Sarnia native Josh Gibson doesn’t let anything hold him back in achieving his dream of being an opera singer.
A late start — he didn’t begin training until Grade 9 — hasn’t proved to be an issue.
Being denied acceptance to Sheridan College’s musical theatre program didn’t let him down either — so he took a year off and worked hard at earning a spot at the University of Toronto instead.
And finally, to add one more hurdle to the mix, Josh also happens to be hearing impaired in his right ear — not ideal for a singer when the piano will always sit to the right.
But he doesn’t let any of that get him down.
“I’ve learned how to adapt. I do what I can because I’m just here to share music,” he told The Journal. “I’m here to share the experience with other people. And there is nothing on the planet that will stop me from doing that.”
Josh says he was basically born on stage, performing from a young age here in Lambton County getting his feet wet at Showtime in Corunna.
“I loved just performing, acting and singing,” he says.
His decision to focus more on classical voice versus musical theatre didn’t come till much later after starting vocal training in grade nine.
“By the time I got into grade twelve, my voice really started to develop nicely into the classical style,” Josh explains.
And it was after a high score on a vocal exam that his teacher suggested he consider classical voice, “and I’ve kind of just been running ever since. It just keeps getting better.”
Now in his third year at the University of Toronto earning his bachelor of music in vocal performance, the summer break will see Josh attending the prestigious Mediterranean Opera Studio & Festival in Italy this June.
“The goal of this is to promote young artists, to take people who are in the beginnings of their careers and give them an opportunity that will help them to gain a footing…it’s a place where established artists and teachers and performers take a chance on the future generation,” he says.
That future generation includes Josh, who will travel to Italy for six weeks and take part in learning and performing three operas — including large roles in performances of La Boheme and Belcore in L'elisir d'amore.
“Honestly I will be doing those roles that I’m doing now the rest of my life. I could do them easily into my forties and fifties and that is honestly very exciting.”
While there, Josh will get to work, train and meet some of the best of the best in their respective fields, including opera singer Jack LiVigni.
“I really want to start branching out and seeing what different teachers can do for me and just to see how much experience I can grab now, so once I have my settled instrument, I have all this experience to lean back on.”
As for what’s next for the talented baritone? After the festival and a fourth-year at the University of Toronto — there are many options, like pursuing his Masters, or doing a young artist program at an opera house.
“I have many plans, I haven’t completely committed to any of them because I know wherever I end up is the path I’m supposed to be on.”
Whatever path Josh decides to take, Sarnia will always be a part of his journey.
And he offers up this advice for other aspiring performers: never give up.
“Once you have other people joining in on your art, on your expression, on your love, then people will keep wanting to have you do that, and If you can pull people into your performances then they will never want to leave.”
If you want to help Josh achieve his dream of attending the Mediterranean Opera Studio & Festival in Italy his family has set up a GoFundMe to help with the cost.
You can also check out some of Josh's performances on YouTube.