Christopher Mokrzewski
Pianist, vocal coach and conductor Christopher “Topher” Mokrzewski is a steadily rising figure in the worlds of Canadian opera and chamber music. He was recently appointed Resident Conductor of Calgary Opera, and is a founding member and Music Director of Against the Grain Theatre. A 2008 graduate of the Canadian Opera Company Ensemble Studio, he has been described by music critic John Terauds as “one of those bright, eager, whip-smart young artists who could give even the most hardened cynic a jolt of optimism about the future of classical music and opera.”
Praised by Opera Canada for his “exemplary playing in its clarity and lyricism”, Christopher is frequently sought as a soloist, collaborator and music director. This season he participated on the music staff of the Canadian Opera Company’s highly acclaimed production of Wagner’s Tristan und Isolde, Calgary Opera’s Otello and Opera Atelier’s The Magic Flute. He also gave a solo piano recital at the Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts and is in the midst of a full season of performances with Against the Grain Theatre.
In recent seasons Christopher participated as a coach and répétiteur for the COC’s production of Rigoletto, Opera Atelier’s La clemenza di Tito, Saskatoon Opera’s Don Pasquale, and music directed Against the Grain Theatre’s sold-out and critically acclaimed runs of Britten’s The Turn of the Screw and Kurt Weill’s The Seven Deadly Sins. He also gave several well-received performances at the Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts including appearances with soprano Ekaterina Sadovnikovna, tenor Richard Margison, mezzo-soprano Krisztina Szabo and tenor Lawrence Wiliford. He has served as apprentice vocal coach and répétiteur for the COC’s Don Giovanni, Fidelio, La Bohème and the Ensemble Studio production of Così fan tutte, and has held music staff positions at the Chautauqua Institution under the direction of renowned pedagogue Marlena Malas and at the Highlands Opera Studio under the direction of celebrated tenor Richard Margison and stage director Valerie Kuinka.
Notable collaborations include an appearance with soprano Measha Brueggergosman and violinist Lara St. John at Roy Thomson Hall, a performance of John Adams’s riveting two-piano masterpiece Hallelujah Junction with pianist Daniel Pesca, live radio and television segments on CBC and Classical 96.3 FM with sopranos Simone Osborne and Shannon Mercer, a concert of lieder and art song with baritone Peter McGillivray, and a performance of Messiaen's Thème et variations with COC concertmaster Marie Bérard. Other credits include assistant conductor for La Cenerentola at the Bay View Music Festival, music director for Assassins at Eastman Opera Theatre, coach and assistant chorus master for Norma and Die Entführung aus dem Serail with Mercury Opera Rochester, and coach for Cendrillon, L’étoile, L’enfant et les sortilèges and Claudia Legare with Eastman Opera Theatre.
Christopher holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees in piano performance from the Eastman School of Music, and is a graduate of the Vocal Piano Program at the Music Academy of the West in Santa Barbara, California, where he studied with renowned vocal coach and collaborator Warren Jones. From a young age he enjoyed success as a solo pianist, performing his first concerto with symphony orchestra at the age of 11, and winning first prizes at the Eastman School of Music International Young Artists Competition, the Milosz Magin International Piano Competition (leading to a residency in Paris), the Empire State Piano Competition and the Canadian Music Competition.
SELECTED PRESS
“Topher Mokrzewski leads a busy musical life”
- Trish Crawford, Toronto Star
“Local boy moves on: Christopher Mokrzewski named Calgary Opera’s resident conductor” - John Terauds, Musical Toronto
“Topher and the French connection”
- Leslie Barcza, Barcza Blog
“Christopher Mokrzewski brings variety and collaborative spirit to Toronto’s vocal scene” - John Terauds, Musical Toronto
“Frighteningly good: Against the Grain Theatre’s The Turn of the Screw”
- Jon Kaplan, NOW Magazine
“AtG - 7DS = Against the Grain Theatre’s Seven Deadly Sins”
- Leslie Barcza, Barcza Blog
UPCOMING PERFORMANCES
May 16, 2013 at 12 p.m.
Preview of Figaro’s Wedding with Against the Grain Theatre
Richard Bradshaw Amphitheatre, Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts (click for details)
May 29, 30, 31 and June 2, 2013 at 7:30 p.m.
Figaro’s Wedding
Against the Grain Theatre
(click for details)
CONTACT
Pianist / Vocal Coach / Conductor
