Pushing the boundaries of classical opera, Calgary’s Michelle Minke has made a career out of inspired disruption. She has performed over 1,000 shows to over 10,000 people at once including performing at the world famous Calgary Stampede Grandstand Show.

With her boundless vitality and powerful voice, Michelle performed throughout Europe and North America before returning to her home town of Calgary. As founder and artistic director of Calgary’s Cowtown Opera and Summer Academy, Michelle’s heartfelt excitement for contributing to the cultural identity of her city has earned her a place among arts champions.



She is a Masters graduate in Vocal Pedagogy from the University of Toronto and the Opera School at the Royal Academy of Music in London, England as well as the Solti Te Kanawa Accademia in Italy, where she studied with operatic legend, Mirella Freni.  Performing across Canada and overseas, she has been acclaimed by international audiences at the Anghiari Festival in Tuscany Italy and at Spitalfields festival in London England as well as other concert performances throughout Poland, Lithuania, Sweden and France.

Michelle has 18 awards, including being named as one of Calgary’s Top 40-Under-40 by Avenue Magazine, was a recipient of the Mayor’s Enbridge Emerging Artist Award and named one of Alberta’s 25 Inspiring Artists by Alberta Foundation for the Arts for her commitment to the arts community of Calgary. She been nominated for Female Artist of the Year by the YYC Music Awards, and recently won the Cultural Ambassador Award for the Women of Inspiration 2018.