reveals more about who you are. Each individual has something unique to share with others. Each singer has a unique voice, a unique message that is precious. As a teacher, I consider it a joy to help the artist on this wonderful journey of discovery.

In the lesson, I try to the best of my ability to make the student feel comfortable and to provide encouragement as well as constructive feedback. Helping to build confidence is as important as improving vocal technique. When it comes to performance, skill and confidence is a helpful combination.

I have had the opportunity to study with several talented teachers and learned from their different approaches. I combine this knowledge as well as my own ideas to bring as many tools as possible in my teaching. It’s an honour for me to be a part of the Bytown School of Singing!

Biography

Soprano Isabelle Lacroix completed her graduate studies in voice performance at the University of Ottawa. She is currently a voice teacher at the Bytown School of Singing.

She has performed the roles of Fiordiligi in Così fan tutte and Zerlina in Don Giovanni with the University of Ottawa’s Opera Workshop. As a member of Opera Lyra’s former Young Artist Program, she performed the role of Hansel in Humperdinck’s Hansel and Gretel, the title role in Rossini’s Cinderella, and the Queen of the Night in Mozart’s Magic Flute. She also performed the role of Annina in La Traviata, Ines in Il Trovatore and Frasquita in Carmen with Opera Lyra Ottawa and Almirena in Handel's Rinaldo with OperOttawa.

She has performed various works as a soloist, including Handel's Messiah in collaboration with CAMMAC as well as with Operottawa, Bruckner’s Mass in F Minor, and many other works including Mendelssohn’s Lobgesang, Bach’s Cantata BWV 140, Mozart’s Requiem, Vivaldi’s Gloria, Brahms’ A German Requiem and Handel's Gloria, a solo soprano cantata.

Isabelle has also performed in several recitals, including the Music and Beyond Festival, the Festival d’automne d’orgue et de couleurs in Montréal, and the Doors Open for Music at Southminster. Ms Lacroix also enjoys playing the violin and viola.