Bass John Allec studied composition at the University of Manitoba for two luxurious years before joining the real world. That did, though, let him quickly save up for two months of backpacking to a score of opera houses from Edinborough to Budapest, and several trips to Seattle and the Met. Thrilled to join TOR’s chorus a few years ago — looking over the shoulders of the Lucia di Lammermoor sextet! — his jaw dropped when Maestro Macina suggested and offered vocal lessons, and has basically stayed there as he’s attempted Don Basilio in TOR’s Barber of Seville, The Bonze in Madama Butterfly, and Doctor Dulcamara in last year’s L’Elisir d’amore. John also enjoys singing the rest of the year with Coro Giuseppe Verdi.