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James Martin, voice
James Martin has won critical acclaim for his performances in opera, musical theater, and concerts as a versatile singer, actor, and entertainer. Always an audience favorite, his artistic repertoire spans from Bach to be-bop, Busoni to Burleigh, and Berg to Bernstein. He has appeared with leading musical organizations throughout the United States and abroad. Most recently, he toured Taiwan and Thailand with frequent collaborator Lynn Raley.
Favorite operatic roles include Mozart’s Papageno (Die Zauberlöte), Figaro, and Puccini’s Marcello (La bohème). As a concert artist, Martin enjoys a rich and varied repertoire ranging from the classic art song and oratorio repertory to modern and contemporary classics with specialties in the music of Black-Americans and the Great American Songbook. Martin’s musical theatre roles include Bill Starbuck/110 in the Shade, Quixote/Man of LaMancha, Billy Flynn/Chicago (Big Easy Award nomination), Billy Crocker/Anything Goes, the Pirate King/The Pirates of Penzance, Joe/Show Boat, and multiple cabaret performances.
Martin holds a Bachelor of Music degree from Illinois Wesleyan University, a Master of Music degree from the Juilliard School, and is a multiple award recipient. He was a Young Artist with the Juilliard Opera Center and apprenticed with major young artist programs in the U.S. and with L’Opéra National du Rhin in Strasbourg, France, as one of seven international Les JeunesVoix du Rhin. He studied voice with David Nott (IWU), Cynthia Hoffmann (Juilliard) and Benita Valente.
In addition to a successful performance career, Mr. Martin is an accomplished teaching artist and arts advocate touring classrooms and educational performance venues across the United States, Europe, and Asia. He has served on the boards of Grace House, a non-profit for homeless people living with HIV/AIDS, and the Mississippi Academy of Ancient Music (M’AAM).
James Martin can be heard on the Copland House Blend, Naxos, and Albany record labels.