Barbara King, co-founder of the Calgary Concert Opera Company (CCOC), is thrilling audiences with her “exquisite vocal command of a three octave range” and the possession of a “warm, agile mezzo-soprano voice”. A native of Montréal, Québec, Barbara currently resides in Calgary, Alberta, where she sang as Countess Ceprano with Calgary Opera in Rigoletto. Barbara performed in Don Giovanni as Donna Elvira with the Tuscia Opera Festival in Viterbo, Italy and in I Capuleti ed I Montecchi with Opera by Request in Toronto. Other performances include La Zia Principessa in Suor Angelica and Romeo in I Capuleti ed I Montecchi with the Amalfi Coast Music Festival in Italy, Berta with Opera by Request and Mistress Quickly with Opera Nuova. International concert performances include Carnegie Hall (New York), Felton Fleet Academy (Surrey, England), The Opera Institute of California (San Jose), Coesfeld, Germany, the Amalfi Coast and Tuscia Opera Festivals in Italy, and the Canadian Vocal Arts Institute in Montréal. Upcoming performances include Charlotte in Werther with the CCOC, and Sesto in Giulio Cesare with Elemental Opera.

Chris Gieck, co-founder of the Calgary Concert Opera Company (CCOC), native Calgarian, journeyman roofer, and pianist, entered into the music scene at a very young age playing the piano and trumpet. He performed with an A Capella group as a bass for a number of years at Dr. EP Scarlett. In 2009, Chris was invited to perform in Chicago as a pianist for the DIRTT Environmental Solutions Showroom for NEOCON, and most recently appeared in the Calgary Opera’s production of Aida as a “super”. Chris looks forward to taking part in future productions with the CCOC and possibly The Calgary Opera.

Professional accompanist Grace King received her L.R.S.M in pianoforte teaching from the Royal Schools of Music in London, England and was the winner at the Franz Schubert pianoforte competition in 1961. She was Resident Music Mistress at Bishops High School for girls in Jamaica and taught piano and languages for many years. Grace accompanied singers at the George-Hahle Academy of Music from 2001 to June 2007. Grace is currently a professional accompanist for Barbara and Stuart, and for the CCOC.