Opera

Opera dominated my musical life. I was in a number of productions at the Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts, including: Don Pasquale,

Click To Enlarge Image

Gianni Schicchi, The Magic Flute, and The Barber of Seville. I had principle parts in Una Cosa Rara, A Viennese Celebration, and The Impresario. As my last project at APA, I was the director, script co-author, and a principle singer in A Marx Brother's Night at the Opera. When I was in Hong Kong I also had a part in a professional production of The Merry Widow.

After Hong Kong, I went to Indiana University's School of Music to study for a second bachelor's degree (this time in performance). I had chorus parts performed in La Boheme, Vanessa, Wozzeck, Rake's Progress, Love for Three Oranges, The Barber of Seville, The Elixir of Love, and Faust. I had roles in Susannah and Candide in addition to a speaking parts in The Sound of Music and West Side Story.

Of course, I have had a number of singing instructors along the way. My last professor was Carlos Montané. Previously, I studied with two other opera singers, Dr. Derek Anthony and Ryan Fletcher, each with whom I studied four years. My first singing lessons came from Cynthia Friley with who I studied at Culver Military Academy for one year.

I have received a great deal of praise for my acting ability over the years in roles ranging from a narrator to a Nazi to collage of small character parts. Positive comments on my voice are not unheard of either.  Still, a hand full of complements don't make a career.  I have pretty much hung up the opera hat and left it to my wife, who is a far more capable singer than I.  At best (or worst depending on your perspective), I can be occassionally heard singing for special events.