Below the Surface with Baritone Mathias Séror

Mathias Séror is only in his third year of undergraduate studies but has remarkable clarity in his artistic aspirations as well as a genuine sense of gratitude to Faculty of Music donors. Read more below to get to know Mathias.

Hello, Mathias. Please introduce yourself and explain what drew you to study at U of T and what you hope your degree will lead to.

My name is Mathias Séror, and I am a third-year Bachelor of Music student pursuing a degree in Voice Performance at the University of Toronto. Originally from Ottawa and of French and Japanese heritage, I first discovered my passion for music at De La Salle High School, where I joined the voice concentration at the Centre d’excellence artistique de l’Ontario (Ontario Centre for Artistic Excellence). There, I first began taking private classical voice lessons, performed regularly both as a soloist and as a chorister in multiple choirs and at a wide range of events, and had the honour of conducting the junior choir.

Since moving to Toronto, I have performed with several ensembles, including the student-led Kupenta Singers, the MacMillan Singers, and various church choirs, including St. Anne’s Anglican Church, Timothy Eaton Memorial Church, and the Pax Christi Chorale. I also had the pleasure of singing with the Ontario Youth Choir in the summer of 2024. My musical experiences have also allowed me to celebrate both my Canadian and Japanese heritage. In 2025, I performed the Japanese national anthem at the opening ceremony of the Bell Capital Cup in Ottawa. The following year, I was honoured to perform the Canadian national anthem at the Japanese Canadian Cultural Centre during a reception held to celebrate the Emperor of Japan’s birthday. I have also performed in several University of Toronto Voice Studies concerts and participated in a master class led by Brett Polegato in the fall of 2025.

Together, these experiences have deepened my commitment to voice performance and choral singing, supported my continued growth as a musician, and enabled me to build meaningful connections with others in my community who share my love of music.

Could you please describe what a typical week is like for you?

A typical week in my program combines individual lessons, coaching sessions, ensemble rehearsals, performances, academic coursework, and independent practice. Each of these activities contributes to a different aspect of my development, but a central part of my week involves working with my voice teacher, Monica Whicher, who has guided me as I transition toward a more advanced, professional approach to singing. She has also been crucial in helping me navigate the demands of my undergraduate program. Additionally, I participate in regular coaching sessions that help me focus on the best way to deliver the story or message of a song. Outside these sessions, much of my time is devoted to applying what I have learned through independent practice and rehearsals with other musicians.

This weekly rhythm not only helps me become a better musician, but has also really consolidated for me the idea that much of what we do as musicians is part of an interconnected collaborative whole which brings together the knowledge, perspectives, and contributions of many people, all working toward a shared artistic goal. My teachers, coaches, and peers all contribute something different, and my task is to bring those insights together in a way that allows me to grow into the singer and artist I hope to become. This collaborative environment makes every week demanding, but it is also what makes studying at the University of Toronto rewarding.

What is your favourite memory from U of T Music so far?

My favourite memory from U of T Music so far is attending the first Voice Studies Tuesday Noon Hour concert of my undergraduate program. As a first-year student, I had the opportunity to hear singers from across the program perform and to see the range of artistry,

dedication, and individuality within the Voice Studies community. What stayed with me most was the sense of shared purpose in the room. Although each student brought a distinct voice and perspective to the stage, it was clear that we were united by the same passion for music and performance. For me, that concert offered an early glimpse of the inspiring artistic community I was entering, and it made me feel both welcomed and excited for the years ahead. The Tuesday Noon Hour concerts have continued to be an important part of my experience at U of T. They provide students with valuable opportunities to perform, learn from one another, and come together as a community. Knowing that initiatives such as these are made possible through donor support makes me especially appreciative of the generosity that helps enrich our education beyond the classroom.

What impact have scholarships had on your academic and artistic journey?

Scholarships have had a very meaningful impact on my academic and artistic journey by considerably easing financial pressures and allowing me to focus fully on my development as a singer. As a student from outside the Greater Toronto Area, this support has helped me defray the costs of both my tuition fees and residence fees in Toronto. Importantly, this support has meant that I have been able to devote more hours of my week to my musical studies and daily practice. Scholarships have made it possible for me to to prioritize these activities rather than having to focus on pursuing part-time work opportunities, something which would be necessary without the support I have been very lucky to receive. It is an incredible gift to be able to dedicate myself fully to my studies and my craft as a musician.

