_{Artist of the Week} 17 Qs for Holly Chaplin

What/who inspired you to sing?
Disney’s renaissance. Specifically Pocahantas’ “Colours of the Wind” and Ariel’s vocalise sprung my love for all things music and theatre. 

The “who” is a longer list. My siblings joined a community choir (High Park Choirs) when I was four, and I would go to the rehearsals and sit with my Mom while they rehearsed. I would sing along and joined the choir when I was six. The “who” here was Ann Cooper-Gay, who was my first unofficial masterclass technician for a then six-year-old Holly’s version of “Voi che sapete” in quasi Italian gibberish. 

One person who I’d like to mention is Allison Arends. She doesn’t know me, but I was in the chorus when she sang a beautiful Lucia about a decade ago. Experiencing her artistry kicked off my own journey into the world of bel canto, specifically with Lucia. Thanks Allison. 🙂

Favourite place?
I love to travel and I can’t choose one place, so here are a few:
Arugam Bay, Sri Lanka 
Dubrovnik, Croatia
Huatulco, Mexico
Hobbiton, New Zealand

Top 3 favourite composers?
Verdi, Ravel and Donizetti. 

What’s the strangest/funniest thing that has happened to you on stage?
The funniest thing that has happened to me (and the entire cast of an opera I hesitate to name) …story time! 

The production  had a scene in a military field hospital where everyone was arguing. The nurses were keeling over with exhaustion, nuns were yelling at doctors, people were dying. etc. Musically, it was chaotic. The music was difficult, and not melodious in any helpful way. Through this scene an audience member started snoring. Not cute snoring – like sleep apnea snoring. Most of the cast could hear this person snoozing, and we all started to panic since the music was about to stop to signify the end of the war. What was really stressful was the dialogue during this silence, which was “what’s that sound?” 

There was supposed to be a moment where everyone on stage is stunned by this silence, but if we “followed the plan” then we’d just get laughter due to the snoring. The next line “The war is over!” was delivered instantly. I laugh about it to this day. 

What’s the best thing about being an opera artist?
There is no singular best thing about it; it’s a Monet. I love that I can live hundreds of lives through the characters I get to portray. Repeat roles are a special gift since you are a different person with new life experiences than you were last time, and with that, there is always more to find within the character. 

I love the escape that is being part of a temporary universe and watching creative teams bring that universe to life. I love how the score gives you literally everything, including your character’s feelings and movements on stage. I love the people I have gotten to know, and to get to watch how our story changes everyone involved. Being an opera artist continues to be my Everest, and I am so grateful for every step of this climb. 

Which of your roles has had the greatest impact on your perspective?
Violetta. She was incredibly hard for me emotionally. No, I’m not a courtesan, but she did make me ask a lot of hard questions about my future. I wouldn’t trade my passion for anything, and that’s what makes being a professional artist so hard, but what do you do when your life starts crashing down? When your health starts to fail? When you feel that your love has become a burden? Violetta made me take stock of my support network, and for that I am grateful to my family and friends who continue to encourage me on this climb. 

Which opera role do you want to be singing in 10 years?
I would love to sing Norma. She’s one of my dream roles. 

Do you sing in the shower?
Obviously. It’s the cheapest venue Toronto has! 

What’s a big investment for an opera artist, but totally worth it?
Investing in yourself (lessons, coachings, physical and mental health, etc.) is the biggest and best investment you can make…but also good stage shoes.

Do you enjoy cooking? If yes, what is your best dish?
I love to cook. It’s creative, like jazz. I enjoy cooking Mediterranean cuisine the most. Baking can be fun, but it’s more fussy, like chemistry. My sister is an amazing baker so I leave all the special treats to her.

Favourite city that you’ve worked in? 
Ottawa in the summer or fall. It’s beautiful. 

If you weren’t a singer, you’d be..?
I would be a mechanic. I loved working on my own car when I had time during the pandemic. I also got accepted into a program at Centennial College in 2022, but then I was offered a role at the same time that the program would start. I believe it was fate. 

What’s your favourite movie?
It’s a three way tie between Forrest Gump, Chicago and Catch Me If You Can. 

When did you know you wanted to be an opera singer?
When I was in grade three, I was in our class’s staging of “Good King Wenceslas” for the Christmas concert. My teacher chose three names from a hat, and I got the part! The teacher’s name was Mrs. Dube. She was an incredible new teacher from Trinidad, who made all the costumes and props for our class. I wonder if she knows the impact it had on me. That is the earliest memory I have of wanting to be a performer. 

Heels or flats?
Flats. Heels are for masochists. 

What does success look like to you?
Many don’t realise the mental and financial cost of success in this industry. Some of the most successful musicians I have worked with share the same anxieties as “less successful” musicians: “Will I ever be cast again?” Success to me is finding balance in your work, relationships and adventure. 

What’s your favourite non-classical band?
I recently discovered Iron Maiden.