Michèle Pearson Soprano
Michèle has performed as a soloist with Opera Belcanto of York since 2007, appearing in numerous operas and concerts at the Richmond Hill Centre for the Performing Arts. Michèle's operatic roles include notably the lead role of Cio-Cio San in the 2017 production of Puccini's Madama Butterfly. Other roles include Micaela in Bizet's Carmen (2018), Musetta in La Boheme (2015), and Mercedes in Carmen among others.
Michèle's rich and resonant voice as well as her versatility makes her a regular performer at concert performances. Her repertoire ranges from opera arias, French Art songs, Neapolitan songs as well Musical Theater.
She has trained classically since 2008 with renowned armenian baritone Maestro David Varjabed, establishing a strong foundation in the BelCanto technique.
Michèle also participated with the Toronto Mendelssohn Choir, under the baton of Maestro Jean-Sebastien Vallée. She had the honour of performing Handel's Messiah under the baton of Dame Jane Glover in December 2023 as well as the NACO tour under the baton of Maestro Alexander Shelley.
About Maestro Varjabed:
Canadian-Armenian David has enjoyed a distinguished career as both an operatic baritone and music director of Opera Belcanto of York. He received a Master of Arts Degree in Opera Performance and Voice Pedagogy from the Komitas National Conservatory in Yerevan, Armenia. He studied with baritone Gino Becchi and pursued a successful singing career with the Armenian National Opera Company. In 1974 David Varjabed made his debut with the Canadian Opera Company, performing in many principal roles, including Germont (La Traviata), Valentin (Faust), Count Di Luna (Il Trovatore), Rodrigo (Don Carlos) among others. He toured extensively in Europe, the U.S., and the former USSR. David was a winner at the Vancouver Opera Competition and finalist in New York at the Metropolitan Opera National Competition. He was made an Honorary Life Member of the Armenian National Opera, and in 2008, was awarded a Medal by the Armenian government for his 35 years of musical career achievements.