From one stage to another, this Labrador Straits singer is pursuing her operatic ambition
Michaela Cabot of Happy Valley-Goose Bay has loved music her whole life, and she's now pursuing a career as an opera singer. (Dalson Chen/CBC)
A singer from the Labrador Straits has set her sights on a career in opera, and it's something she's approaching with determination.
Michaela Cabot, 23, is currently completing her last year of a bachelor of music program at Mount Allison University in Sackville, N.B. Cabot, a mezzo soprano, said it took her three tries to get accepted into the voice performance and opera program, and she's glad didn't give up.
"If you are certain about something, if you want to pursue something, if it's something that you're passionate about, do not stop until you are there," Cabot told CBC Radio.
"Do not let anything come between you and what you want to do."
A self-described "theatre kid," she said music has been a major part of her life since she was a child.
"I remember singing karaoke when I was three. I remember listening to country music and folk music in my parents' house. I remember my dad always used to play guitar in our living room," she said.
"Singing for me has always been just a way of expressing myself, a way of re-contextualizing the world around me."
She also threw herself into the Labrador Creative Arts Festival while she was growing up, as well as drama and musical theatre.
"I've always loved being on stage."
Cabot was raised in L'Anse au Loup, but it was only when her family moved to Happy Valley-Goose Bay that she started singing in a choir and learned to find her own voice.
At Memorial University she started taking formal voice lessons from a graduate student.
"I'd been playing saxophone until that point. I vastly preferred playing instruments but I took one voice lesson with him and I was like, 'Wow, I really just want to do this for the rest of my life.'"
From there, Cabot said she found herself focusing on opera, adding that the more she learned about operatic performances and the stories they tell, the deeper in love she fell with the art form.
"I would say the biggest thing that influences my passion about opera is the fact that it's so dramatic, theatrical," she said. "There's so much you can do with it."
Her studies also brought her to Italy for a two-week summer program
Her next goal is to get accepted into a master's program, and she recently auditioned for the University of Toronto's.
Dream role
Cabot already has picked out the ultimate role she wants to perform on stage.
"It's gonna sound insane, but Julius Caesar. I want to play Julius Caesar in Handel's Julius Caesar in Egypt so bad," she said, adding she likes seeing positions of power played by women and non-binary performers.
"There are so many ... people who continue to create such a wonderful space to explore these stories and create such wonderful lenses to perceive them through," she said.
Download our free CBC News app to sign up for push alerts for CBC Newfoundland and Labrador. Sign up for our daily headlines newsletter here. Click here to visit our landing page
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Yahoo
Kendrick Lamar performs in Toronto for 1st time since Drake feud
Kendrick Lamar is set to perform in Toronto Thursday night for the first time since his public feud with Drake began more than a year ago. The American rapper will be at the Rogers Centre for two nights alongside R&B artist SZA for their joint Grand National Instagram post is calling for a so-called "OVO Takeover" near the venue, rallying Drake fans to play his music while donning clothing from his brand October's Very Own. The post said the takeover is a celebration of Drake who "built the sound of the city" and there will be "no hate, no drama — just pure Toronto energy." But some Torontonians shared a different sentiment regarding the feud between the two rappers. One man told CBC Radio's Metro Morning that while Drake "put Toronto on the map," he has done "questionable things as of late." A spokesperson for Drake did not respond to a request for comment. LISTEN | Commotion host Elamin Abdelmahmoud on the Lamar-Drake beef: Speaking to Metro Morning ahead of the concert, most fans said they're more excited about the music than the rapper drama, though some admitted Drake was "washed" in his battle with Lamar. One woman who travelled from Winnipeg for the concert said she appreciates good music no matter where it's from. Another woman that came from Mexico City for the show said it didn't cross her mind that she's coming to Drake's hometown. He and Lamar have been involved in a highly publicized feud, which has culminated in a legal battle between the Canadian rapper and the U.S. record label that represents both men. Drake is suing Universal Music Group for defamation for publishing and promoting Lamar's smash hit Not Like Us. In legal documents, Drake said the song's lyrics wrongly accuse him of being a pedophile, jeopardizing his safety and damaging his reputation. None of the allegations have been proven in court. In court filings, Universal called Drake's suit a baseless "attack on the commercial and creative success of the rap artist who defeated him." One man told Metro Morning it's not Torontonians' responsibility to defend Drake's actions or behaviour. Another man said he hopes the feud won't be all that people remember of these two "great artists."
