Born in Québec, French Canadian baritone William Desbiens studied at the Mannes School of Music in New York with Artur Levy and is a member of the Mascarde Opera Studio Florence support programme. Roles in his repertoire include Count Almaviva from Mozart's »Le nozze di Figaro«, Dandini from Rossini's »La Cenerentola« or Silvio from Leoncavallo's opera »I Pagliacci«. He received important artistic impulses from his collaboration with Richard Margison and Sherrill Milnes. He is a prize-winner in various international competitions and has received, among others, the Metropolitan Opera National Council's Young Talent Award.