Chor Amica is excited to announce our inaugural Choral Scholars Program, beginning in the 23-24 season. Choral Scholars are emerging artists with a background in choral and/or vocal studies and an interest in pursuing a career in music performance and/or education. The program offers a bridge between academic study and professional work through opportunities to rehearse and perform with the choir, receive dedicated solo opportunities each season, and mentorship with our artistic director. Choral Scholars receive an honorarium for their work with the choir. Applications are accepted throughout the year, with the expectation that Choral Scholars join the choir for 2-4 concerts, based on their availability and interest.

Applications for this season's Choral Scholars program are now closed. We anticipate another round of auditions in Fall 2025. If you are interested in the role, please email [email protected] to be notified when openings become available.

Meet Callista Foti

Chor Amica's 2025 Choral Scholar

Callista Foti is currently in her second year of Voice Performance at Western University and is a proud crossover artist, passionate in both classical music and musical theatre. Most recently, Callista placed 1st overall in the OMFA Open Musical Theatre category and 3rd overall in the OMFA Grade 10 Classical Voice category. She has also received the Outstanding Musical Theatre Performance award and various scholarships at the Newmarket Festival and has completed her Grade 10 RCM Voice certification. She has performed in various musicals throughout the years including Spongebob the Musical (Spongebob), Something Rotten (Portia), Oliver! (Nancy), The Drowsy Chaperone (Drowsy), Into the Woods (Lucinda), and original Canadian musicals such as Super School (Gwen) and Red Letter Day the film (Kelly). Callista has also had the opportunity to perform in Britten’s Albert Herring (Cis) with Opera at Western and is looking forward to bringing the role of Erste Dame to the stage this Spring in Mozart’s, The Magic Flute. Aside from her performance experience, Callista loves to share her passion for the arts with young aspiring performers as a Specialized Arts Instructor and Music Director for the arts programming with the City of Richmond Hill. 

Meet Robert Hutson

Chor Amica's 2025 Choral Scholar

Tenor Robert Hutson recently graduated with a Masters in Music in performance and literature. This past fall Robert performed the role of Alfred in Opera at Western’s production of Die Fledermaus. Past roles includes Mayor Upfold (Albert Herring), Il Contino Belfiore (La Finta Giardinera), Nanki-Poo (The Mikado), Basilio and Don Curzio (Le nozze di Figaro), Charlie Appleby (The Shop Girl), and Tweiter Priester (Die Zauberflöte). Robert advocates and researches disability representation in opera, and has presented at the University of Calgary, Toronto Metropolitan University, Queens University and Western University. Always one to wear many hats, Robert is the conductor of the Thames Centre Community Choir based in Thorndale.