James M. Brown [they/them] is a Mainer and artist known for diverse repertoire in possession of a “mellifluous voice”. They've been regarded by the Portland Press Herald as "a countertenor with a pleasingly warm, powerful tone." 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). Most recently 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. This coming season, Mx. Brown will be seen as the mother Dánae in the revival of Bononcini’s Medusa and the fate Clothos In Crean’s The Harbingers.

 

Dedicated to regenerative projects and recital curation, James has recently collaborated with fellow artists to produce A Ghost’s Endeavor: a Queer Recital to benefit True Colors United. “The countertenor showed their ability to collaborate effectively, and their performance with colleagues was a strong showing of vocal excellence, technical skill, and emotive interpretation” (Operawire). Following the success of their previous work, they will be workshopping their next chamber project, Forgotten In the Books, as the Recital Resident in City Lyric Opera’s 2024-25 season, centering feminist ideals and compositions.

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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 holds degrees in Performance & Opera Studies (MMus) from McGill University and  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.