Barbara Hannigan is a soprano and conductor who specializes in avant-garde opera and vocal music. She has premiered over 85 new works, collaborating with many notable contemporary composers. She is also an advocate and mentor for young musicians, creating two initiatives as a means to provide support.
Hannigan was born on May 8, 1971, in Waverly, Nova Scotia, Canada, where she began her training. She studied at the University of Toronto, receiving her bachelor's degree in 1993 and her master's degree in 1998. Hannigan also studied at the Banff Centre for the Arts, Ravinia's S...