A year ago he was eating authentic Italian pizza and rehearsing an opera for performances in the Teatro comunale Citt脿 di Vicenza in Vicenza, Italy. Today celebrated tenor Spencer McKnight is creating videos, anticipating the rescheduling of concerts, and in what is great news for Outlook, preparing to open a vocal studio to teach aspiring students here at home.
As a teenager Spencer was like most young people. He played hockey, volleyball, curled, ran track and took part in student government, unaware he had a voice that just a few years later would be described as one of the finest tenor voices in Canada. Thankfully, a trip to a musical production stirred an interest in singing and that put him on a path that would see him to take to concert stages across the country and, as of last summer, into Europe.
In February 2019 Spencer won the Gordon Wallis Opera Competition, receiving prize money to be used for educational purposes. Since his voice teacher had been asked to teach in Italy that summer Spencer declared his interest in 小蓝视频 part of that. He then auditioned for an opera and was given a lead in Don Giovanni聽by Wolfgang Mozart.
Don Giovanni聽is one of many retellings of the famous philanderer Don Juan and follows the impact of his actions on three different families. Murder, revenge and seduction set up an ending in which Giovanni is dragged to hell to pay for his sins. Spencer remarked, 鈥淚t is a comedy, but it has some very dramatic moments.鈥�
Spencer played Don Ottavio, a role considered vocally challenging. 鈥淢ozart roles are all unique in the way they need to be sung,鈥� Spencer explained. 鈥淢ost of his tenor parts are not overly high, but they do tend to be a bit low for many tenors.鈥� The style itself makes it difficult to get accustomed to. 鈥淥ne thing that Mozart uses a lot in his opera is recitative, which is where most of the exposition happens in the opera,鈥� Spencer explained. 鈥淭he style of singing Mozart recitative is very different from almost any other recitative.鈥�
The international cast had a good time working together, even amidst a more laid-back approach some were unaccustomed to. 鈥淚n Italy in the summer 鈥� things sort of happen when they happen,鈥� he mused. 鈥淚f you don鈥檛 start a rehearsal on time in North America someone is usually in trouble for that, whereas in Italy it seems most things start a few minutes late and things like props and costumes and sets eventually get done at some point before opening night.鈥�
The performance venue in Vicenza was a newer 910-seat theatre with particularly good acoustics. Spencer had never performed in Italian in front of a primarily Italian audience before so he said that was a little nerve wracking. However, when the reviews came in he was commended for 小蓝视频 easily understood.
After the performances of Don Giovanni聽came to an end Spencer headed to Bologna to compete in an international vocal competition. 鈥淚 made it to the semifinals, which was extremely exciting,鈥� he said. 鈥淚 ended up staying in Bologna for a few extra days and really enjoyed the city. It is small enough that you can walk the entire old part of the city in about an afternoon, but it is so full of culture!鈥�
Spencer鈥檚 six weeks in Italy were filled with highlights: good food, Pride celebrations in Milan, and two operas at the Verona Arena which is similar to the Colosseum that was completed in 30 A.D.
After returning to Canada Spencer sang the Saint Cecilia Mass by Gounod with the Regina Philharmonic Chorus in November and then Handel鈥檚 Messiah with the Saskatoon Symphony Orchestra in December. Right before lockdown in March he made his TCU Place debut singing the tenor solo in Rebecca Dale鈥檚 Materna Requiem with the Saskatoon Symphony Orchestra. 鈥淚t was an amazing experience, considering the composer came all the way from England to watch and be at rehearsals,鈥� he said.
Although it鈥檚 been hard not to be performing due to the pandemic, Spencer has been able to keep working virtually with his pianist creating videos and while it鈥檚 not the same as 小蓝视频 in front of an audience, it allows him to keep 小蓝视频 creative. He is also getting ready to start a voice studio in Outlook and will be welcoming students of all age ranges, 6-99. 鈥淢y hopes as a teacher are to be able to inspire students and show them how easy it is to sing with good technique,鈥� he explained. 鈥淢any young singers think things need to feel like you鈥檙e working hard so you know it鈥檚 working, but it should feel easy!鈥�
He can be reached at [email protected]. The chance for aspiring singers in and around Outlook to work with Spencer is indeed a unique opportunity. His approach says a lot about who he is. 鈥淢y goal is to be supportive and guide them on their vocal journey鈥� adding, 鈥淚 hope they can expect to have some fun.鈥�
