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The American baritone, Courtney D. Carey earned the Bachelor of Arts degree in Music from Morehouse College in Atlanta, Georgia (1998-2002); his Master of Music degree in Choral Conducting from the Eastman School of Music in Rochester, New York (2002-2004); and his Professional Studies Diploma in Voice from Mannes College of Music in New York City, New York (2004-2006). He is the recipient of numerous awards including the prestigious Arleen Auger Memorial Scholarship named in honor of the famed soprano Arleen Augér and a Classical Studies grant from the Hester Fund for Classical Music Studies. While a student at Mannes College of Music, he was approached by the Metropolitan Opera Guild to sign on as one of its teaching artists. He has since enjoyed a lengthy relationship with both the Metropolitan Opera and Metropolitan Opera Guild.
Acclaimed for his “commanding stage presence” and “dramatic fire,” (Raoul Abdul, Amsterdam News) Courtney Carey has established himself as a singer of singular talent. He made his operatic debut in the summer of 2003, as Morales with the Komische Kammer Oper München in Georges Bizet’s Carmen, and as Hermann in Offenbach’s Hoffmans Erazaehlungen. Since his debut, he has gone on to sing principal and supporting roles in W.A. Mozart's Le Nozze di Figaro (Il Conte Almaviva), W.A. Mozart's Cosi fan tutte (Don Alfonso and Guglielmo), Carlisle Floyd's Susannah (Elder McClean), Charles Gounod's Romeo et Juliette (Mercutio), L’elisir d’amore (Belcore), and many others (including: Il Tabarro, Gianni Schicchi, W.A. Mozart's Die Zauberflöte, My Fair Lady, Ariadne auf Naxos). Under the direction of maestro Joseph Colaneri, he created a stir with his carefully crafted portrayal of the villainous Lantello in the world premiere of Noam Sivan’s Fruits of Folia. Other important career highlights include collaborations with eminent maestri such as David Effron, David Gilbert, Joshua Green, Matthias Kuntzch, Jay Meetze, and Ted Taylor. He has participated in renowned programs for young artists, such as The University of Miami Frost School of Music at Salzburg, Brevard Music Center, Centro Studi Italiani, B.A.S.O.T.I., New York Summer Opera Scenes, and was a resident artist with the Opera Company of Brooklyn.
As a noted recitalist, Courtney Carey has performed in many concerts, recitals, and festivals, including the Cleveland Art Song Festival, a week-long festival of intensive recitals and master-classes featuring distinguished talents such as baritone, Vladimir Chernov, tenor, Anthony Dean Griffey, and pianist, Warren Jones. He was presented in a joint recital with baritone, Martin Woods, as a part of the widely acclaimed series of events commemorating the 200th anniversary of the historic Abyssinian Baptist Church of Harlem, New York. Recent career highlights include concert performances of Johannes Brahms’ German Requiem, and J.S. Bach’s Cantata 147, Ralph Vaughan Williams' Mass in G, and the preview of Ricky Ian Gordon’s new opera Intimate Apparel (a co-production between the Metropolitan Opera and Lincoln Center Theater).
Courtney Carey's wide range of experience includes teaching at all levels of public and parochial school music education, in addition to conducting church, community, chamber, and collegiate choruses. He has served as guest conductor of the Manhattan School of Music Pan African concerts, Associate Conductor at the Ephesus Seventh-day Adventist Church, Associate Adjunct Professor and Director of Jubilee Singers at Westminster Choir College (September 2016-June 2017); Director of Music Ministries at the First African Methodist Episcopal Church: Bethel in Harlem, New York (January 2006-January 2013); Teaching Artist at Metropolitan Opera Guild in Lincoln Center (September 2006-July 2020); and Director of the Brooklyn Ecumenical Choir. In addition to his work as a singer, lecturer, and conductor, he is an accomplished composer/arranger. His choral arrangements My God is So High, I Ain’t Got Weary Yet, Lord, I Want Two Wings, Calvary, and You Can Tell the World are published by GIA Publications, Inc., Roger Dean Music Publishing Company, Lorenz Corporation, and Carus Verlag. He is also Editor in Chief at The Whole Review (since July 2020).
In June 2014, Courtney Carey formed Courtney’s Stars of Tomorrow, a New York-based non-profit organization committed to presenting top-tier classical music events. Under his leadership, the organization has performed sold-out concerts to enthusiastic audiences at Carnegie Hall and Lincoln Center, with its education programs having garnered the support of powerhouse brands and grantmakers such as Staples, Columbia Community Service, Lower Manhattan Cultural Council, and Upper Manhattan Empowerment Zone. He currently lives in New York City, New York. |
