Michael Desnoyers

FEATURED IN: Opera Frontier @ Palace I

Michael Desnoyers (Tenor) made his professional debut in 2005 with the Pittsburgh Opera as the Officer in Ariadne auf Naxos under the baton of conductor John Mauceri.  He is currently performing as Nemorino with the San Francisco Opera Guild’s Elixir of Love.  Michael also appeared as Brighella in Berkeley West Edge Opera’s Ariadne auf Naxos, Bénédict in a concert reading of Berlioz’s Béatrice et Bénédict at Boxcar Theater, and a performance of Schubert’s Winterreise.

Favorite roles include Albert in Albert Herring, Don Ottavio in Don Giovanni, Ferrando in Così fan tutte, Tamino in The Magic Flute, Ramiro in Cenerentola, Frederic in The Pirates of Penzance, Pang in Turandot, Pluto in Orpheus in the Underworld, Sellem in The Rake’s Progress, The Witch in Hansel and Gretel, the County Attorney in the world premiere of Trifles, and Der Narr in Wozzeck.  He has frequently appeared as a concert soloist, having sung Schubert’s Winterreise, Handel’s Messiah, Mozart’s Requiem, and Rossini’s Petite Messe Solennelle.  In 2009 and 2011, he was a member of Chautauqua Opera Young Artist program where he performed the role of Monostatos (Magic Flute 2011) and covered the role of Spoletta (Tosca 2009). In 2006, he participated in Cincinnati Conservatory’s Opera Theatre and Music Festival of Lucca in Lucca, Italy.

Michael was named the 2011 Ben DeBolt Award winner and the 2010 Tony Cuevas Award winner at the Henry and Maria Holt Memorial Scholarship Competition.  Other awards include first place at the 2004 Chad Williamson Memorial Scholarship Competition; second place at both the 2004 Tri-State NATS vocal competition and 2006 Eastern Regional NATS competitions; third place at the 2010 East Bay Opera League competition; and third place in the 2009 San Francisco Conservatory Bi-Annual Composer’s Art Song Competition.

Michael holds a Master’s of Music Degree in vocal performance from the San Francisco Conservatory of Music and a Bachelor’s of Music Degree in vocal performance and music education from Slippery Rock University.  He currently studies with César Ulloa.