Jimi James
as The Sergeant

Jimi James, baritone

Jimi James has enjoyed an active performance schedule since his last appearance with Mercury Opera. Praised by critics for “his strong, inherently dramatic vocal resources” and “dynamic acting”, the artist also boasts a unique skill for an operatic actor: stilt walking. He has twice presented his 9-foot tall Papageno on 4-foot stilts. Mr. James’ now adds to his artistic arsenal the role of director and artistic designer. He designed and directed “Amahl and the Night Visitors” for Music Arts Alive in 2009.

Highlights of Mr. James’ recent season included recitals in New York and New Hampshire, Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9 with Syracuse Symphony Orchestra, “Cavalleria rusticana” and “Pagliacci” with Baltimore Concert Opera, “Cosi fan tutte” with American Landmark Festivals and appearances with Oswego Opera, Nashua Symphony Orchestra, and Young Victorian Theater.

Among the baritone’s wide variety of staged roles are portrayals of Germont, Escamillo, Dr. Bartolo, Figaro, Alfio, Tonio, Schaunard, Gianni Schicchi, Rigoletto, Enrico, Masetto, Mustafa, Emile de Becque, Billy Bigelow, The Pirate King, Giuseppe and Lord Mountararat with such companies as Opera Memphis, Tri Cities Opera, Opera Vivente, Annapolis Opera, Mercury Opera, Granite State Opera and Connecticut Concert Opera.

His concert appearances include “Carmina Burana”, Rutter’s “Mass of the Children”, the requiem settings of Brahms, Fauré, Mozart and Verdi, Bach cantatas 68, 78, 145 and 211, Moravec‘s “Songs of Love and War”, “Elijah”, Schubert’s Mass in G, “Messiah”, “Polar Express”, “Peter vs. the Wolf” and Vaughan Williams’ “Songs of Travel”. A frequent featured soloist with the Syracuse Symphony Orchestra, Mr. James also performs with Springfield Symphony in Missouri, West Virginia Symphony, Finger Lakes Choral Festival, Long Island Masterworks, and Roanoke Symphony Orchestra.

A strong proponent of arts education, the baritone is particularly fond of his more than 900 outreach performances, including “The Three Little Pigs”, “Jack and the Beanstalk”, “Hansel and Gretel”, “Little Red Riding Hood”, “Little Red’s Most Unusual Day”, “Never Tickle a Mule” and “Love Cabaret – Love Songs of the Gershwin Brothers”.

He was a finalist in the Chester Ludgin Verdi Competition in New York, NY, and winner of the JDAF Vocal Competition in New York, NY. Mr. James’ upcoming schedule includes Scarpia in “Tosca” with Springfield Symphony, concerts with American Landmark Festivals and “Messiah” with Syracuse Symphony.

Visit Mr. James at www.JimiJamesBaritone.com.

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