A veteran ensemble singer, tenor Oliver Munar is in increasing demand as a concert and operatic soloist.

Oliver was celebrated in an unexpected, ‘remarkable’ debut as the title role in Mendelssohn’s Elijah with the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra, ‘sight reading the score live, on stage, and without rehearsal’. The Calgary Herald lauded him for his ‘substantial ability’ and ‘considerable vocal gifts’ in a 2019 production of Monteverdi’s Vespro della Beata Vergine with Early Music Voices (Calgary) and Rosa Barocca. Other recent roles include Giuseppe in Verdi’s La traviata (Calgary Opera), Gastone in La traviata (Mercury Opera and Calgary Concert Opera Company), the title role of Britten’s Albert Herring (University of Alberta Opera), and the role of Abel in the Alberta premiere (2016) of the oratorio Caïn by Canadian composer Alexis Contant. He was also a guest ensemble singer with the world-renowned Elora Festival Singers as a member of its inaugural vocal academy.

Oliver completed a Master of Music performance degree with tenor John Tessier and vocal coach Shannon Hiebert. He also studied at the prestigious Franz-Schubert-Institut (Austria) where he worked with some of the world's leading interpreters of German art song including Elly Ameling, Helmut Deutsch, Robert Holl, Julius Drake, Andreas Schmidt, Roger Vignoles, Birgid Steinberger, and the late Deen Larsen. He continues to train with both Tessier and Hiebert, as well as tenor Thomas Cooley on the works of JS Bach and other Baroque composers.

In addition to singing, Oliver is a collaborative pianist, vocal coach, conductor, clinician and composer/arranger. His Missa Brevis, which he composed on the occasion of his parents’ fiftieth wedding anniversary, is scheduled to have its world premiere by Pro Coro Canada in 2023. He continues to participate in select choral and ensemble projects, including Pro Coro Canada, the Calgary Opera Chorus and the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra, among others. He is a featured soloist on a number of recordings, including: Christ Is Born: Hymns and Carols of the Nativity (Axio Men’s Ensemble), Resurrectional Divine Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom (Axios Men's Ensemble); James MacMillan - Seven Last Words from the Cross (Spiritus Chamber Choir); Mendelssohn’s Te Deum (Luminous Voices) and Artem Vedel’ - Twelve Sacred Choral Concerti (Luminous Voices).