The American bass-baritone, Eric J. Sorum, studied at Fillmore Central High School in Harmony, Minnesota. He graduated from Concordia College in Moorhead, Minnesota in 2006, where he received his Bachelor of Arts degree in Music and Theatre. He has studied voice with Gary Thrasher (2002-2005), Nathan Leaf (2006), and George Smith (2010-2011).
Eric Sorum has pursued a career in choral music and opera. He active in the Twin Cities as a singer, voice teacher and choral conductor. He sings as a lay clerke at St. John the Evangelist Episcopal Church in St. Paul, and with Consortium Carissimi, an early music ensemble. Past chorus experiences include the Concordia Choir (Director: René Clausen; 2003-2006), Minnesota Opera Chorus (2012), Minnesota Chorale (Directors: Kathy Saltzman Romey, Osmo Vänska; 2007-2009), Exultate Chamber Choir & Orchestra (Director: Thomas D. Rossin; 2007-2011), Gethsemane Episcopal Church Choir (since 2013), The Elizabethan Syngers (2008), Kantorei (Director: Axel Theimer; 2007-2008); Fargo-Moorhead Opera Chorus (Director: Gary Thrasher; (2007), and many other ensembles. As a soloist, he has especially enjoyed singing arias by J.S. Bach with the Exultate Chamber Choir & Orchestra, and Mozart at Opera on Tap. He performed his operatic debut as Masetto in the Twin Cities Fringe Opera's production of W.A. Mozart's Don Giovanni. He has spent many years as a church musician, including work at Highview Christiania in Farmington, Minnesota, Christ on Capitol Hill in St. Paul, Minnesota, and summers at Mount Carmel Ministries, a family bible camp near Alexandria, Minnesota. In 2011, he founded and directed Hymnos, a small vocal ensemble specializing in early music, and dedicated to reviving traditions of chant, hymnody, polyphony, and folk music.
Solo Performance Repertoire: J.S. Bach: Magnificat (BWV 243), Quoniam tu solus sanctus, Mein teurer Heiland, Cantatas BWV 33, BWV 72, BWV 29; W.A. Mozart: Madamina, il catalogo e questo, Deh, vieni a la finestra, Ein Mädchen oder Weibchen; Donizetti: Come Paride vezzoso; Haydn: Lord Nelson’s Mass; Dietrich Buxtehude: Every Word and Thought; Martini: Domine Ad Adjuvandum Me; Benjamin Britten: Rejoice in the Lamb, Chichester Psalms; L.v. Beethoven: Hat man nicht auch Gold beineben; Schubert: Winterreise (selections); Ralph Vaughan Williams: Songs of Travel (selections); Gabriel Fauré: Requiem.
Eric Sorum has been a private voice teacher since 2006. Experience as voice instructor includes: Church choir director (2005-2007, 2009-2012); Professional choir section leader (2007-2011); Vocal coach for Minnesota All-State Lutheran Choir (2009, 2010). He currently lives in Saint Paul, Minnesota. |