2025 Adjudicators

Canadian Korean baritone Clarence Frazer, a "singer/actor at the top of his game" (Opera Going Toronto), has been recently hailed for his "first rate comedic timing" (Vancouver Sun) and "unique musical performative power that demands a wider audience in a myriad of differing roles" (Ludwig Van Toronto).

This season, Clarence joins Flipside Opera for Wolf's Italienisches Liederbuch alongside Tracy Dahl, returns to Vancouver Opera as the Steward in Jonathon Dove's Flight and debuts with Manitoba Opera as Schaunard in their production of Puccini's La bohème. Subsequently, he creates the role of Eadric in Nuova Vocal Arts' world premiere of Leslie Uyeda's Silence, a chamber opera based on the award-winning satirical play by Moira Buffini.

Clarence recently debuted with Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra, Symphony Nova Scotia and Thunder Bay Symphony in performances of Handel's Messiah, and was the baritone soloist in "God, Thy Earth is Aflame" by Latvian composer Lucija Garuta, with Ottawa Choral Society. A frequent collaborator with Chorus Niagara, this season Clarence returns for Bach's B Minor Mass.

Frazer's recent operatic engagements include Papageno (The Magic Flute - Vancouver Opera), Silvio (Pagliacci - Opera Kelowna), Demetrius (Midsummer Night's Dream - Vancouver Opera), Guglielmo (Cosi fan tutte - Edmonton Opera, Canadian Opera Company), as well as El Payador in María de Buenos Aires with Orchestre classique de Montréal. Clarence starred as Figaro in Il barbiere di Siviglia with the Canadian Opera Company, Pacific Opera Victoria, Saskatoon Opera and sang Marcello with both Saskatoon Opera and Against the Grain Theatre to great accclaim. Additional credits include Jean in Canadian Stage's Julie (North American Premiere) and as William Cormack in Shanawdithit (World Premiere) with Tapestry Opera.

An alumnus of Canadian Opera Company's prestigious Ensemble Studio and Calgary Opera's McPhee Artist Development Program, Clarence holds a degree in Vocal Performance from the University of Western Ontario. As a teacher, Clarence has taught for Nuova Vocal Arts, presented masterclasses with the University of Western Ontario and the University of Windsor, and served as a panelist for the 2024 Hnatyshyn Foundation vocal prize.