Operatic Baritone

James Myers is an accomplished actor, singer and voice teacher.  He has sung professionally with Washington National Opera at the Kennedy Center, Wolf Trap Opera and with the Mittelsaechsisches Theater (Middle Saxony Theater) in Frieberg, Germany. On the concert stage, he has sung as a soloist with the Fairfax Symphony Orchestra.  He holds a Master of Music degree in vocal performance and a Bachelors degree that included formal studies in both vocal performance and acting.  

His early operatic training was as a tenor and then, after the completion of his graduate studies, James decided to sing baritone roles and repertoire.  James continues to sing predominantly now as a professional baritone.  He has sung a wide range of roles and repertoire on the operatic, concert, recital and theatrical stage.

As a soloist in oratorio, James has performed both the Bass and Tenor solos in Handel’s Messiah, served as Baritone soloist in the Durufle Requiem and performed as Baritone soloist in the Faure Requiem with orchestra.  

On the theatrical stage, James has played many great roles from well known plays and musicals.  Most recently he has played 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/

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.  .

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 on the voice department of the school of music at George Mason University.  He has helped students gain admittance to professional opera and theatre programs all over the world.  His students have gone on to study both music and theatre at top universities and conservatories.  James works with several professional singers and actors and has helped prepare members of the GMU theater and dance faculty for roles in professional shows.  He has helped his students secure call back auditions to professional Broadway shows in New York, most recently, the Broadway touring production of Dear Evan Hanson. 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.  

James is available for "virtual video voice lessons" over the video conferencing platform, Zoom.  He will return to offering in person voice lessons to students in June 2021.  He will continue offering video lessons over zoom to anyone who prefers that option. 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.  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!