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The American baritone, Jeffrey Grayson Gates, obtained his Bachelor of Music degree Vocal Performance as a student of Dr. William Nield Christensen at Oklahoma City University (2010) where he received The Steven Dickson Encouragement Award, sponsored by baritone Ron Raines. He received a Graduate Performance Diploma in Voice from the The Peabody Institue of the Johns Hopkins University (2013), studying under William Sharp. His Voice Teachers have included: Dr. Eunsuk Yang (2003-2005), Jack Coldiron (2005-2006); Dr. William Christensen (2006-2011); William Sharp (2011-Present). His Honors and Awards include: a three-time recipient of the Texas State Solo & Ensemble Outstanding Performer Award, and also a three-time recipient of the Texas Music Merit Scholar Award (2005, 2006); semi-finalist in the Crescendo Music Awards (2005, 2006, 2007); He is a three-time 1st place winner at Texoma NATS (2005, 2006, 2008); semi-finalist in the Lois Alba Aria Competition (2007); twice received the Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions Young Artist Encouragement Award in Tulsa Oklahoma (2009/2010, 2011); was named the Grand Prize Overall Winner at the 2010 Naftzger Young Artist Auditions in Wichita, Kansas - the first male vocalist to win the award since 1946; Third Place in The American Prize in Vocal Performance - Schorr Memorial Award in Art Song (2011); the Washington D.C. District Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions (2011), previously having been a Regional Finalist in the Midwest Region; winner of the Vocal Arts DC Young Artists Competition (2012).
Jeffrey Grayson Gates is quickly distinguishing himself as a talented young performer across the USA. He has a widespread repertoire of operatic roles. Most recently, he performed Nilakantha in Lakmé with Peabody Opera Theatre. Also at Peabody, he performed the title role in W.A. Mozart's Don Giovanni, Reverend Hale in The Crucible, the Keeper of the Madhouse in Igor Stravinsky's The Rake’s Progress, as well as covering the role of Nick Shadow. In 2013, he made his debut with the Hub Opera Ensemble singing Harlequin in Ariadne auf Naxos. He also performed Count Almaviva in W.A. Mozart's Le Nozze di Figaro with Maryland Concert Opera. In the last several years he has performed many roles with the Oklahoma Opera and Music Theater Company, including: the title role in W.A. Mozart's Don Giovanni, Count Almaviva in W.A. Mozart's Le Nozze di Figaro, Giorgio Germont in La Traviata, Horace Tabor in The Ballad of Baby Doe, Eisenstein in Die Fledermaus, Rambaldo in La Rondine, Painter in the world premiere of Katarzyna Brochocka’s Happy Garden of Life, Raul Perez in the regional premiere of Pasatieri’s Hotel Casablanca, and Cajus in Die Lustigen Weiber von Windsor. In 2013, he was a Studio Artist with Central City Opera, where he performed Jim Greene in Show Boat, covered Sam in Our Town, and also performed in Il Barbiere di Siviglia. He was an Apprentice Artist with Des Moines Metro Opera in the summers of 2011 and 2012, covering Rambaldo in La Rondine, as well as performing in La Rondine, Eugene Onegin, La Boheme and Francis Poulenc's Dialogues of the Carmelites. He made his debut with Tulsa Opera in 2009 in the Chorus of L'Elisir d'Amore. He performed with Light Opera Oklahoma in the summers of 2007 & 2008 performing various roles including: Samuel in Pirates of Penzance, Counsel and Usher in Trial by Jury, and features in Sweeney Todd, Leonard Bernstein's Candide, Naughty Marietta, Oh Coward!, and The Music Man.
In addition to opera and musical theater, Jeffrey Grayson Gates has extensive experience on the concert stage. Most recently, he performed a series of art song recitals with Vocal Arts DC, including a recital on the Millennium Stage at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. Recently, he has appeared as the baritone soloist W.A. Mozart's Requiem with the Richmond Symphony, Maurice Duruflé’s Requiem at Epiphany Episcopal Church in Timonium, Maryland. He has performed as soloist in Johannes Brahms’ Ein deutsches Requiem, Orff’s Carmina Burana, and excerpts of Ralph Vaughan Williams’ Hodie with the Oklahoma City University Symphony Orchestra and Choral Program. He has also been featured as the baritone soloist in George Frideric Handel's Messiah with the Oklahoma City Philharmonic Orchestra and Canterbury Choral Society in 2008 and 2010, as well as various other organizations throughout the USA.
Jeffrey Grayson Gates’ upcoming engagements include: Tarquinius in Benjamin Britten's The Rape of Lucretia with Hexacollective; Figaro in Il Barbiere di Siviglia with Hub Opera Ensemble; Soloist in G.F. Handel's Messiah with the Harford Choral Society; Soloist in Carmina Burana with the Susquehanna Symphony; Soloist in Gabriel Fauré’s Requiem with the Harford Choral Society; Chorus in Nabucco with Lyric Opera Baltimore. He currently resides in Baltimore, Maryland with his wife, soprano Courtney Kalbacker.
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