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Yahoo
‘Law & Order Toronto: Criminal Intent' Producer Cameron Pictures Hires Karen Tsang From Pier 21
EXCLUSIVE: Law & Order Toronto: Criminal Intent maker Cameron Pictures has hired Karen Tsang as Vice President of Creative Affairs. In this newly formed role, she will oversee a pipeline of original scripted series, reporting to CPI co-founders and sibling filmmaking duo Tassie Cameron and Amy Cameron. More from Deadline From Wrexham To The Ice Rink: Edmonton Oilers Doc Series 'The Great Ones' Coming From Ryan Reynolds' Maximum Effort 'Law & Order Toronto: Criminal Intent' Gets Two-Season Pickup By The CW David Bezmozgis Sets Principal Photography For Film Adaptation Of Crimea-Set Novel 'The Betrayers' - Cannes Market Tsang joins Cameron Pictures from Pier 21 Films, where she served as Senior Vice President of Creative Affairs, where she oversaw creative development and production of CBC and The CW comedy series Run the Burbs and was also executive producer on the show, as well as the debut seasons of Late Bloomer for Crave and Don't Even for Crave and APTN. 'Karen is so smart and she has a remarkable eye for developing standout stories and characters,' said Tassie Cameron. 'Her creative expertise, strong relationship with writers, and leadership experience will be huge assets to us, as we continue to bring compelling series to life.' 'Karen's passion for creator-driven storytelling, her relationships with buyers, and her commitment to collaborating with some of Canada's most exciting talent will be invaluable as we develop comedy and drama projects for Canadian and international audiences,' added Amy Cameron. Prior to Pier 21, Karen spent eight years at the CBC, rising to Executive in Charge of Production, Comedy. In that role, she oversaw over 150 episodes of original programming through development and production, including Baroness Von Sketch Show, which was acquired by IFC, as well as TallBoyz, Mr. D, and This Hour Has 22 Minutes. The Canadian national began her career as a TV packaging assistant at Creative Artists Agency in Los Angeles. 'I have long admired Tassie and Amy's passion for storytelling and the bold and engaging work they've created at Cameron Pictures,' says Karen. 'I'm honoured to join such an accomplished team and excited to champion fresh voices and ambitious projects for a global audience.' Cameron Pictures has also promoted Caledonia Brown from co-producer to supervising producer and Vice President, Operations. She'll continue to work across CPI's projects, and oversee day-to-day operations of the company. Amy Cameron – an executive, writer and producer – and Tassie Cameron, a showrunner and executive producer – founded Cameron Pictures and manage it alongside executive producer Alex Patrick, who leads on strategy and business and legal affairs. Its shows include Mary Kills People, the Global and Lifetime co-production; Little Dog, which was for CBC and co-produced with Elemental Pictures; and Pretty Hard Cases for CBC NBCUniversal. Law & Order Toronto: Criminal Intent, which expanded Dick Wolf's Law & Order franchise into Canada, is for Citytv and co-produced with Lark Productions in association with Universal International Studios and Rogers Sports & Media. Starring Aden Young and Kathleen Munroe, production on Season 3 concludes in spring. Best of Deadline 'The Last Of Us': Differences Between HBO Series & Video Game Across Seasons 1 And 2 2025 TV Series Renewals: Photo Gallery 2025 TV Cancellations: Photo Gallery
Hamilton Spectator
4 days ago
- Hamilton Spectator
‘Behind Closed Doors' – a story of vulnerability and purpose
New CBC documentary chronicles story of sexual assault victim from Florenceville-Bristol On May 18, 2025, the world was introduced to the horrors of Florenceville-Bristol resident Sarah Sherman's abusive past with her late first husband. A new CBC documentary tells the story of how Sherman turned her traumatic experiences into a charity that supports people who have gone through the same incidents. 'Behind Closed Doors' is directed by Robert Gow and unveils Sherman's tales of how she survived sexual assault and introduces her project, We're Here For You. Gow and Sherman were first introduced two years ago when he posted an ad searching for a subject for his next documentary. 'We chatted for a few hours, and I immediately was like, wow, this is as engaging a story as I'd ever be able to find and inspiring a story,' said Gow. Sherman was eager to raise awareness about the importance of the program and the work it supports. 