The Artist of the Week is Canadian baritone Justin Welsh. He will be singing the role of Schaunard in Vancouver Opera‘s production of La bohème from April 25th to May 3rd (tickets and info here).
Justin can be seen and heard on stages all across the country. In recent seasons he has performed with the Canadian Opera Company, Calgary Opera, l’Orchestre symphonique de Montréal, Vancouver Opera, Edmonton Opera, Pacific Opera Victoria, Tapestry Opera and Voicebox: Opera in Concert.
This week, Justin chats with us about the singers he admires, his love of cooking and which role he would sing if he was a mezzo for a day. Read on to find out more.
When was your first singing lesson (and with whom)?
My first lesson was when I was 10 years old with the late Katie Drysdale in Vancouver.
Who/what inspired you to sing?
Connecting with people would be the what, and who was those who needed to hear.
Top 3 favourite composers?
Mozart
Mahler
Gershwin
Top 3 favourite operas?
The Marriage of Figaro
Rigoletto
Porgy and Bess
Who is a singer you admired from the past?
George London and Bryn Terfel.
What’s the strangest/funniest thing that has happened to you on stage?
In Vancouver, many years ago when VOA did Aida, they decided to have a live horse on stage. During a performance, during strong dramatic moments, the horse began to poop on stage. To top it, we had a “soldier” come out with a scooper to clean up as the show went on.
What’s your favourite thing about singing with an orchestra?
To be able to work in collaboration – hearing all the instruments in tandem and feeling the immense power of their sound, especially during those times the music swells.
Which role do you wish you could sing, but is not in your voice type?
Mezzo… Carmen.
What was the first opera you ever saw?
Le Nozze di Figaro at 14 which, at the time, I didn’t like. I thought opera was super boring at the time.
What’s your ancestry?
Heritage from Trinidad and Tobago.
What’s the downside of being an opera artist?
I think for many, being away from your home base and the challenges of not only diving into a new role but trying to uphold the traditions from the opera’s rich history but having your own unique spin on the role.
What’s the best thing about being an opera artist?
New experiences and meeting new people, which builds great relationships and, even better, many interesting stories to tell.
Which album did you listen to last?
Samara Joy (jazz vocalist), Portrait.
What’s a big investment for an opera artist, but totally worth it?
Connecting with a coach or vocal teacher who believes in you but can always be straight when you don’t do something right, so you can grow through your career.
Do you enjoy cooking? If yes, what is your best dish?
Yes. Seared duck breast with blueberry apple sauce, whipped mashed potatoes and asparagus with drizzled olive oil and balsamic vinegar.
What is the best advice you have ever been given?
Make sure you live life towards your passions; no matter how big or how small, it is always a part of you. It fuels your soul and is everything that makes you, you.
The music industry is tough, and filled with rejection. How do you cope? Does it get easier?
I remind myself that rejection has nothing to do with you, but other opinions, and when you do connect with another project you achieve, go as far as you can to make it yours. Yes, it does get easier, especially if you develop mantras and philosophies.
Does singing help keep you young?
Definitely, especially comedic or active productions.
When was the first time you cried at the opera?
Playing Marcello in Montreal in 2016 when Mimì dies (spoiler). I always pictured or imagined a true loved one (like my wife) in a similar situation. It’s hard not to tear up near the end of Bohème.
Does performing in different locations impact your performance?
Yes, it’s a way to find new ideas for characters for the production. Also, as singers, climate (humidity especially), time of year and actual venue can really impact performance.
Which of your roles has had the greatest impact on your perspective?
When I played Scarpia about 10 years ago, showing I had the capability for more mature or serious roles to dive into. Or
learning I can completely shave my head and look good when I had to do it for Queequeg in Calgary.
© Michael Cooper
As Schaunard in La bohème at The Canadian Opera Company
© Michael Cooper
As Schaunard in La bohème at The Canadian Opera Company
© Nanc Price
As Leporello in Don Giovanni at Edmonton Opera
© Michael Cooper
As Gregorio in Roméo et Juliette at The Canadian Opera Company
La bohème
Vancouver Opera
CONDUCTOR: Jonathan Darlington
DIRECTOR: Brenna Corner
MIMI: Jonelle Sills/Lucia Cesaroni
MUSETTA: Lara Ciekiewicz
RODOLFO: Matthew White/Zachary Rioux
MARCELLO: Gregory Dahl
COLLINE: Alex Halliday
SCHAUNARD: Juston Welsh
PARPIGNOL: Lyndon Ladeur
BENOIT/ALCINDORO: Thomas Goerz
The 2025–2026 season closes with one of opera’s most enduring love stories, set in the world’s most romantic city, rendered with the most vibrant characters and melodies. Puccini’s masterpiece transports us to the heart of 1890s bohemian life in Paris, where love blossoms amidst dreams, hardships, and the unyielding pursuit of artistic freedom. La Bohème has remained one of the most beloved and frequently performed operas worldwide since its 1896 premiere, due in large part to captivating pieces like “Quando m’en vo”, a.k.a. “Musetta’s Waltz”, and perhaps the most famous duet in opera, “O soave fanciulla”, sung on that moonlit moment when Mimì and Rodolfo fall in love. In a bustling community of artists, students, philosophers, and Quartier Latin café denizens, the deep connection between the young poet Rodolfo and the seamstress Mimì is eventually tested by the bittersweet passage of time and the emotional toll of illness and poverty. VO Music Director Emeritus Jonathan Darlington returns to conduct some of the most romantic and iconic music in opera history, while Pacific Opera Victoria Artistic Director Brenna Corner crosses the Salish Sea to direct a stunning international cast. Whether you’re discovering it for the first time or returning to a beloved classic, La Bohème speaks passionately to the soul, reminding us to cherish the fragility and fleeting beauty of life and love.
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