Lauded for a ‘sterling’, ‘lyric’ voice, Calgary-based tenor Oliver Munar (he/him/his) is in considerable demand as a concert and operatic soloist. He enjoyed an unexpected, ‘remarkable’ debut as the title role in Mendelssohn’s Elijah, with the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra, ‘sight reading the score live, on stage, and without rehearsal’. The Calgary Herald recognized him for ‘substantial ability’ and ‘considerable vocal gifts’ in a 2019 production of Monteverdi’s Vespro della Beata Vergine with Early Music Voices (Calgary) and Rosa Barocca, and is a frequent soloist in productions of Handel’s Messiah around the country. In 2025, he debuted as Evangelist for a production of Bach’s St. John Passion.
On the operatic stage, Oliver performs regularly with Calgary Opera, Calgary Concert Opera, Opera By Request (Toronto) and Straight Up Opera (Edmonton). Recent roles include Narraboth in Strauss’ Salome (2025), Vitek in Janáček’s Věc Makropulos (2024), the Abbé de Chazeuil in Cilea’s Adriana Lecouvreur (2023), and Giuseppe in Verdi’s La traviata (2022). This weekend, he will perform as Le Remendado (Carmen) and the Emperor (Turandot) in Afternoon at the Opera, co-produced by Calgary Civic Symphony and Calgary Concert Opera Company, for which he also served as Chorusmaster.
Oliver trains locally with coach Emily Hamper, and consults with tenors John Tessier and Thomas Cooley. He is a choral section lead for the Cathedral Church of the Redeemer, is a founder chorister of Luminous Voices, and collaborates regularly with Pro Coro Canada.
Oliver has a wonderful message HERE about his ProArts concert on February 18!
Emily Hamper, Pianist and Vocal Coach
Now based in Calgary, Emily Hamper is one of Canada’s most highly regarded vocal coaches. Her work as opera coach, assistant conductor and répétiteur has taken her across Canada and to the USA and Europe, including Opera Theatre of Saint Louis and Slovak National Theatre. She is currently Head Coach at Calgary Opera.
As a collaborator for voice recitals, she has partnered many of Canada’s finest singers for such presenters as Zoomer TV, Montreal Symphony Orchestra, Canadian Opera Company, L’Opéra National de Paris and Queensland Music Festival. She is an alumna of UBC, the University of Toronto, and the Merola opera program at San Francisco Opera, and winner of the “Best Collaborative Pianist” Prize at the Eckhardt-Gramatté National Music Competition. Her strong interest in new music led to her engagement as principal coach and ensemble pianist for the world premiere of the new Canadian opera Silence in the summer of 2025.
Emily began her career on the music staff at the University of Toronto’s Opera Division. She was Music Director of Opera at Wilfrid Laurier University from 2019 – 2022, and for many years a member of the coaching staff at Dolora Zajick’s Institute for Young Dramatic Voices. In 2015, she co-founded the Stratford Summer Music Vocal Academy, an élite program for aspiring singers and pianists. With her passion for mentoring and inspiring young artists, Emily is in demand as masterclass teacher and clinician, and works closely with the McPhee Artists at Calgary Opera.