Here
is one singer who went to the right schools and attended some of the
best regarded apprenticeship programs in the US. And this has served
him well. Jorge Garza has a Bachelor's degree in Music from the Juilliard
School, a Master's from the Manhattan School of Music. He also attended
Philadephia's Academy of Vocal Arts.
Glimmerglass Opera, Santa Fe Opera, Wolftrap Opera - all have prestigious
programmes for young singers, and Jorge is an alumnus of all three.
At Wolf Trap he sang Don Ottavio in Mozart's Don Giovanniand
Sesto in Handel's Giulio Cesare In 1996, he completed San Francisco's
Merola Opera Program where he won the Shoshana Foundation award at the
Finals Concert. In addition to the 1995 ARIA award, Jorge is also a
winner of the Sullivan Foundation Award, the Baltimore Opera Competition,
the Mario Lanza Competition; and a finalist in the Pavarotti Competition
and the Placido Domingo Operalia.
It was after completing the Merola Program in 1996 that Jorge embarked
on his professional career. His first job: a nationwide tour with the
Western Opera Theater performing the role of Count Almaviva in Rossini's
Il Barbiere di Siviglia. Of his performances The Philadephia
Inquirer wrote: "He used his lyric tenor voice to make Almaviva
seem a young, impetuous lover capable of expressing his ardor with apt
ornamentation of the melodic line.... Garza made Almaviva's role well
worth listening to." And The Courier Post reported: "...the
finest performance comes from Jorge Garza. The tenor sings Count Almaviva's
arias with a blend of melting tone and ingratiating phrasing. Garza
also has a confident stage presence and acts with bold assurance."
Jorge's repertoire include: Eurimaco in Monteverdi's Il ritorno d'Ulisse
which he sang inLA Opera's acclaimed production with Frederica
von Stade and Thomas Allen in the lead roles, Sir Hervey in Donizetti's
Anna Bolena which marked his debut with the Opéra de Monte
Carlo, Don Polidoro in Mozart's La Finta Semplice - his debut
with the Musikfestspiele Potsdamer, and the Burrowing Mole in
the world premiere of Tobias Picker's Fantastic Mr. Fox at the
LA Opera.
As he expands his repertory and takes full charge of his career, this
talented young tenor who can certainly look forward to a bright future.
Photo and reference materials courtesy
of Mr. Garza
