Brahms German Requiem Soloists

Chloé Hurst – Soprano

Chloé Hurst (soprano) is an active singer, pianist and teacher in Vancouver. Hailed by Opera Canada as having “enviable clarity and precision,” and having “a bright soprano, wide range and even pitch,” her talent has taken her around the world.

Chloé started her formal training in music at the age of three as a pianist and it was not until university when she started to pursue her passion for singing. She completed both an undergrad and master’s degree in opera performance at The University of British Columbia.

Chloé has had the privilege of performing across North America, Europe and China in operas, concerts and competitions, including being a finalist on the popular Chinese television program, Xing Guang Da Dao. Past operatic roles include Adina (L’elisir D’amore), Micaëla (Carmen), Mimì (La Bohème) and many more.

Chloé often gives solo recitals in Italy and won first prize in the Canadian Division of the 28th World Music Competition. As a versatile performer, Chloé has also sung various works with orchestra such as Handel’s Messiah, Berlioz’s Les Nuit D’été and Vaughan Williams’ A Sea Symphony.

Alongside performing, Chloé is on faculty at the Vancouver Academy of Music teaching theory, piano and voice and is the head of the early music education department. 
 


Aaron Durand – Baritone

Aaron Durand (he/him) is known for three things: he sings, grows a good beard, and knows a little about a lot. He’s forever a student of stories well told, whether in song and verse or prose and podcast. A love of opera has gifted Aaron with travels across the world, singing on stages from St. John’s to Chengdu, Prague to Penticton.

Recent highlights include joining his alma mater as Pandolfe in UBC Opera’s production of Cendrillon and starring as Frank in Alberta Vocal Art’s inaugural production of Die Fledermaus. Life highlights include founding an irreverent classical music group in Toronto (Tongue in Cheek Productions), performing in The Overcoat with Tapestry Opera, publishing a book of poetry, and singing Debussy’s “Beau Soir” to the bartender and three delighted Japanese salarymen in a Kyoto izakaya.

Aaron is widely known for his easygoing nature, “beautiful, fluid baritone” (Globe & Mail), and “sense of the comical and the ludicrous” (Calgary Herald). He holds a Master’s degree in Opera Performance is from UBC, with a specialist understanding of opera and art song cultivated under baritone Peter Barcza, director Nancy Hermiston, and Rena Sharon, one of Canada’s premiere collaborative artists. He dwells in the territory of the Skwxwú7mesh peoples, and is grateful for the chance to tell stories there.