Bio

Baritone Jeffrey Grayson Gates is a Texas native who is quickly distinguishing himself as a talented young performer across the United States. Most recently, Mr. Gates was selected as a winner of the Vocal Arts DC Young Artists Competition, and the Washington D.C. District Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions, previously having been a Regional Finalist in the Midwest Region. He was also named the Grand Prize Overall Winner at the 2010 Naftzger Young Artist Auditions in Wichita, Kansas – the first male vocalist to win the award since 1946. Shortly after, Mr. Gates completed his Bachelor of Music degree as a student of Dr. William Nield Christensen at Oklahoma City University where he received The Steven Dickson Encouragement Award, sponsored by baritone Ron Raines. Mr. Gates recently received a Graduate Performance Diploma in Voice from the Peabody Conservatory, studying under William Sharp.

Mr. Gates has a widespread repertoire of operatic roles. Most recently, he performed Nilakantha in Lakmé with Peabody Opera Theatre. Also at Peabody, he performed the title role in Don Giovanni, Reverend Hale in The Crucible, the Keeper of the Madhouse in The Rake’s Progress, as well as covering the role of Nick Shadow. In 2013, Mr. Gates made his debut with the Hub Opera Ensemble singing Harlequin in Ariadne auf Naxos. He also performed Count Almaviva in Le Nozze di Figaro with Maryland Concert Opera. In the last several years Mr. Gates has performed many roles with the Oklahoma Opera and Music Theater Company, including: the title role in Don Giovanni, Count Almaviva in Le Nozze di Figaro, Giorgio Germont in La Traviata, Horace Tabor in The Ballad of Baby Doe, Eisenstein in Die Fledermaus, Rambaldo in La Rondine, Painter in the world premiere of Katarzyna Brochocka’s Happy Garden of Life, Raul Perez in the regional premiere of Pasatieri’s Hotel Casablanca, and Cajus in Die Lustigen Weiber von Windsor. In 2013, Mr. Gates was a Studio Artist with Central City Opera, where he performed Jim Greene in Show Boat, covered Sam in Our Town, and also performed in Il Barbiere di Siviglia. Mr. Gates was an Apprentice Artist with Des Moines Metro Opera in the summers of 2011 and 2012, covering Rambaldo in La Rondine, as well as performing in La Rondine, Eugene Onegin, La Boheme and Dialogues of the Carmelites. Mr. Gates performed with Light Opera Oklahoma in the summers of 2007 & 2008 performing various roles including: Samuel in Pirates of Penzance, Counsel and Usher in Trial by Jury, and features in Sweeney Todd, Candide, Naughty Marietta, Oh Coward!, and The Music Man.

In addition to opera and musical theater, Mr. Gates has extensive experience on the concert stage. Most recently, he performed a series of art song recitals with Vocal Arts DC, including a recital on the Millennium Stage at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. Recently, he has appeared as the baritone soloist Mozart’s Requiem with the Richmond Symphony, Duruflé’s Requiem at Epiphany Episcopal Church in Timonium, MD. He has performed as soloist in Brahms’ Ein deutsches Requiem, Orff’s Carmina Burana, and excerpts of Vaughan Williams’ Hodie with the Oklahoma City University Symphony Orchestra. He has also been featured as the baritone soloist in Händel’s Messiah with the Oklahoma City Philharmonic Orchestra and Canterbury Choral Society in 2008 and 2010, as well as various other organizations throughout the United States.

Jeffrey Grayson Gates’ upcoming engagements include: Tarquinius in The Rape of Lucretia with Hexacollective; Figaro in Il Barbiere di Siviglia with Hub Opera Ensemble; Soloist in Händel’s Messiah with the Harford Choral Society; Soloist in Carmina Burana with the Susquehanna Symphony; Soloist in Fauré’s Requiem with the Harford Choral Society; Chorus in Nabucco with Lyric Opera Baltimore.

Jeffrey Grayson Gates currently resides in Baltimore, MD with his wife, soprano Courtney Kalbacker. For more information, please visit http://www.JeffreyGatesBaritone.com.