with UBC Opera

Soprano

Sarah Richardson

Sarah Richardson is a Canadian soprano from Port Moody, British Columbia, who recently graduated with a Master of Music in Opera Performance from the University of British Columbia under Nancy Hermiston. She completed her Bachelor of Music at the University of Toronto, where she studied with Elizabeth McDonald. This January, Sarah competed in the Metropolitan Opera Laffont Competition in the Los Angeles district, where she won an Encouragement Award.

Her recent roles with UBC Opera include Cleopatra in Handel’s Giulio Cesare, Pamina in Die Zauberflöte, the title role in Manon in collaboration with Opera West Society, Rose Maurrant in Street Scene, and Si Fung on UBC Opera’s China tour of Thunderstorm. In December, she appeared as the soprano soloist with the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra for their Traditional Christmas concert series. As a  2022 Young Artist at SongFest in San Francisco, Sarah participated in masterclasses with Graham Johnson, Martin Katz, and Libby Larsen. She made her Operatic debut with the Summer Opera Lyric Theatre in 2024 as Mimì in La Bohème.

Mezzo-Soprano

Katie Fraser

Mezzo-soprano Katie Fraser is a recent graduate of the University of British Columbia, BMus (2020) and MMus (2022) in Opera Performance, having studied under the direction of Nancy Hermiston, Krisztina Szabó, Heidi Melton and Rhoslyn Jones. This summer Katie resumes the role as co-director for the UBC Summer Vocal Workshop. A two week intensive for singers ages 13 and up. Katie was recently part of a 9 city tour of China singing the role of Shi Ping in Kangnian Tang’s opera Thunderstorm. Earlier in the year she was a featured soloist for the Valentine’s concert series in the Czech Republic under the baton of Norbert Baxa and joined by members of the Czech National Symphony. She is pleased to be returning to the Vancouver Opera chorus for their productions of Tosca and La Traviata in the 2026/2027 season. Past credits include Dorabella in Mozart’s Cosi fan tutte, Prince Charming in Massenet’s Cendrillon, Shi Ping in Kangnian Tang’s Thunderstorm, Frau Reich in Nicolai’s Die Lustigen Weiber von Windsor, Hansel in Humperdinck’s Hansel and Gretel, Jezibaba in Dvorak’s Rusalka, Tree Spirit in Shadow Catch, Cherubino in Mozart’s Le nozze di Figaro, Tessa in Gilbert & Sullivan’s The Gondoliers, Julia Bertram in Dove’s Mansfield Park with the UBC Opera Ensemble.

Tenor

Jonathon Chan

As a recent graduate of the University of British Columbia’s Opera program, Jonathon Chan is an aspiring multi-instrumentalist. His musical journey began at the age of five, when he started learning piano at the Vancouver Academy of Music, with viola and voice following soon after. Since then, he received numerous awards in these fields, from performing in Calgary in the Canadian Music Competition (CMC) for piano. Jonathon has also received an Honours with Distinction of RCM level 7 in voice and the highest mark in BC and Yukon region. He has also graduated from the RCM with the Associate of the Royal Conservatory of Toronto (ARCT) diploma for music theory, music history, piano, as well as level 10 in viola. In 2022, while still a high school senior, he joined the UBC Opera production of Rusalka and made his opera debut. Beyond the stage, Jonathon has worked as an Audio, Lighting, and Video Technician with UBC Opera, Vancouver Academy of Music, and Nebula Performances and has been a backstage manager and mentor for young musicians. Whether performing, or working behind the scenes, he is dedicated to creating meaningful musical experiences and is continuing to grow as a well rounded artist.

Tenor

Millen Sandhu

Vancouver-born tenor Millen Sandhu is currently entering his fourth year of study at UBC Opera. A dedicated student of vocal performance, he recently performed the title role in Leonard Bernstein’s Candide at the Old Auditorium. In addition to his vocal pursuits, Millen serves as the President of the Music Undergraduate Students’ Association, balancing his artistic development with leadership within the university community.

Baritone

Luka Kawabata 川端ルカ

Known for his “warm, rich tone” (La Scena Musicale), Nikkei-Canadian baritone and producer Luka Kawabata 川端ルカ has built his artistic life in the space between cultures, disciplines, and the stories he’s sung versus the ones he’s now building. A graduate of the Yulanda M. Faris Young Artist Program, Luka has performed across the country from Victory to St John’s, with a special home at Vancouver Opera. As a lifelong polyglot passionate about seldom-heard languages in classical music, Luka channels his own mixed-race, multilingual upbringing into The HAFU ハーフ Project, a multidisciplinary exploration of identity, memory, and the Japanese-Canadian experience. Follow his story at @lukakawabata

Pianist

Eunice Park

Pianist, YoonHye Eunice Park made her acclaimed debut with the Busan Philharmonic Orchestra and has since performed internationally at prestigious venues, including Carnegie Hall, Merkin Hall, and Roy Thomson Hall. A graduate of the Manhattan School of Music (BM/MM), she is highly regarded for her versatility, having collaborated with Metropolitan Opera singers and elite faculty from The Juilliard School and the University of Toronto. Following her successful careers in New York and Toronto, Ms. Park relocated to Vancouver, where she joined the faculty of the UBC School of Music as an opera coach in early 2025. With over 20 years of experience, she continues her vibrant work as a performer, collaborative artist, and dedicated mentor.