Hometown: Halifax, NS, Canada

Canadian mezzo-soprano Ellita Gagner, based in Montreal, Quebec, has been praised for her “gorgeous, warm tone and winning gamine personality” (La Scena Musicale). She has performed leading and supporting roles across Canada, including Tetka (Jenůfa), Miss Jessel (The Turn of the Screw), Cendrillon (Cendrillon), Hansel (Hansel and Gretel), Dorabella (Così fan tutte), and Tisbe (La Cenerentola). She has appeared with Opéra de Montréal, Opera Nova Scotia, Brott Opera, Good Mess Opera and University of Toronto Opera.  

A dedicated interpreter of contemporary repertoire, Ellita has collaborated with both established and emerging composers and librettists. She’s workshopped the role of Gabby in Melancholia (Mikael Karlsson/Royce Vavrek) for the Royal Swedish Opera, and Mimi in scenes from Indians on Vacation (Ian Cusson/Royce Vavrek), and will be joining Musique 3 Femmes as a part of their new opera workshops this summer.  

As a concert artist, Ellita has performed Soprano II soloist in Bach’s B minor Mass with Chorus Niagara and Alto Soloist in Handel’s Messiah with the Uxbridge Messiah Singers. 

Ellita is an alumna of several prestigious young artist programs, including the Rebanks Fellowship, DEAP Manitoba Opera, Lunenburg Academy of Music Performance, the Castleton Festival and the Brott Festival.  She is a current member of the Atelier Lyrique at Opéra de Montréal and a Barbara Hannigan Equilibrium Young Artist. Coming up, she will perform Dido (Dido and Aeneas) with Maritime Concert Opera, both Countess Ceprano (Rigoletto) and Celenia (Atys) with Opéra de Montréal, and Alto Soloist (Mozart Requiem) with the Atelier Lyrique.