ABOUT
Noted for his “lovely and pure tone and a great stage countenance,” tenor James Pike is emerging as a singer of diverse repertoire. Past seasons include debuts with the Minnesota Opera, St. John’s Oratorio Chorus, East Metro Symphony Orchestra, Minnetonka Symphony Orchestra, Saint Catherine's Choral Society, the Minnesota Saints Chorale and Orchestra, the Saint Peter Choral Society, the Sonomento Choir, the Minnesota Center Chorale, and the Exultate Chamber Choir.
An in-demand Oratorio singer, James has recently sung Uriel in Haydn’s Creation, Pilate in Rob Gardner's Lamb of God, Tenor Soloist in Handel’s Messiah and Chandos Anthem No. 4, Haydn’s Nicolaimesse, Mozart’s Coronation Mass, Serenade to Music and Hodie by Ralph Vaughan Williams, Hiawatha's Wedding Feast by Samuel Coleridge Taylor, Bach’s Magnificat, and Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony.
James’ operatic roles include Peter Quint in Britten’s The Turn of the Screw, Ferrando from Mozart’s Così fan tutte, Rinuccio from Puccini’s Gianni Schicchi, Remendado from Bizet’s Carmen, as well as Il Tinca from Puccini’s Il Tabarro. Before transitioning to the tenor repertoire, his bass/baritone roles included Second Priest in Mozart’s The Magic Flute and oratorio solos as Bass Soloist in Rossini’s Stabat Mater and Baritone Soloist in Brahms’ Neue Liebeslieder Walzer.
An advocate for new works, James collaborated with Tapestry Opera as a part of the company’s annual “Tapestry Songbook” workshop, exploring roles in Andrew Ager’s Frankenstein and Elisabeth Mehl Greene’s Merk’s Dream.
James’ has had the opportunity to learn from esteemed and legendary singers Sherrill Milnes and the late Nico Castel, as well as current opera stars Gregory Kunde and David Portillo. In addition, he has trained at the Savannah VOICE Festival in Savannah, GA, as a Sherrill Milnes VOICE Studio Artist. He is a graduate of Roberts Wesleyan College. Additional training includes the Metro Opera Workshop of Detroit and the New York Opera Studio.
James is based in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
Photo: Daniel Welch Media
