Our Musicians
OUR MUSICIANS
Leah Weitzner, Soprano
Leah Weitzner is a mezzo-soprano, viola da gambist, and researcher dedicated to illuminating unexplored early repertoire and re-interpreting historical performance practices. She is a recent graduate from McGill University holding a Bachelor of Music degree in early music vocal performance. Currently, she is pursuing a master's degree in Musicology at McGill, with research interests rooted in Renaissance improvisation and oral traditions. Leah is a 2022-23 recipient of the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada Graduate research grant. She intends to further explore performance practices of ritual devotion among women in 16th-century Italy.
Colleen Bartley - Mezzo-Soprano
Montréal-based mezzo-soprano Colleen Bartley has established an active performance and teaching career. Ms. Bartley is passionate about sharing her knowledge and experience with students of all ages. She seeks to understand and help individuals develop their own unique voice, and pursue their musical journey. An accomplished recitalist, Ms. Bartley has presented numerous recitals for Christ Church Cathedral's L'Oasis Musicale concert series, alongside pianist Lauretta Altman. Other highlights include a concert for Passiontide with violinist Sara Bohl Pistolesi, and cellist Donald Pistolesi at Congress Hall, St. Patrick's Basilica, where she performed Telemann Cantatas and Robert Fleming's dramatic piece, "The Confession Stone." Most recently, she interpreted the role of Lola in Mascagni’s Cavalleria Rusticana under the direction of Johanne Patry. Additionally, Ms. Bartley can be heard singing the National Anthem at Salle Wilfrid Pelletier (Place Des Arts), during all of Concordia University's Convocation ceremonies. A graduate of Concordia University, Ms. Bartley received both her Bachelor’s and Graduate degrees in Classical Voice Performance under the tutelage of Beverly McGuire, and also studied piano with Elizabeth Haughey.
Matthew Adam - Baritone
Matthew Adam is a Canadian-born baritone hailing from Montréal, Québec, with a love and passion for performing opera and art song, including French mélodie and lieder. Having completed a double-dec in music and social science at Marianopolis College, Matthew then received his Bachelor’s degree in Voice Performance from the renowned Schulich School of Music at McGill University. While attending McGill, Matthew was recognized with many awards, which include: the prestigious E. Gordon Cleather Scholarship on the basis of excellence in performance, the Duncan L. Campbell Memorial Award demonstrating a keen interest in art songs and oratorio repertoire, and one of the first recipients of the Wayne Riddell Choral Award for showing outstanding interest in choral music and conducting. Matthew has represented both Québec and Canada, having been selected to sing with the National Youth Choir of Canada three times and the World Youth Choir, where he toured China and Inner Mongolia, respectively. He also attended Domaine Forget International Music Festival, and in the summer of 2023 received both the Austrian Society Scholarship from McGill University, and the Richard Owens Founder’s Scholarship, to attend the American Institute of Musical Studies (AIMS) in Graz, Austria. Similarly, Matthew is a CANIMEX provincial and national finalist, and performs regularly with the Grammy Award-winning Shaar Hashomayim Choir and appears frequently in vocal masterclasses. Matthew just completed his Master’s in Voice Performance and Opera at the Schulich School of Music, with recent credits including Monsieur Presto in Poulenc’s Les Mamelles de Tirésias (Opera McGill) and was the cover of Masetto in Mozart’s Don Giovanni (Opera McGill).
John Johnston - Bass
John Johnston is a baritone based in Montreal. Originally from Saskatchewan, he sings regularly with l’Orchestre symphonique de Montréal, l’Opéra de Montréal, and at Shaare Zion Congregation. He has sung song, opera, musical theatre, and contemporary music throughout North America and Europe. In addition to singing, John also works in research administration. He holds degrees in voice from Western University and the Peabody Conservatory of the Johns Hopkins University. He also holds a degree in French from Concordia University. He received additional musical training at the Franz-Schubert-Institut in Baden-bei-Wien, Austria and the Gabriela Lena Frank Creative Academy of Music in Northern California. His undergraduate studies were supported by the Saskatchewan Arts Board, and his graduate research into Yiddish art song by Canadian composers was supported by the Joseph-Armand Bombardier Scholarship from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada. His current research centres on queer Yiddishkeit before 1939.
John Johnston is a baritone based in Montreal. Originally from Saskatchewan, he sings regularly with l’Orchestre symphonique de Montréal, l’Opéra de Montréal, and at Shaare Zion Congregation. He has sung song, opera, musical theatre, and contemporary music throughout North America and Europe. In addition to singing, John also works in research administration. He holds degrees in voice from Western University and the Peabody Conservatory of the Johns Hopkins University. He also holds a degree in French from Concordia University. He received additional musical training at the Franz-Schubert-Institut in Baden-bei-Wien, Austria and the Gabriela Lena Frank Creative Academy of Music in Northern California. His undergraduate studies were supported by the Saskatchewan Arts Board, and his graduate research into Yiddish art song by Canadian composers was supported by the Joseph-Armand Bombardier Scholarship from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada. His current research centres on queer Yiddishkeit before 1939.