Faculty of Music instructor Tracy Dahl received one of this year’s Opera Canada Ruby Awards, given annually to four Canadian artists who have made a significant contribution to opera in Canada.

“It’s fantastic to win because one of the drawbacks of being a Canadian is we tend not to celebrate our own very often and when this award began ten years ago it was a way of recognizing those who contributed in the past and those who are still contributing, and to be recognized with the other three is a huge honour,” Dahl, a coloratura soprano currently performing in Edmonton, said.

“I don’t know that if this will have any profound effect on prolonging my career or just affirming that it has been one of integrity and commitment. I don’t really know. There hasn’t been many recipients who are still active in their careers so it will be interesting to see what effect it will have.”

Dahl, a three-time Juno nominee, has been performing for 25 years and teaching at the U of M for about 13 years. And although her schedule can be difficult to work around her students and the Faculty are pleased that they have a teacher still active in the field. As Dahl notes, while some professors publish papers or write books to be active in their work, she performs across North America.

“The Marcel A. Desautels Faculty of Music is very fortunate to have Tracy Dahl as an instructor and colleague,” Dean of Music Edmund Dawe said. “She is a fine teacher and a first-rate artist who has earned international accolades for her work in numerous operatic roles and recitals.”

These prestigious awards are named in honour of Ruby Mercer, the founding editor of Opera Canada Magazine. The award ceremony was held in Toronto in mid-October.

For more information contact Sean Moore, public affairs, University of Manitoba, 204- 474-7963 (sean_moore@umanitoba.ca).