Hungarian-born Mezzo-Soprano Margaret Bárdos is in growing demand as a versatile performer with a unique, rich sound. A recipient of the Christine Stanton-Opera Ontario Scholarship, Ms. Bárdos made her Canadian mainstage début with Opera Ontario in the role of Flora in Verdi's La Traviata, and was heard as Third Lady in Mozart's The Magic Flute with Symphony Guelph. Ms. Bárdos has been a featured soloist with the Canadian Male Orpheus Choir, the All Saints Choral Society, the Hamilton Philharmonic Orchestra, and has appeared at Les Escales Improbables, The Junction Arts Festival, Soundstreams' NAISA, Kitchener's Celebrate Our Artists Festival, and the Stratford Summer Music Festival. Recent solo appearances in Ontario include Pergolesi's Stabat Mater and Franz Liszt's Via Crucis, Handel's Messiah in Guelph and Burlington, as well as cross-over concert appearances in Toronto, Montréal and Michigan.

This past year's performances included Vivaldi's Gloria in March, a massed choir gala in May, a tour of Northern Ontario in June, appearances at galas for the National Ballet Company and the Stratford Shakespeare Festival, a Bach Cantata with the Hamilton Children's Choir, as well as the Toronto premiere of Karl Jenkins' Requiem. Ms. Bárdos made her European concert debut in July 2008, singing at various locations throughout Hungary and the Ukraine, including a solo recital at the famed Mátyás Templom in Budapest, as well as a broadcast performance for the opening of a UNESCO joint exhibition co-sponsored by the Canadian Embassy.

Ms. Bárdos will be heard in the world premiere of R. Murray Schafer's The Children's Crusade this June, and the gala Sondheim in September in Toronto. Upcoming highlights for 2009 include the solo in the North American premiere of Karl Jenkins'Stabat Mater, appearances at the Burlington Sound of Music Festival and the Stratford Summer Music Festival, as well as workshops and coaching for the international award winning Hamilton Children's Choir. 2010 will see a return to Europe to fulfill further singing engagements as well as to continue her exploration of the works of her great uncle, composer Bárdos Lajos. Ms. Bárdos continues her studies with Tom Schilling of Vocalway Studios.