Biography
Bass-baritone Owen Phillipson is establishing himself as a compelling young artist with a rich, versatile voice and commanding stage presence. Currently pursuing his studies in the prestigious Opera Undergraduate Program at the University of Toronto Faculty of Music, Phillipson has already garnered professional recognition through engagements with distinguished ensembles and opera companies.
In 2025, Phillipson appeared as Count Rodolfo in Vincenzo Bellini’s La Sonnambula at the Alexander Kasser Theater, Montclair State University, and at the New York City Centre, under the leadership of Artistic Director Will Crutchfield and primo violino Elisa Citterio. This engagement with the acclaimed period-instrument ensemble represents a major milestone in his emerging career as his first ever full operatic role. In 2024, he made his chorus debut with Teatro Nuovo in Carolina Uccelli’s Anna di Resburgo and Vincenzo Bellini’s i capuleti e i montecchi, in which he also covered the role of Capellio.
Owen has demonstrated remarkable versatility across sacred and secular repertoire. As a baritone soloist, he has performed Vaughan Williams’ Fantasia on Christmas Carols with the Toronto Symphony Youth Orchestra and Toronto Children’s Chorus at Roy Thompson Hall, and Gabriel Fauré’s Requiem with the Elmer Iseler Singers. His bass soloist credits include Franz Schubert’s Mass in G Major with St. Michael’s Choir School and Johann Sebastian Bach’s Magnificat with COSA Canada, with whom he also appeared in its Fairy Tale Mayhem.
These performances showcase Phillipson’s ability to navigate both the dramatic demands of operatic repertoire and the spiritual depth and intensity required for sacred music, establishing him as a sought-after young artist in Canada’s vibrant classical music scene and an exciting new voice poised for continued international success.