Opera Canada - 15 Qs for Emma Pennell
“I like the idea of a big, stinking powerful voice in a big, stinking powerful body on a big, stinking powerful stage”
CBC Music
27-year-old Indigenous singer Emma Pennell wins $25K award
“Not many people who come from places that I come from have these opportunities and so I owe it to all the Indigenous people that I've met along the way”
The Globe and Mail
“Rising Indigenous soprano Emma Pennell to sing in The Handmaid’s Tale opera at Banff Centre”
CBC Music
30 Hot Canadian classical musicians under 30
“Two-spirit singer Emma Pennell advocates for Indigenous opera performers.”
— Western Alumni Magazine
Western News
“I wanted to be in the room, loud and proud of who I am”
— Emma Pennell - Western News Interview
“a charming First Lady…they have great clarity of tone in this repertoire, and their personal magnetism made them stand out…”
— Opera Canada, Michael Jones
“AN EFFORTLESS SOPRANO THAT YOU COULD LISTEN TO FOR DAYS.”
— Toronto Star
“Emma Pennell is blessed with a delectably mellow voice of delicate sweetness. It caresses the ear.”
— Paula Citron, Ludwig Van Toronto
“I was struck by the powerful vocal and dramatic performance of Mother Marie by soprano Emma Pennell.”
— Ludwig Van Toronto, 2024
“Emma Pennell is solid as a rock as Mère Marie.”
— Opera Ramblings 2024
“Of the four works, Ice Time was the most enjoyable. The music by composer Chan Ka Nin — of Iron Road and Dragon’s Tale fame — is tonal and accessible. It also featured two of the best voices of the evening, with top vocal honours to soprano Emma Pennell as the reluctant figure skater.”
— Ludwig Van Toronto, 2023
“First up was Ice Time by Ka Nin Chan and Mark Brownell. It’s the story of a has been ice skater and her futile attempts to get her daughter, who wants to be a civil engineer, to follow in her footsteps (or icy equivalent). The music is in much the same vein as other works by this composer such as Dragon’s Tale. It’s a pretty light hearted piece and it got a lively and credible account from Emma Pennell as the daughter...”
— Opera Ramblings, 2023