BIOGRAPHY

Powerhouse performer, LIZZY HOYT is a unique vocalist who transcends the limitations of musical genre.

A nationally recognized Celtic songwriter, singer, and multi-instrumentalist (fiddle, guitar, harp), she has released five independent albums, two music videos, and given countless concert tours across Canada. Known for bringing history to life with her songs like “Vimy Ridge”, “New Lady on the Prairie”, and “White Feather”, she was awarded the QUEEN’S DIAMOND JUBILEE MEDAL by the Governor General of Canada for her outstanding contribution to commemorating Canadian veterans and history through music. Her fifth album, The Parting Glass (May 3, 2022) is a collection of her favourite traditional songs and features Lizzy’s sublime vocals and poignant arranging. It won the 2023 Canadian Folk Music Award for Traditional Singer of the Year!

“The new album is stunning” - Andy Donnelly, The Celtic Show CKUA

In contrast to her folk music, Lizzy has recently added outstanding opera performances to her name! As Cinderella in Rossini’s LA CENERENTOLA (Manitoba Opera, Brott Opera), Lizzy “dazzled in the title role…tossing off her sparkling coloratura passages” (Winnipeg Free Press). In Purcell’s DIDO AND AENEAS (Manitoba Underground Opera), Opera Canada praised her deeply felt performance which “infused the entire production with aching humanity”. This past season, Lizzy joined a star studded cast including Tracy Dahl and Andriana Chuchman to sing Ruggiero in Handel’s opera, Alcina for MANITOBA CHAMBER ORCHESTRA. She also gave a world premiere performance of a new work commissioned for her by the MCO to highlight both her Celtic and classical singing (The Ruins of Time, by Kevin Lau). In addition to her dramatic work, Lizzy is equally at home with comedic characters. Opera Canada praised her “delicious, tongue-in-cheek characterization infused by keen comedic gifts” as she brought to life a passionate, positive, and fearless JULIA CHILD in Hoiby’s one-woman opera, "Bon Appétit” for Little Opera Company.

Baroque and bel canto music have been a natural fit with her background in traditional music and fiddling. Her sparkling coluratura, original ornamentation, rich mezzo sound and dramatic sense allow her to deliver exceptional performances ranging from chamber cantatas to pinnacle roles such as Rossini’s Cenerentola and Handel’s Ariodante.

Passionate about classical song repertoire, Lizzy has performed with Manitoba Chamber Orchestra, Orchestra Borealis, Symphony of the Kootenays, Lethbridge Symphony and Concordia Symphony and has given recitals for Skywalk Concerts (Virtuosi), Edmonton Recital Society, St. Albert Chamber Music Society, Flipside Opera and Art Song Collective, Winnipeg Classical Guitar Society, and Arts on 817.

A member of Manitoba Opera’s 2020 Emerging Artist Program, she continues private studies with her teacher and mentor, Tracy Dahl, as well as with esteemed singers John Tessier and Peter Harvey. A participant in Tafelmusik’s Baroque Summer Institute, she also holds a Post-Bacceleaureate Diploma with distinction from the University of Manitoba and a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Sociology from the University of Alberta.

REPERTOIRE

CONCERT | ORCHESTRA

BACH, J.C.
Lamento - Ach, dass ich Wassers gnug

BACH, J.S.
St. John Passion (alto)
Mass in B minor (sop II)
Magnificat (alto)
BWV 78
BWV 170
BWV 181

BERLIOZ
Les Nuits D’Été

CHAUSSON
Poème de l’amour et de la mer

de FALLA
Siete canciones populares españolas

HANDEL
Messiah
HWV 145 - La Lucrezia

LAU
The Ruins of Time
(Commission for Lizzy by Manitoba Chamber Orchestra)

MAHLER
Rückert Lieder*

MONTIVERDI
Combattimento di Tancredi e Clorinda
(Testo)

MOZART
Mass in C minor

ROSSINI
Giovanna d’Arco
La Regata Veneziana

* in preparation