Emma Pennell is a two-spirit operatic soprano and poet with Mi’kmaw roots from Ktaqmkuk (the Indigenous peoples of Newfoundland), hailing from South River in rural Northern Ontario. Emma recently took home 2nd prize in the Canadian Opera Company’s Ensemble Studio Centre Stage Competition. They hold a Bachelor with Honours in Voice Performance and a minor in Indigenous Studies from Western University. Emma currently studies at the Glenn Gould School in the Artist Diploma Program under the tutelage of Stephanie Bogle at the Royal Conservatory of Music.

An unwavering Indigenous activist, Emma is committed to carving spaces for Indigenous voices in the arts. They co-authored the Indigenous Policy Paper for the Ontario Universities Student Alliance and founded the Faculty of Music Indigenous Leadership Initiative at the Don Wright Faculty of Music.

Emma has performed in various roles, including Alice Ford in Falstaff, Mère Marie in the Dialogue des Carmélites, Kitty in Ian Cusson’s Indians on Vacation at The Banff Centre for the Arts, Lia in Debussy’s L’Enfant Prodigue, Cinderella’s Mother in Into The Woods in Koerner Hall and Erste Dame in Die Zauberflöte at the Royal Conservatory of Music. Emma also solo debuted at Koerner Hall alongside Tanya Tegaq for the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation in October 2025. They we be joining the COC Ensemble Studio for the 2025-2026 season.