Camryn Dewar: Desautel Faculty of Music Alumni and Fulbright Student Award Winner and Rising Indigenous Opera Talent
Fulbright Canada has awarded Camryn Dewar one of 14 outstanding Canadian students selected for the prestigious and highly competitive 2024-2025 Fulbright Canada Student Award.
Fulbright Canada has awarded Camryn Dewar one of 14 outstanding Canadian students selected for the prestigious and highly competitive 2024-2025 Fulbright Canada Student Award. Camryn Dewar, a trailblazing Indigenous (Métis) soprano from Stony Mountain, Manitoba (Treaty One territory) is gaining international recognition not only for her talent, but also for her dedication to cultural advocacy, amplifying the voices of Indigenous women in opera and creating a lasting impact on the global stage. A graduate of the University of Manitoba’s Bachelor of Music program (Vocal Performance with Distinction), Dewar will complete her Master of Music in Opera Performance at Montclair State University under Metropolitan Opera’s Barbara Dever next May.
Through her Fulbright Lecture Recital Series, Harmonizing Truth and Reconciliation: Female Indigenous Representation and Community Engagement in Music, Dewar seeks to use opera as a bridge between cultures, fostering critical dialogue and community healing by highlighting Indigenous stories through the universal power of music. This will culminate in a series of presentations: first at the Montclair Art Museum April 13th, at Montclair State University in late April, and the American Association of University Women May 12th.
As a Red River Métis, Dewar’s journey from a small ski area in rural Manitoba to prestigious stages like Carnegie Hall reflects her passion and resilience. With each performance, Dewar brings the stories of Canadian Indigenous women to life, using opera and art song as a powerful platform for truth and reconciliation.
Dewar’s recent performances include roles in Indians on Vacation workshop, Banff Centre, The Grapes of Wrath at Carnegie Hall, Blind Injustice in New Jersey, and Li Keur: Riel’s Heart of the North with Manitoba Opera. Upcoming engagements feature the Mother in Hansel and Gretel with Montclair Chamber Ensemble Opera and “Blind Injustice” at Lincoln Center with MasterVoices.
Beyond the Fulbright Scholarship, Dewar has been recognized with numerous honors, including the Association of American University Women Scholarship, Canadian Federation of University Women Scholarship, Modern Métis Woman Scholarship, Les Michif Otipemisiwak Fellowship, and the Association of Opera in Canada Fellowship..
As she prepares to bring Indigenous stories to new stages, Camryn Dewar’s voice, both in music and advocacy, is set to resonate far beyond the opera world, marking her as a true force for change.
About Fulbright Canada:
Established in 1946, the Fulbright Program has supported over 325,000 students, scholars, teachers, professionals, scientists, and artists across 155 countries, remaining one of the world’s most distinguished academic honors. The program aims to foster mutual understanding and academic excellence.
Fulbright Canada is a bi-national, treaty-based, non-governmental organization that identifies and supports exceptional scholars and students in Canada and the United States, by providing academic exchange programs through merit-based grants.
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Montclair State University’s Camryn Dewar: Fulbright Student Award Winner and Rising Indigenous Opera Talent
Up To Speed with Faith Fundal
Stony Mountain opera singer Camryn Dewar is one of 14 winners of this year’s Fulbright Student Award. She joins Up To Speed host Faith Fundal to share how the scholarship will help with her studies and research into the evolving role of Indigenous women in opera.