'He was looking for a story of resilience, and I kind of felt like I met that. So I was, and I had already started to do the Comfort Kit program, and I just thought that it might help our work more than anything,' said Sherman. CBC had greenlit the idea in December; Gow worked on the story over the next few months. His goal for the documentary was to include Sherman, her current husband, and the people she works with at We're Here For You. Knowing there is a large hole in Canadian health care for clothing and other supplies for sexually assaulted survivors, Gow wanted his documentary to look at how underserved the population of women who have been sexually assaulted is and understand how a person psychologically recovers from a scarring incident. 'I felt like that was a story most people didn't know about because people don't want to talk about what happened to them,' said Gow. The founder of We're Here For You says that sharing her story took years of personal growth before she felt ready. She also needed to wait until her children were older to get permission to tell the truth. 'It's not just my story. It's my kids' story too,' said Sherman. During the filming, Sherman underwent a whirlpool of emotions. She explained that she was full of embarrassment, shame, guilt, vulnerability, and fear. Sharing details from her past made her feel exposed, and despite working hard to let go of shame, certain aspects of her story still carried an emotional weight. Some moments during the interview made her self-conscious about how some people would perceive her experience. 'I'm a little bit scared for the documentary, not because I didn't think he [Gow] would do a good job, because I watched his other work, but it just puts me out there. It makes me very vulnerable, and it's always a bit worrying about what people might say or think about you,' said Sherman. One of the strongest emotions she expressed was guilt. In a way, Sherman felt the burden of how her children and others suffered from what she endured. She feels she carries a deep sense of responsibility for the ripple effect of her struggles on those close to her. Despite feeling like these emotions overpowered her, she has learned to accept them to grow emotionally. 'I've been working really hard to let that part go,' said Sherman. While editing the footage, Gow struggled initially to find the right way to execute Sherman's story. With the copious amounts of interview footage from all his sources, coming out to around six hours, he re-watched every second to ensure key parts were highlighted in the final edit. 'I tried to just find these little moments that I felt could work as an expression of that period of life, as opposed to having to go through every single detail,' said Gow. Since the documentary has been out, Sherman has breathed a sigh of relief from the overwhelming amount of positive and supportive comments she's had from people. While painful, Sherman has realized that her journey can help others recognize struggles before it's too late. The documentary reached 40,000 views on YouTube, making it one of the most-watched documentaries by Creator Network. 'This could really help a lot of people in need. And it's very difficult not to get emotional about that when you're like, wow, this documentary I've been making over the last few months, editing alone in my room could have this huge impact,' said Gow. Sherman says this opportunity has helped her recognize the importance of connecting with people through personal storytelling. 'If I had to go through everything I did, if I can take that pain and that grief and that shame and turn it into something that will maybe help someone else identify what they're going through before it's too late…that just makes me feel grateful if I can help someone else, if I can take this and turn it into something positive,' said Sherman. Sherman is considering hosting a screening event in the Upper River Valley area to allow attendees to engage with the documentary through discussions and question-and-answer sessions. She also plans to have a local SANE nurse (sexual assault nurse examiner) present to explain the role of forensic nursing in helping survivors. Follow the River Valley Sun for updates on the screening date. Error! Sorry, there was an error processing your request. There was a problem with the recaptcha. Please try again. You may unsubscribe at any time. By signing up, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google privacy policy and terms of service apply. Want more of the latest from us? Sign up for more at our newsletter page .