What message do you have for donors?

Above all, I am deeply grateful for the generosity of donors who support students like me. As I mentioned above, donors’ generosity allow young musicians to devote themselves fully to their studies. In doing so, they provide the foundation for the pursuit of meaningful, long-term careers in music.

Additionally, we live at a time when a great deal of emphasis is placed on technology, efficiency, and digital innovation. These advancements hold great promise, but they can also move us away from what connects us and makes us human. This is why I believe the support of donors remains so important. Music and the performing arts play a unique role in society. Through real, lived, embodied experiences, they deepen human connection, cultural expression, and emotional understanding in ways that few other forms of expression can replicate. Other fields undoubtedly make vital contributions to society. The arts, however, allow us to feel deeply, define who we are, and recognize what we share. In doing so, they enrich our lives and give them meaning.

As a music student, your support and the confidence you have placed in students like me affirm that this work has value and a place in our world. You are helping young artists not only to train and grow, but also to contribute to the cultural lives of our communities in Canada and beyond. Thank you for believing in the importance of the arts and in the people who dedicate their lives to them.

Being a music student can be tremendously demanding. How do you take time to rest and ensure balance in your life?

I try to approach rest and balance with the same sense of discipline and intentionality that I bring to my musical studies. Outside of music, I make time to go to the gym, take walks around the University of Toronto campus, spend quality time with friends, and watch sports. During the academic year, I often go to the gym. I enjoy the discipline of it and the opportunity it gives me to step away from music. I value not only the physical benefits of exercise, but also the sense of measurable progress that it provides. In music, artistic development is often gradual and difficult to quantify. At the gym, however, progress can sometimes be seen more concretely, whether through lifting additional weight or completing more repetitions. This provides a rewarding contrast to the less visible, though equally meaningful, process of musical growth. Additionally, watching a game or match that I am interested in allows me to relax and focus on something entirely different.

Balance is also central to the way I approach singing. As a vocalist, it is important to recognize when vocal rest is necessary. At times, this may mean avoiding singing, speaking less, or reducing the intensity of my practice. Importantly, vocal rest does not mean that musical work must stop. I can continue studying a score silently, considering the intentions behind each phrase, or reflecting on the emotional and dramatic meaning of a song. At different moments, I may place greater emphasis on the technical, musical, or mental dimensions of singing. Moving between these areas allows me to continue developing while avoiding unnecessary strain.

I also rely on time blocking to set aside dedicated hours for practice each day. This helps me remain consistent and makes it easier to rest without feeling that I should always be working. One of the most important principles I have brought into my university studies is that consistency-driven practice is more effective than motivation-driven practice. By maintaining a dependable routine while also allowing time for recovery, exercise, and meaningful relationships, I am better able to sustain both my growth as a singer and my enjoyment of the artistic work.

What repertoire are you excited to dive into in the year ahead, and do you have any upcoming performances you would like to highlight?

In the year ahead, I am especially excited to explore the operatic repertoire in greater depth. As I enter my third year, I will be joining the undergraduate opera program, marking an important new stage in my development as a singer. Much of my work to date has focused on art song, including mélodie and Lieder. While this repertoire has been foundational to my growth, I am eager to expand into the world of opera.

Through the opera program, I look forward not only to studying arias, but also to working on scenes and developing a deeper understanding of what it means to portray a character in a sustained and convincing way. I am particularly excited to explore how a character develops across a scene or an entire role, and how each singer contributes to the broader dramatic and musical structure of an opera.

I am also looking forward to preparing for my third-year recital, which will take place near the end of the 2026-2027 academic year. As the first solo recital I will design and present, it will be an important milestone in both my Bachelor of Music program and my development as an emerging artist. Rather than approaching each song as an isolated work, I will be responsible for shaping a cohesive program and creating a meaningful artistic journey across the recital as a whole. Preparing for this performance will be one of my central goals in the coming year.

You can hear me sing Schubert’s Wandrers Nachtlied I with pianist Amy Li here. My third-year recital will take place in spring 2027.

Thank you to all our donors who support Faculty of Music students like Mathias, enabling them to focus on their musical development and benefit from opportunities that enrich student life.

To learn more about how to establish a scholarship or support a program, please contact Rachel Loo, Development Officer, at rachel.loo@utoronto.ca or 416-946-3464.