Laurier Opera student Olivia Haramis receives McCall MacBain Regional Award

Feb. 2, 2022

Olivia Haramis, a recent graduate of Laurier’s Bachelor of Music program and student in Laurier’s Opera diploma program, has been selected for a McCall MacBain Regional Award, which provides $5,000 toward a master’s or professional program at any public university in Canada.

The award recognizes engaged student leaders who have demonstrated character, community engagement, leadership potential, entrepreneurial spirit, academic strength and intellectual curiosity. Haramis placed among the top 80 of nearly 700 applicants this year.

Haramis has served on the executive of the Faculty of Music Students’ Association for two years, including as external president this year. Haramis works part time as a music instructor, freelance performer and music theory instructional assistant, in addition to weekly volunteer duties as a pianist, cantor and choir member at a local church.

“I am grateful to have been selected to receive a McCall MacBain Regional Award,” said Haramis, who plans to pursue a master’s degree in opera and voice. “I believe opera is an essential tool in the pursuit of social change and I wish to find new ways to present and contextualize it such that it uplifts, rather than harms those whom it represents.”

McCall MacBain Scholarships are the result of a landmark $200-million gift, at the time the largest single donation in Canadian history, by John and Marcy McCall MacBain. Several awards are offered, including fully funded master’s or professional degrees at McGill University in Montreal.

Last April, Laurier Global Studies student Hayley Newman-Petryshen was one of 20 Canadians chosen to receive the full McCall MacBain Scholarship.