+++
date = "2015-09-01T15:52:00-04:00"
discipline = "Mezzo-soprano, Artistic Director, Opera After Hours"
lastmod = "2015-09-01T15:52:00-04:00"
primary_image = "https://res.cloudinary.com/schmopera/image/upload/v1545409169/media/webhook-uploads/1441137039619/094DWong-PRINTSquare.jpg.jpg"
publishDate = "2015-09-01T15:52:00-04:00"
related_companies = ["scene/companies/renaissance.md"]
slug = "debi-wong"
title = "Debi Wong"
website = "http://www.debiwong.com/"
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platform = "Twitter"
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url = "https://twitter.com/debiwong"
+++

Praised for her “effective performances” (*The Vancouver Sun*) and “rich tone” (*Musical Notes Vancouver*), mezzo-soprano Debi Wong is fast establishing herself as a dynamic and unique performer.

Highlights of this season include the role of the “Sorceress” in the Aldeburgh production of *Dido and Aeneas*, as well as recitals with: the Vantaa Early Music Festival in Helsinki, Finland, Midtown Concerts in New York City, and the Vancouver Art Gallery.

Her recent performances include *Love and Death in Venice* with Montreal’s Les Voix Baroque, the role of Venere in Monteverdi’s *Il Ballo delle Ingrate* with Stephen Stubbs and the Early Music Guild of Seattle, the *1610 Vespers* with Alexander Weimann and the Early Music Vancouver, Bach’s *St. John Passion* with the Vancouver Bach Choir and the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra conducted by Bruce Pullan, and *Messiah* with the New Haven Symphony.

As well as performing and studying early music, Ms. Wong is also an active recitalist. Recent collaborations include *“Sweet and Low: The Songs of George Gershwin and Dana Suesse”* with world renowned pianist, Sara Davis Buechner at the Baruch Centre for Performing Arts in New York city and *“You Left Me Legacies: Stories for Voice and Piano”* with pianist, composer, and conductor, Colin Britt.

In 2008, Ms. Wong received her Bachelor of Music from the University of British Columbia where she was awarded the Catherine Cooke-Topping Medal for musical excellence.  She is also a recent graduate from the Yale School of Music and the Yale Institute of Sacred Music, where she received her Master’s in Music, and the 2010 Margot Fassler award for her performances in Sacred Music. Debi currently attends the Sibelius Academy in Helsinki, Finland, where she is pursuing a Doctor of Music.

Last season, Debi teamed up with Norwegian lutenist, Solmund Nystabakk, to create the ensemble, White Sparrow. In its debut season, White Sparrow was awarded first place in the NORDEM Ear-ly competition for new ensembles in the Nordic countries. White Sparrow regularly performs in Helsinki and has appeared on the Café Barock recital series, as well as the Malminkirkko series.  In their second season, White Sparrow debuted in Sweden, appearing on the Stockholm Early Music Festival recital series.  The duo also debuted in North American appearing on the Vancouver Art Gallery’s “Out for lunch” series, as well as the Silk Purse’s classical music series in West Vancouver, and the Gotham Early Music Scene’s Midtown Concert Series in New York City.  While on tour, the duo was a featured guest on the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation’s North by Northwest radio show, hosted by Paolo Pietropaolo.  White Sparrow closes their second season with performances at the BRQ Vantaa Festival in Finland, and at the Laus Polyphinae Festival, where they have been selected as one of the year’s most promising ensembles.  In 2014, White Sparrow will release their first full-length sound recording, Mr. Dowland’s Midnight.

