Black Splendor: Baritone Michael Parham (on-demand)
Free
Michael Parham, baritone
Bongani Ndodana-Breen – "Let The Waters Of Healing" from Winnie
Michael Parham, a baritone hailing from Chattanooga, Tennessee developed his passion for music through his experiences with the Chattanooga Boys Choir and the Oakwood University Aeolians. It was during the Summer Voice Festival at Manhattan School of Music that he discovered his passion for opera while performing Schaunard in La bohème.
Most recently, Michael’s “resonant and ear caressing” baritone voice was heard in professional role debuts as Tiger “Jackie” Brown in Threepenny Opera with City Lyric Opera, Lawyer Frazier in Porgy and Bess with South Florida Symphony, and Peter in Hansel and Gretel with Opera Las Vegas. As well, he made his debut in the eponymous role of Don Giovanni with UNLV Opera Theater. Over the summer of 2019, Michael made yet another role debut as Dr. Falke in Die Fledermaus with the Martina Arroyo Prelude to Performance. This spring, Michael was scheduled to reprise the role of Peter* in Hansel and Gretel with City Lyric Opera alongside covering the role of Conte di Luna* in Giuseppe Verdi’s Il trovatore at Portland Opera. In February of 2021 Michael will make his solo recital debut with Portland Opera followed by several virtual ensemble and solo performances this spring.
As a self-proclaimed “Choir Boy” Mr. Parham jumps at the opportunity to perform choral music and sacred works; he is a touring member of the American Spiritual Ensemble. Michael has been a featured soloist in Carl Orff’s Carmina Burana, G.F. Handel’s Messiah, Théodore Dubois’s Seven Last Words of Christ, and W.A. Mozart’s Mass in C.
Michael was a 2019-20 New York district winner of the Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions, a 2019 Semi-Finalist in the Premiere Opera Foundation Competition, and a 2017 Finalist in the Meistersinger Competition in Graz, Austria.
Michael is currently a 2020-21 Resident Artist at Portland Opera. He is an alumnus of Oakwood University and the University of Nevada in Las Vegas. In addition, Michael holds a certificate in Italian Studies from the Istituto Avventista di Cultura Biblica in Florence, Italy
About the series: Black Splendor is a 10-part weekly virtual series, part of Lakewold Garden's "Music from Home" concert series. Each episode showcases an artist performing a song of their choosing, followed by a question and answer portion. Led by Creative Director Joe Williams, Black Splendor marks an opportunity to show Black musicians beyond their expected roles.
The broadcast will become available at 2pm Pacific. Black Splendor videos will be uploaded to and viewable at their YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC_aazWlIvCmB1X53KrK6KWA
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