Kwagiulth and Stó:lō, English, Irish, Scottish mezzo-soprano Marion Newman (she/her) “sings with rich, opulent tone, and her delivery pulses with the multiple meanings of her duplicitous existence.” (Opera News) Roles she has been acclaimed for include Rosina in The Barber of Seville and Carmen, Dr. Wilson in Missing and she was nominated for a Dora Award in the title role of Shanawdithit. Marion’s discography includes The Lesson of Da Ji, with Marion in the title role. Released in 2016, this disc won Critics Choice in Opera News. Other recordings include five discs with the Aradia Ensemble for Naxos: Polly by Samuel Arnold, Sacred Music by Vivaldi, and Griselda, also by Vivaldi, Handel’s Rinaldo and Charpentier’s Messe de Minuit pour Noel and Te Deum.
Marion has been a member of the Indigenous Advisory Council of the Regina Symphony since its inception and sits on the advisory board of the Canadian Music Centre of BC, the Association for Opera in Canada and is part of the Circle of Indigenous Artists for the Canadian Opera Company. During the pandemic Marion has been working on rising to the expectations of her talented and respected colleagues who continue to give her opportunities to share her voice as a speaker, teacher, facilitator and dramaturge at universities, opera companies, arts organizations and as a Co-Founder of Amplified Opera. Upcoming appearances include Migrations in her debut with the Welsh National Opera and as guest curator for The Chan Centre UBC, 21/22 season.