Our Soloists
Rick Ruta - Tenor
Rick was born and raised in Edmonton. He developed a love of classical music when he started taking piano lessons as a youth. After moving to British Columbia, he began singing in local choirs under the tutelage of the late Bill Smigel. He sang in the tenor section of the Holy Rosary Cathedral Choir under Denis Bedard. Since 2010, Rick has been a member of the Handel Society of Music under the baton of Johan Louwersheimer and Ethan Liang. He currently sings with Belle Voci led by Maestra Paula DeWit. He also sings with the Lyrika A Capella Ensemble. Rick is the cantor and choir director of St. Mary's Ukrainian Catholic Church in Vancouver. He is presently a voice student of Raphael Wagner. Besides choral singing, he has an electrical engineering degree and works in the network testing industry.
Julia Morgan - Mezzo-soprano
Known for her “velvet smoothness” (Audio Society of Atlanta) and full-bodied, caramel voice, Julia Morgan is a singer who brings passion, intelligence, and nuance to her craft. A versatile artist, Morgan performs with choirs, orchestras, and opera companies across Canada and beyond. Morgan’s acclaimed 2012 album (MSR Classics) was described as “handsome,” and a recording that “goes well beneath the surface of songs by Sibelius, Brahms, Schubert and Mahler,” (Gramaphone). Morgan trained in Canada, and also studied with some of the world’s most respected song interpreters from England, Austria, and Italy. Julia Morgan is a Vancouver Island native and makes her home in Victoria.
Melanie Krueger - Soprano
Canadian soprano Melanie Krueger is recognized for her expressive lyricism and thrilling high notes. She has performed across Canada and Europe, appearing with leading orchestras and conductors, including Bramwell Tovey and the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra. Notable engagements include Handel’s Messiah with the Vancouver Symphony and Bach Choir, Mahler’s Symphony No. 8, and major oratorio works such as Brahms’ Requiem, Mendelssohn’s Elijah, and Bach’s St. Matthew Passion.
On the operatic stage, Melanie has performed with Vancouver Opera in roles such as Eliza
(Dark Sisters), Miss Wordsworth (Albert Herring), and Anina (La Traviata), as well as in
productions of Don Carlos, Pirates of Penzance, and Turandot. Internationally, she has
appeared as Fortuna (Il Ritorno d’Ulisse in Patria) at Teatro Massimo’s Festival Scarlatti,
Sandrina (La Finta Giardiniera) at the Prague Estate Theatre, and Abigail Williams in the Czech premiere of Ward’s The Crucible. Melanie’s concert repertoire includes Viennese pops programs and theatrical performances, notably as Sharon in the Arts Club’s production of Masterclass. She holds a Master of Music in Voice Performance from the University of British Columbia, a Bachelor of Music from Wilfrid Laurier University, and a Bachelor of Education from Memorial University.
