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The American bass baritone Jarrod Lee, earned a Bachelor of Arts in Music Education from Jacksonville State University in Alabama (2008) and studied voice with Dr. Richard Armstrong. In appreciation for the experience at Jacksonville State University, he returns periodically to share experiences and offer coaching while organizing and raising funds for a scholarship awarded to voice students of Jacksonville State University in honor of Dr. Richard Armstrong named the "Richard Armstrong Vocal Competition." He earned a Masters of Music from the University of Maryland as a member of the Maryland Opera Studio (2010), where he worked extensively with Director Leon Major. During his time with the Maryland Opera Studio, he had the opportunity to perform with mezzo soprano Delores Ziegler, soprano Carmen Balthrop, and soprano Linda Mabbs. Jarrod has studied voice with Carmen Balthrop, Dominic Cossa, Elizabeth Bishop, François Loup, Elizabeth Daniels, and W. Stephen Smith. He has coached with a variety of musicians including: Marilyn Horne, John Moriarty, Ken Weiss, William Billingham, Stephen Gathman, Justina Lee, Kenneth Merrill, Miah Im and the late Evelyn Lear.
Jarrod Lee was recently seen performing the roles of Hlabeni, McRae, and Paulus in Lost in the Stars by Kurt Weill and the role of SNCC Man in Appomattox by Phillip Glass with the Washington National Opera. This summer Jarrod returns to the Aspen Music Festival and School as a "New Horizons Fellowship" recipient. As a member of the Aspen Opera Center, he will perform the roles of Benoit and Alcindoro in La boheme by Puccini, and cover the role of Randolph in William Bolcom's A Wedding. In addition, he is a 2016 finalist in the Harlem Opera Theatre vocal competition as well as a winner of the study award from the Annapolis Opera Vocal Competition. In 2013, he participated in "American Voices" at the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C. curated by acclaimed soprano Renée Fleming. Jarrod participated in the classical session coached by bass baritone Eric Owens.
As a featured soloist, Jarrod Lee has performed with the Air Force String Orchestra, the Maryland Choral Arts Society and Swim Across America (cancer research fundraiser). In addition, he had the distinguished honor of singing for President Barack Obama and the First Family and Rev. AL Sharpton during their respective visits to Metropolitan A.M.E Church in Washington D.C.
Jarrod Lee has performed under the baton of Michael Borowitz, John DeMain, Michael Ingram, Timothy Long, Joseph Mechavich, Haijime Teri Murai, Tomáš Netopil and James Ross. In addition, he has performed under the direction of Pat Diamond, Leon Major, James Marvel, Nick Olcott, Tazewell Thompson and Francesca Zambello.
A few of Jarrod Lee's operatic roles include: Bartolo in W.A. Mozart's Le nozze di Figaro, Betto in Gianni Schicchi, Basilio and Fiorello in IL Barbiere di Siviligia, Marchese in La Traviata, Simon in Naughty Marietta, Man with the Cornet Case in Postcard from Moracco, Jaggers in Miss Havisham’s Fire, Talpa in IL Tabarro, The Officer in Amelia al ballo, Joe Louis in the world premiere of Shadowboxer, an opera based on the life of Joe Louis, The Duke and Capulet cover in Roméo et Juliette, the Mikado and Pish-Tush in Mikado, The Chief of Police and Samuel in The Pirates of Penzance, Second Yeoman in The Yeomen of the Guard, Giuseppi in The Gondoliers, Captain Zaretsky and Gremin cover in Eugene Onegin, Dulcamara in L’elisir d’amore and Love Potion #1, Sciarrone and Jailer in Tosca, the Sergeant in La bohème , and Falstaff in The Merry Wives of Windsor.
Jarrod Lee's interest in new music has assisted him in creating the role of Joe Louis in Frank Proto's Shadowboxer, an opera based on the life of Joe Louis with the Maryland Opera Studio, and covering the role of Basil in The Picture of Dorian Gray by Lowell Liebermann. In addition, he had the honor of performing the roles of Jaggers in Miss Havisham's Fire and the Man with the Cornet Case in Postcard from Moracco in the "Art of Argento" festival for composer Dominick Argento with composer in residence.
Jarrod Lee has worked with Aspen Music Festival in Colorado, The In Series in Washington D.C., Jacksonville Opera Theatre in Alabama, Opera Birmingham in Alabama,Summer Opera Company in Washington D.C., Chesapeake Chamber Opera in Baltimore, Baltimore Concert Opera, Young Victorian Opera Theatre in Baltimore, and Zeider's American Dream Theater in Virginia. In addition, he is a member of the Washington National Opera chorus (since February 2012), and has performed in the outreach and education programs of D.C. Vocal Arts, Lyric Opera of Baltimore and Washington National Opera. He currently lives in Baltimore, Maryland. |
