Dr. Jackalyn Short

Biography

Jackalyn Short is a Canadian soprano renowned for her performances in leading lyric coloratura roles with major opera companies and orchestras across Canada. She has also performed internationally in various cities in the United States, Korea, Japan, Singapore, New Zealand, England, and Israel. As a regular performer on CBC’s Saturday Afternoon Opera and New Hours, Short has received multiple grants and scholarships from the Canada Council. She is a member of Canada’s Who’s Who and has been teaching voice to undergraduate and postgraduate students at Western University since 2001. Her teaching responsibilities encompass vocal technique, coaching repertoire, and language-specific lyric diction in Italian, French, English, and German. Her students have achieved success in various competitions, including prizes in Kiwanis and acceptance into the Metropolitan Opera ensemble programs. A member of the National Association of Teachers of Singing (NATS), she actively collaborates with fellow faculty members in performance. Jackalyn was awarded the top teaching honor at Western in 2001 and has been a faculty member at the NUOVA summer opera program in Edmonton, as well as Opera Avalon in St. John’s, Newfoundland. She is married to acclaimed opera director Michael Cavanagh.

Research Interests