JENNIFER SZETO
Pianist & Coach
Founding Artistic Director
Musique 3 Femmes
Praised for “an immense sweetness and precision which seemed to be flawless” (L’Opéra) and an “amazing versatility” (Opera Ramblings), Jennifer Szeto carves a dynamic path as a performer, producer, and administrator. As a pianist and vocal coach, she is a graduate of San Francisco Opera’s Adler Fellowship, Merola Opera Program, Canadian Opera Company Ensemble Studio, and L’Atelier Lyrique de l’Opéra de Montréal. A sought-after collaborator for contemporary creations, Jennifer is Founding Artistic Director of Montreal’s Musique 3 Femmes, a non-profit which commissions and develops operas by emerging female composers and librettists with a biennial $50,000 award - Mécénat Musica Prix 3 Femmes.
Recent highlights include INCONNU for the UfaFabrik Kulturzentrum in Berlin; TRIPTYQUE, a triple-bill world premiere in collaboration with La société de musique contemporaine du Québec; and the world premiere of Laurence Jobidon’s L’hiver attend beaucoup de moi for Opéra de Montreal - described by the Montreal Theatre Hub as “exactly what opera needs.. bold, contemporary, poetic, political, feminist, theatrical, well-executed, and not afraid of traditionalists…”
In 2023, Jennifer leads the world premiere of L’Écoute du perdu by Keiko Devaux with stage direction by Marie Brassard in co-production with Musique 3 Femmes, Paramirabo, and Le Vivier. For Opéra de Montréal, she serves as music staff for the Canadian premiere of Golijov’s Ainadamar.
A passionate administrator, Jennifer worked with Tapestry Opera to develop a new Canadian Opera Resource database (COR), as well as the Women in Musical Leadership Program, a fellowship for female and non-binary conductors in partnership with the Toronto Symphony Orchestra and Pacific Opera Victoria. A noted panelist for conversations around creation, young artist training, and entrepreneurship, Jennifer is on the musical staff of Opera McGill and a faculty member at Sewanee Music Centre’s OperaFest. Jennifer sits on the Board of Directors of the Association for Opera in Canada.