James M. Brown [they/them], a Maine native and artist known for diverse repertoire, "...remains a definite asset in a cast as they sing and play remarkably well" (atuvu.ca). They've been regarded by the Portland Press Herald as "a countertenor with a pleasingly warm, powerful tone." They have had the pleasure of recently performing roles such as The Sandman (Hansel & Gretel), Joachim (Susanna) and Grindr (Grindr: the Opera). Most recently James has been seen as Bradamante in Immersion Repertory Theatre’s workshop of Alcina: Reimagined, which won the support of Opera San Diego’s Opera Hack 3.0 initiative. Operawire has said, "Their voice quality is vibrant and expressive and sometimes otherworldly in its delicate beauty."

 

A frequent collaborator of new music, they have premiered several new works such as: Danni Song's you dreamed of a non-orange tomorrow for the Institute of Contemporary Performance Practice and Nisan Ak's Singing Bindings (in collaboration with the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History). They performed with the RVA Baroque Ensemble where "...their experience in opera was parlayed into a period-stylishly affective portrayal of King Louis XIV..." in the premiere of Niccolo Seligmann's Julie, Monster.  James perform's with their newly found collaboration, AMPLIFY Ensemble, in collaboration with the NY Philharmonic Very Young Composer Program.  This coming season, Mx. Brown will be seen as the Prince Ifite in Bononcini’s La Conquista del Velo d'Oro and Isaac in Britten’s Canticle II: Abraham and Isaac.

 

Their training includes the Summer Institute for Contemporary Performance Practice as a Voice Fellow, Against the Grain Opera Summer Intensive, Tafelmusik Baroque Summer Institute, American Bach Soloists Academy, Haymarket Opera Summer Opera Workshop and Music on Site Inc. This coming season they will be seen as a Recital Resident with City Lyric Opera.

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Repertoire highlights include a “menacingly cold” Sorceress in Dido & Aeneas (L'Opéra), a “flamboyantly carefree” Mercutio in Romeo & Juliet (Shakespeareances) and an “irresistible” Old Lady in Candide (Le Devoir). James was a soloist in Orff’s Carmina Burana and Mendelssohn’s Elijah with the Schulich School of Music. They also were in a staged presentation of Britten's art songs in collaboration with the Montreal Rose Festival. Joined by notable talent in the New England concert scene, they've been involved with the Portland Rossini Club, the Bay Chamber Concert Series and the White Mountain Music Festival in works composed by Britten, Bolcom, and Bach.

 

Mx. Brown studies with Alexandra LoBianco and Peter Drackley and holds degrees in Performance & Opera Studies (MMus) from McGill University and in Voice Performance (BMus) University of Southern Maine. They have been recognized with multiple awards from the Bay Chamber Concert Series, Rossini Club, and USM Chamber Music Competition.