Ms. Skull has performed with leading opera companies and orchestras including the Canadian Opera Company, Pacific Opera Victoria, Manitoba Opera, Esprit Orchestra, the Toronto Symphony Orchestra, Winnipeg Symphony, Orchestra of Northern New York, and many others.
Operatic roles include the title roles of Ariadne in Ariadne auf Naxos, Elle in La Voix Humaine, and Jenůfa. Other role highlights include Wellgunde in Götterdämmerung, Alice Ford in Falstaff, Fiordiligi in Così fan tutte, Agatha in Der Freischütz, Jocasta in Oedipus Rex, Marina in Boris Godunov, Waltraute, Rossweise, and Siegrune in Die Walküre. Equally active in orchestral and recital repertoire, she has performed as a soloist in works including Bachianas Brasileiras, Verdi's Requiem, Handel's Messiah, Bruckner's Mass in D minor, Beethoven's 9th Symphony and Mass in C, and Mahler's 2, 3, and 4th Symphonies.
Most recently, Colleen was seen recitals in Syracuse with Civic Morning Musicals, at the Crane School of Music, in Potsdam New York, and at the University of Alberta. In Canada, Colleen was the soprano soloist for Carmina Burana with the Guelph Chamber Choir, and in The Here and Now by Theofanidis during the LoKo Festival with the Crane Chorus and Symphony Orchestra.
A former member of the prestigious COC Ensemble, she has won many awards and prizes including the Metropolitan Opera District Competition, a Chalmers Award, and a Professional Artist Grant from the Canada Council for the Arts. Radio and television appearances include performances on CBC Radio, CTV, Definitely not the Opera with Sook-Yin Lee, Breakfast Television, TVO, and YTV.
Colleen completed her Doctorate in Musical Arts, specializing in voice performance at the University of Toronto. Dr. Skull is currently an Associate Professor of Voice at the Crane School of Music, where she has won many awards for her teaching and leadership, including Favorite Professor award several times, Promoting Community, and a President’s Award for Excellence in Advising.
Current and former students have been accepted into prestigious vocal programs including: the Maryland Opera Studio, New England Conservatory, Manhattan School of Music, Penn State, University of Michigan, Janiec Opera Company of the Brevard, Chautauqua Voice Institute, Source Song Festival, and many others.
Ms. Skull is also a frequent vocal adjudicator and clinician, including recent residencies at the Desautels Faculty of Music in Manitoba, Queen’s University, the University of Alberta, Peel Music Festival, and the Corner Brook Music Festival. She is also a regular adjudicator for NATS and the Classical Singer Competition and is a member of the College of Examiners at the Royal Conservatory of Music, where she serves as a Mentor examiner.