Hailed as “an outstanding voice” (La Scena Musicale), Chinese-Canadian mezzo-soprano Emma Parkinson is a modern and dynamic artist known for her versatility and expressiveness.
The 23/24 season saw Emma return to Vancouver Opera to make a role debut as Third Lady in Die Zauberflöte, and she debuted as a soloist with the Vancouver Island Symphony, and with Victoria Baroque in Handel’s Messiah and Bach’s St. John Passion. She also jumped in for a St. John Passion and simultaneously made her debut with the Saskatoon Symphony Orchestra. Emma covered the role of Isabelle Eberhardt in City Opera Vancouver’s new production of Song From the Uproar. In the spring of 2024, Emma will make her debut in France as Flora in La Traviata with Opéra de Massy.
In 2023, Emma performed Flora in La Traviata with Brott Opera, and joined Early Music Vancouver as a soloist in The Ladies Vespers as part of their WomeninSIGHT Festival. Her 22/23 season repertoire included a world premiere and two Canadian premieres. She debuted the role of Anna in the world premiere of Chinatown by Alice Ping Yee Ho and Madeleine Thien with City Opera Vancouver, and performed the role of Female Customer in the Canadian premiere of Angel’s Bone by Du Yun and Royce Vavrek in a co-production with re:Naissance Opera, Sound the Alarm Music Theatre and Loose Tea Music Theatre. Emma also performed the roles of Narrator/Minister in the Canadian premiere of George Benjamin’s Into the Little Hill with Astrolabe Musik Theatre.
In 21/22, Emma was a special guest soloist at Ballet BC’s 35th anniversary gala performance, and she sang the role of Orpheus in re:Naissance Opera’s Live from the Underworld, “an award-winning 2-part series of interactive XR performances featuring mythological avatars brought to life by real-time motion capture technology & live opera singers.”
In 2020 pre-pandemic, she performed Suzuki in Madama Butterfly with Burnaby Lyric Opera. During the pandemic, Emma co-founded OperaBox, a collective that created virtual opera, giving singers across Canada the chance to perform and collaborate while performing spaces were closed.
Past operatic highlights include her debut with Vancouver Opera in 2017 as Jade Boucher in a revolutionary new production of Jake Heggie's Dead Man Walking directed by Joel Ivany. In the same year, she made her debut with Pacific Opera Victoria as Florrie in the staged Canadian premiere of Rattenbury by Tobin Stokes. Emma also made her debut with Burnaby Lyric Opera in the title role of Carmen.
She made her European operatic debut in Germany as Mercédès in a new production of Carmen with Seefestspiele Berlin, and performed in a gala concert with Les Chorégies d’Orange in France.
A former young artist with the Atelier lyrique of Opéra de Montréal, Emma performed Orlofsky in Opéra de Montréal’s production of Die Fledermaus and Wood Sprite in Rusalka.
Emma has been a soloist for the Vancouver Bach Choir in Handel's Messiah, Mahler's Symphony No. 8, and Duruflé's Requiem, and with the Okanagan Festival Singers in Mozart's Requiem. Emma has performed with multiple symphonies including the Montreal Symphony Orchestra, Vancouver Symphony Orchestra, Alberta Baroque Ensemble, Kingston Symphony Orchestra, Slovak State Philharmonic Orchestra and Orchestre Métropolitain.
Well-versed in contemporary opera, Emma has been fortunate to workshop many new operas with Vancouver Opera, re:Naissance Opera, Pacific Opera Victoria, Opera 5, Astrolabe Musik Theatre, and City Opera Vancouver.
A three-time laureate of the Jeunes Ambassadeurs Lyriques in Montreal, Emma performed an operatic concert tour of six cities in China, and has won numerous prizes including the Prix Jeune Espoir Lyrique Canadien. Emma is also a recipient of the prestigious Lieutenant Governor of Alberta Emerging Artist Award. Emma completed her Master's degree in opera performance at McGill University, and her undergraduate studies at the University of Lethbridge.
Emma balances her performing time with teaching voice. She has her own private studio and is also on faculty at the Vancouver Academy of Music.
