Operatic Baritone

James Myers is an accomplished actor, singer and voice teacher.  As a profesional operatic baritone, James has sung with Washington National Opera at the Kennedy Center, Wolf Trap Opera and internationally with the Mittelsaechsisches Theater (Middle Saxony Opera Theater) in Frieberg, German.  He most recently sang the role of Guglielmo in Cosi fan tutte by Mozart with Commonwealth Concert Opera in Richmond, Virginia.  He also recently performed the roles of Boni and Feri in an abridged production of the operetta, Die Csardasfurstin by Hungarian composer Imre Kalman with Bel Cantanti Opera Company.  On the concert stage, James has sung as a soloist with the Fairfax Symphony Orchestra.  

James' voice has been described as a "kavalier baritone" with a strong  middle range that possesses a powerful metallic quality capable of singing both lyric and dramatic phrases.  His operatic singing encompasses baritone roles such as Frank/Fritz/Pierrot in Die tote Stadt by Korngold, Valentin in Faust, Mozart baritone roles such as the Count in The Marriage of Figaro and the title role in Don Giovanni, and Verdi baritone roles like Rodgrigo in Don Carlo and Count di Luna in Il Trovatore among many others. His concert and oratorio repertoire as a solo baritone include the Brahms Requiem, the Faure Requiem, Mendelssohn's Elijah, Carmina Burana and Handel's Messiah. He has sung a wide range of roles and repertoire on the operatic, concert, recital and theatrical stage.

He holds a Master of Music degree in vocal performance and a Bachelors degree that included formal studies in both vocal performance and acting.  James was offered scholarship opportunities to continue his education as a Doctorate of Music candidate in vocal performance at several top conservatoires including Indiana University and the Peabody Conservatory of Johns Hopkins University, but he declined that route in order to continue pursuing his professional performing career and his work as a voice teacher.  

In addition to his work as an operatic baritone, James is a professional actor.  He has worked both on stage and on camera and has enjoyed success as an actor in a variety of roles. James received formal acting training at both university and through the renowned Signature Theater in Arlington VA, just outside of Washington D.C.  Mr. Myers was admitted into Signature Theater’s “Overtures” acting program as a winner of the Weissberg Fellowship grant.  

As a musical theatre actor, James has excelled at performing the classically composed dramatic and romantic musical theatre roles.  His wide ranging voice feels comfortable singing roles as high as the Phantom in The Phantom of the Opera and as low as the title role in Sweeney Todd.  Other roles that both fit James' vocal range and performing style include:  Billy Bigelow in Carousel, Tommy Albright in Brigadoon, Javert in Les Miserables, Anatoly (The Russian) in Chess, the title role in Jekyll and Hyde, Fred Graham in Kiss Me Kate, Raoul in The Phantom of the Opera, The Beast in Beauty and the Beast, Lancelot in Camelot, Joe Gillis in Sunset Boulevard, Gleb in Anastasia and many others.   

Recent musical theatre performances for James include his portrayal of the Beast in Beauty and the Beast, the lead role of Tommy Albright in Brigadoon and South Carolina Senator, Edward Rutledge in the musical, 1776.  For James' performance in the production of 1776, Paul M. Bessel and Barbara Braswell of DC Metro Theater Arts write:

“James Myers as Edward Rutlege of South Carolina stops the show with the haunting, almost supernatural, “Molasses to Rum.”  With his deep, rich, defiant voice, stunning vocal range and impeccable vocal dynamics, Myers accuses the Northern colonies of hypocrisy by profiting from the slave trade.”

https://dcmetrotheaterarts.com/2016/02/06/1776-at-mclean-community-players/

For his role as Edward Rutledge in 1776, James was honored with a Best of 2016 musical theater performance award from DC Metro Theater Arts.

In the role of the Beast in Beauty and the Beast, theatre critic, Jeannette Mulherin for the Maryland Theatre Guide writes: 

"Belle...and the Beast (James Myers) are gifted singers who could not have been better cast in their roles."

https://dcmetrotheaterarts.com/2019/07/20/beauty-and-the-beast-fairfax/

Also for the production of Beauty and Beast, Gina Dalfonzo for DC Metro Theater Arts writes: 

"Belle and James Myers as the Beast bring powerful voices and an appealing warmth and vulnerability to their roles."

https://mdtheatreguide.com/2019/07/theatre-review-beauty-and-the-beast-at-the-city-of-fairfax-theatre-company/

In addition to his work in musical theater, James has appeared numerous times on stage as an actor in plays and on film.  He played the lead role of Warren Ives in the Little Theater of Alexandria’s production of Ira Levin’s play: “Cantorial”.  For his appearance in this production Joe Adcock of ShowBizRadio writes:

“Myers, who has a beautiful voice, brings off a charming final moment when his preppy WASP starts singing liturgical Hebrew.”

http://washingtondc.showbizradio.com/2012/11/review-lta-cantorial/

Jordan Wright for the website, “Whisk and Quill”, writes that his performance as Warren Ives in Cantorial was, 

“played with moving intensity by James Myers”.

http://whiskandquill.com/cantorial-at-the-little-theatre-of-alexandria

As a result of his success in Cantorial, James was cast to play the American writer Max Halliday a few short months later in Little Theatre of Alexandria’s production of Dial M for Murder.  

For his work in Dial M for Murder, Jordan Wright of the Alexandria Times writes:  

"Actor James Myers, coming off his success in the fall's "Cantorial" at Little Theatre, gives a smooth performance as the American crime writer boyfriend, Max Halliday"

https://alextimes.com/2013/03/little-theatre-dials-m-for-marvelous-with-classic-whodunit/

Jackie Friedlander for the Fairfax Times writes:

"Ably rounding out the ensemble, James Myers is more than attractive enough to console the wronged wife as the man who really loves her,"

As a voice teacher, James has maintained an active voice studio for many years.  He has served on the faculty at George Mason University’s Mason Community Arts Academy and as adjunct faculty to the voice department of the school of music at George Mason University.  His students have gone on to study music/vocal performance and theatre/acting at top universities, conservatories and graduate programs.  His students have been hired for exciting professional opportunities in the world of opera, concert singing and musical theatre.  He is a full member of the National Association of Teachers of Singing (NATS) as well as the American Guild of Musical Artists (AGMA) which has reciprocity with Actors Equity Association.  He is also currently eligible to join Actors Equity Association and SAG-AFTRA.

Having himself navigated the challenging process of applying to graduate, doctorate and post graduate programs in opera and classical voice at top conservatoires and universities throughout the United States, James is fully committed to helping classical singers and actors who have completed their Bachelor of Music degree or Bachelor of Fine Arts studies find their way to the next step in building their careers.  In addition to working with accomplished professional singers and actors, James is thrilled to teach complete beginners as well as all levels and voice types.  As a voice teacher, James takes great pride in treating every singer with the utmost respect and he tailors the lessons to fit each singers' unique needs and requirements.  He and his students do work hard but James also strives to make the process lighthearted, supportive and enjoyable.  

James is available for both in person voice lessons and for "virtual video voice lessons" over the video conferencing platform, Zoom.  If you are interested in taking voice lessons or hiring James as a singer or actor, please contact us through this website by clicking on the tab that says Contact.  Below are video samples of James' work which include a mixture of operatic singing, musical theatre singing and his acting reel.  There are additional video and audio samples of his work  located on seperate pages of this website as well.  When James is not performing or teaching, he enjoys playing the piano, exercising, trying new restaurants, driving his mustang and exploring any place with mountains.  Thank you for visiting!