“. . .Sophie Louise Roland's Carmen was both powerful and delightfully seductive...In the end, Carmen proves to be a perfect mirror of its namesake, a spirited, intoxicating and seductive performance.” -   Glenn Kaufmann, The Herald Times

Hailed for her “excellence, purity of voice and emotional intensity,” Sophie Louise Roland recently sang the roles of Madonna Capuleti and Tebaldo in the International Opera Theater’s world premiere of Romeo e Giulietta in Citta della Pieve (Italy), Carmen with both American Opera Theater (Baltimore, MD) and Opera Lirica Italiana, Nicklausse in Les Contes d’Hoffmann with Opera Brasov, Suzuki in Madama Butterfly with Opera Lirica Italiana, as well as the title role in Carmen with both Janiec Opera Company and Indiana University Opera Theater.  Other highlights include La Prieure in Poulenc’s Dialogues des Carmélites, Dame Quickly in Falstaff, La mère in Les Contes d’Hoffmann and Luna in the North American premiere of Jeppe by Sven David Sandström.  Future engagements will see Ms. Roland again in the title role in Carmen in Washington DC, Baltimore, and in Italy, as Purcell’s tragic heroine and the Sorceress in Dido & Æneas, as the title character in Handel’s Jeptha, as Suzuki in Madama Butterfly, as Madonna Capuleti and Tebaldo in the reprise of Romeo e Giulietta with International Opera Theater, and in solo recitals in Sardinia, Philadelphia, Baltimore, London, Hamilton, Québec, Toronto, Elora, and in Italy.  Ms. Roland’s lush voice, dazzling coloratura, engaging stage presence, and deeply expressive musicality have captivated audiences throughout North America and abroad.

In addition to her operatic credits, Ms. Roland recently was featured singing in Jean-Claude Labrecque’s film, Infiniment Québec and on the artist Jorane’s compilation CD, Jorane X. She also appeared in Prokofiev’s Alexander Nevsky under the baton of Maestro Erick Kunzel.  She was also a professional artist in the Song Fest Festival in Malibu, where she worked with international pianist and coach Martin Katz.  Ms. Roland has appeared in concert with ensembles such as the Guelph Chamber Choir, the Evansville Philharmonic Orchestra, The Indianapolis Chamber Orchestra, Symphony Hamilton, London Fanshawe Symphonic Orchestra, the Windsor Symphony and the Kitchener-Waterloo Symphony.  Mrs. Roland was chosen to participate for the celebrations in honor of Marilyn Horne’s 70th birthday at Carnegie Hall.

Ms. Roland received her early training in piano, voice, and drama in Quebec. She holds an Honours BMus from Wilfrid Laurier University, an MA in Musicology and MMus in Vocal Performance from the University of Western Ontario, and recently completed a DM in Voice Performance under the tutelage of Ms. Constanza Cuccaro at Indiana University’s Jacobs School of Music.  In addition to maintaining an active directing career, Ms. Roland currently holds the rank of Assistant Professor of Music in the Don Wright Faculty of Music at the University of Western Ontario. Dr. Roland’s students have won National and International competitions such as Metropolitan Opera Ausitions, NATS, and Jacqueline Desmarais Foundation.