[et_pb_section bb_built=”1″ admin_label=”section”][et_pb_row admin_label=”row”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″][et_pb_slider admin_label=”Slider” show_arrows=”on” show_pagination=”off” auto=”off” auto_ignore_hover=”off” parallax=”off” parallax_method=”off” remove_inner_shadow=”off” background_position=”top_left” hide_content_on_mobile=”off” hide_cta_on_mobile=”off” show_image_video_mobile=”off” custom_button=”off” button_letter_spacing=”0″ button_icon_placement=”right” button_letter_spacing_hover=”0″ header_font=”Lobster||||” header_font_size=”17″ body_font_size=”13″ _builder_version=”3.0.51″] [et_pb_slide background_position=”top_left” background_size=”cover” background_color=”#000000″ image=”http://halifaxsummeroperafestival.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/Taylor-Kendig.jpg” use_bg_overlay=”off” use_text_overlay=”on” alignment=”center” background_layout=”dark” allow_player_pause=”off” text_border_radius=”6″ header_font_select=”Bevan” header_font=”Bevan||||” body_font_select=”default” body_font=”||||” custom_button=”off” button_font_select=”default” button_font=”||||” button_use_icon=”default” button_icon_placement=”right” button_on_hover=”on” heading=”Taylor Kendig, soprano” background_image=”http://halifaxsummeroperafestival.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/hsof-background-1.jpg” text_overlay_color=”rgba(224,43,32,0.39)” header_font_size=”30″ header_font_size_tablet=”30″ header_font_size_phone=”30″ use_background_color_gradient=”off” background_color_gradient_start=”#2b87da” background_color_gradient_end=”#29c4a9″ background_color_gradient_type=”linear” background_color_gradient_direction=”180deg” background_color_gradient_direction_radial=”center” background_color_gradient_start_position=”0%” background_color_gradient_end_position=”100%” parallax=”off” parallax_method=”off” background_repeat=”no-repeat” background_blend=”normal”]

Venere and Ora 4 in Cavalli’s L’Egisto

[/et_pb_slide] [/et_pb_slider][et_pb_testimonial admin_label=”Testimonial” author=”Taylor Kendig” url_new_window=”off” quote_icon=”on” use_background_color=”on” background_color=”rgba(244,171,171,0.83)” background_layout=”light” text_orientation=”left” quote_icon_color=”#e02b20″ body_text_color=”#000000″ border_style=”solid” body_font_size=”20″ body_font=”Lobster||||” _builder_version=”3.0.51″ quote_icon_background_color=”#f5f5f5″]

“I feel so grateful and blessed to be here! This is my first Baroque opera production and I am so proud of what we are putting together as a cast and I hope everyone enjoys the show!”

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Where are you from? How did you first get interested in opera or musical theatre? 

I have been singing ever since I was two years old and would put on Disney music concerts for anyone who came to visit my families home. I have always been performing, but really fell in love with being in fully staged productions when I was a high school student, I fell in love with opera as a freshman in college and have never looked back. I love doing both, I am an opera buff now, but I will never stop being a Broadway baby as well ❤️

When did you start studying voice? Where are you studying now?

I did not start formal training until I was eighteen and started undergrad at the University of Portland in Oregon. I studied voice with Dr. Nicole Leupp Hanig during studies toward my BA, and I am continuing my training with her during my time off before hopefully going to graduate school.

What came first for you, theatre or music?

Totally music! I have always been singing. Theatre came when my parents encouraged me to be a part of a summer camp given by a local community theater. My first fully staged production was a children’s straight play of Midsummer Nights Dream where I got to play Titania!

What are your dream roles?

I am a soprano that loves coloratura, but I also love more romantic roles that show off my vocal color. My dream opera roles are Gilda in Rigoletto and Musetta in La Boheme, but I also love the Baroque I am doing this year and would love to keep doing early music. One of my dream musical theater roles is anything in the light in the piazza, I love that musical so much.

 What arias, songs or entire roles belonging to other voice types would you like to perform?

Oh my gosh if I were a tenor I would be Pagliacci in a heart beat! If I were a mezzo I feel like Carmen would be so much fun.

Who are your favourite performing artists?

I love listening to recordings of Kiri Ti Kanawa and Anna Moffo. For musical theater I am a huge fan of Sierra Boggess, Kristin Chenowith, and Kelly O Hara.

What’s the most embarrassing song on your phone/tablet/streaming playlist?

Every time we touch… That old pop song by Cascadia. I have no shame though, it’s got a great beat!

How should we as interpretive artists deal with works that are racist and/or sexist? What can be done to make opera relevant to the next generation?:

I think it’s really important that we make evident a more modern interpretation of the characters. There are angles you can put on some traditional female characters for example that can make them stronger then perhaps the original interpretation was. I think one of the main keys to making opera relevant to the next generation is to be sensitive, strong, and imaginative actors when we are on stage.

What are you most enjoying about this summer?

Getting to debut as Venere this past weekend! I have also made some great vocal gains this summer and I am so excited to take it home and show my teacher and bring these new insights into future auditions!

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Thanks, Taylor!  You can hear Taylor in her principal role as Venus on Saturday August 12 at 7:30 pm at the Studio Theatre at the Dal Arts Centre!

Are you a participant or staff member this year? Why not submit your own answers to our questionnaire!

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