Osseo's Cole McIlquham Accepted To Internationally Acclaimed Opera Program
local tenor vocalist is one of 28 artists who will join Merola Opera Program this summer
Cole McIlquham, an Osseo native, developed his perspective and strong work ethic for professional opera singing from his upbringing in rural farm life.
Those homegrown values – responsibility and perseverance – aided by encouragement from family and friends guided him to what will be his next step: Performing with the Merola Opera Program in San Francisco, Calif. this summer.
“There was something about music that always interested me, and my family was supportive in encouraging me to pursue my interests,” McIlquham said. “Even from a young age, I felt a calling to perform.”
The Merola Opera Program, founded in 1957 and named in honor of San Francisco Opera’s first director, Gaetano Merola, is one of the oldest operative training programs in the world.
A recent media release noted the program is widely regarded as the foremost opera training program for aspiring singers, pianists, and stage directors – now including McIlquham.
“Coming from this region, I know firsthand that powerful artistry can emerge far from major cultural centers when access and opportunity are made available.”
Cole McIlquham
OSSEO NATIVE, 2026 Merola Opera Program MEMBER
His passion for opera and exposure to interdisciplinary art forms – which started with small-town musical performances at age 11 and continued through main stage productions at the University of Minnesota – will only continue to flourish, he said.
“I began attending opera productions almost every weekend, and very quickly, I was hooked,” McIlquham said. “Seeing the scale of the storytelling, the power of un-amplified voices, and the collaboration between singers, orchestra, and design revealed opera as a deeply human and thrilling art form.”
McIlquham, a tenor operatic singer, will join a diverse cohort of students from across the globe, including Australia, China, South Korea, Türkiye and the United Kingdom, as well as Mexico, Canada and the United States.
Offered free of charge to all selected participants, the Merola Opera Program provides a “comprehensive curriculum with a strong emphasis on developing the ‘whole’ artist,” the release shared.
McIlquham said his excitement builds around the program’s immersive performance setting and the chance to collaborate with artists on a global scale; he finds the program's high-level focus on developing dramatic interpretations, vocal technique and musicianship especially compelling.
“One of my favorite parts of this career is that the longer you are in it, the smaller your world becomes,” McIlquham said. “I look forward to meeting new young artists and being reunited with old friends.
“I am also eager to collaborate closely with fellow young artists who are equally committed and curious – as shared energy fosters growth and artistic risk-taking,” he added.
As for McIlquham’s continued ties to the Chippewa Valley, those connections are ones he has not forgotten. McIlquham expects his future experience with the Merola Opera Program will highlight how artists from rural communities deserve a spot on both national and international stages.
To him, opera feels adaptable, contemporary and very much alive through the public art spaces in the Chippewa Valley; he believes the perspectives of rural artists – like himself – are equally essential to fortify the future of opera.
“Coming from this region, I know firsthand that powerful artistry can emerge far from major cultural centers when access and opportunity are made available,” McIlquham said. “If my journey can help broaden awareness or inspire young musicians in our region to imagine themselves in this art form, that feels like a vital and hopeful part of opera’s future.”
Public performances for the 2026 Merola Summer Festival – and other summer programing which highlights the 2026 cohort – will be announced in the spring. For more information on this year’s Merola Opera Program, visit merola.org.
