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From: New Orleans, Louisiana. LA Opera: title role of Omar (2022, debut).
An innate musician, and trained pianist, American tenor Jamez McCorkle is gathering acclaim as a hugely exciting talent. Following his time at the Zürich International Opera Studio in 2019, McCorkle was a finalist in the much-coveted Neue Stimmen competition, and has since made anticipated debuts at the Metropolitan Opera, Michigan Opera Theatre, the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra and Bayerische Staatsoper. Looking further ahead, his appearances include debuts with Theater Basel and the Philadelphia Orchestra as well as an invitation to return to Bavarian State Opera.
In May of 2022, he will create the title role of Omar at the work's world premiere at the Spoleto Festival USA in Charleston, South Carolina.
Highlights of the 2021/22 season include his house and role debut as Telemaco in a new production of Il ritorno d'Ulisse in patria with Theatre Basel; the title role in the world premiere of Omar, Rhiannon Giddens’ new opera based on the life of Omar Ibn Said at the Spoleto Festival; and Leonard Woolfe in Kevin Puts’ new opera The Hours with the Philadelphia Orchestra.
McCorkle’s recent successes include his debut at Bavarian State Opera as the Duke of Cornwall in Lear; Peter the Honeyman in the hugely acclaimed production of Porgy and Bess at the Metropolitan Opera; performances of Britten's War Requiem with the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra; Tamino in The Magic Flute with Kentucky Opera; and Lensky in Eugene Onegin with Michigan Opera Theatre and at the Spoleto Festival, where he also sang Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony. McCorkle also received an invitation from Opera Vlaanderen to sing Steva in Jenůfa.
As a member of the International Opera Studio, roles included Normanno in Lucia di Lammermoor and Trabuco in La Forza del Destino; title role (cover) in Idomeneo, Remendado and Don José (cover) in Carmen and the First Armed Man in The Magic Flute. In 2017 McCorkle was invited to take part in the Young Artist Program of the Salzburg Festival, appearing as Fante del Consiglio in The Two Foscari and covering Tito in La Clemenza di Tito. At Curtis Opera Theatre he appeared as Ruggero in La Rondine, Nolan in Doctor Atomic and the Male Chorus in The Rape of Lucretia.
A graduate of the Curtis Institute of Music, McCorkle is an alumnus of the Mannes College, The New School for Music and Loyola University New Orleans. He has participated in several summer programs including Internationale Meistersinger Akademie, Festival d'Aix-en-Provence, I Sing Beijing, Houston Grand Opera Young Artists' Vocal Academy, the Music Academy of the West, and the International Vocal Arts Institute. He is a winner of several awards and competitions including the George London Competition, Sullivan Foundation, Brava! Opera Competition, National Opera Association Vocal Competition and the Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions, Gulf Coast Region.