An Interview with Wirth Vocal Prize winner Chelsea Rus
On Feb. 7,聽Chelsea Rus聽was named the winner of the inaugural Wirth Vocal Prize. According to the Schulich School of Music鈥檚 website, the $25,000 prize is given to 鈥渁n exceptional voice student鈥� in recognition of outstanding accomplishment as a singer and significant promise for an international career.鈥� Pretty heady stuff for any young singer 鈥� but especially so for Rus, who had never even heard an opera until her first year of college in 2009 back home in Abbotsford, B.C.
Still 鈥渋n shock,鈥� a week after her win, Rus has had time to reflect upon what the Prize means for her. 鈥淭his is really the first time I鈥檝e started to see myself as a young professional heading into my career. Having this financial foundation is like Kickstarter for a company,鈥� she says. 鈥淚 am so grateful to Elizabeth Wirth for this opportunity.鈥� 聽(Read the full article written by Neale McDevitt in the聽缅北强奸 Reporter聽)听