Early training

Ken Lavigne is a singer, composer, communicator and consummate entertainer.  Recognized early for the outstanding timbre of his lyric tenor voice as well as the ease and agility with which he sings, Lavigne undertook thorough vocal and music training in his native Victoria, BC, at the University of Victoria with Susan Young and Alexandra Browning-Moore and at the Victoria Conservatory of Music with Selena James.  Further study took him to Wales where he studied with Stuart Burrows and to New York for training with Joan Dorneman.

Classical & Opera performances

With his voice, his presence and his interpretive strengths, Lavigne had the option of taking the traditional route to a career in opera.  Following his 1998 debut in Massenet’s Werther, major roles followed in Nabuko, La Traviata,  Cenerentolla and The Barber of Seville with Pacific Opera Victoria, the Portland Opera and the Burnaby Lyric Opera.

Despite Lavigne’s recent branching out to cross-over solo concerts, he is still in great demand as an opera performer, not only in traditional roles such as Spoletta in the Pacific Opera Victoria’s 2005 production of Tosca, but also in new and sometimes controversial productions such as Victoria Philharmonic Choir’s 2007 interpretation of Handel’s Samson, presented in a post-war Palestinian setting.

Solo & Orchestral appearances

Ken Lavigne has a long and impressive list of solo concerts and Symphony performances over the short history of his career between 1997 and the present. In 2002, he was chosen to represent Canada at the Tipperary International Song of Peace Contest. His performance won first place and he subsequently had the honour of performing the same winning composition for Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth’s Royal Jubilee Celebrations in Victoria BC.

As featured soloist, Lavigne has appeared with a number of symphony orchestras including the Vancouver Island Symphony, the Palm Court Light Orchestra and the Prince George Symphony . Each Christmas, Lavigne lends his talents to the partnership of the Pacific Maritime Forces Naden

Band and the Salvation Army.  He has been recently lauded for his interpretation of Stan Roger’s Canadian classic, North-West Passage, which he debuted in December, 2007 with the Naden Band.

Ensembles

The Canadian Tenors were established in 2004 with Lavigne as a founding member. He completed the inaugural BC tour with the group, after which he co-founded the successful trio, Romanza, which toured over a period of three years throughout BC and into Ontario with additional appearances in New York City and San Francisco.

Solo Cross-Over development

In 2007, Lavigne shifted his focus to independently producing solo cross-over concerts and CDs.  The concerts are highly-produced, professional evenings of entertainment, designed by Lavigne, with music ranging from ballads and musical theatre favourites to familiar classics and operatic arias. The music is interspersed with personal vignettes and background notes on the music delivered with the warm and audience-winning charm which, along with his strong flair for comedy, have become Lavigne’s trademarks. The concerts are backed by a small ensemble of Canadian musicians and often include other Canadian vocal and instrumental soloists.

Recordings

Lavigne’s recordings – his debut album, On the Street Where You Live and his second release, Believe – have sold in the thousands and selections from both have been featured on a number of CBC programs.  His third album entitled O’ Night Divine features  Christmas classics and was released November 30 2008

Ken Lavigne made his New York debut on the famed Carnegie Hall stage, accompanied by the New York Pops Orchestra under the baton of Simon Capet. This achievement was a dream come true for the singer, and after having received three standing ovations for his performance in New York, the debut has led to further engagements across North America. Including exclusive engagements with famed LA producer David Foster.