Our featured artists are listed below. To view all of the exceptional artists particating in Virtual Vocal Masterclasses, please visit this link. Please email booking@columbia-artists.com for more information.

Ben Heppner, Tenor

Ben Heppner is renowned worldwide for his portrayals in the dramatic tenor repertoire. His illustrious career has taken him to opera stages and concert halls around the world. He is acclaimed for the beauty of his voice, incisive musicianship, and his generosity with audiences. His performances on the opera stage, in concert with the world’s leading orchestras, in the most prestigious recital venues, and in recordings have set new standards in his demanding repertoire.

Neil Shicoff, Tenor

Neil Shicoff, internationally recognized as the pre-eminent American tenor of his generation and known for his intensely passionate roles, was born in Brooklyn, New York and studied both at the Juilliard School of Music and privately with his father, the celebrated Cantor Sidney Shicoff. He has sung in all of the world’s most distinguished opera houses and festivals, and has collaborated with the world’s greatest conductors and directors with a career that has spanned more than 40 years! He is a Grammy nominated recording artist with an extensive discography of both solo and full--length opera recordings...

Carol Vaness, Soprano

Born in San Diego, CA, Carol Vaness launched her professional singing career at the New York City Opera, where she appeared regularly from 1979 to 1983. Since then, she has sung on the world's biggest stages and at premier music festivals, collaborated with today's foremost conductors in operatic and symphonic repertoires, appeared on numerous television broadcasts throughout North America and Europe, and compiled a distinguished catalog of recordings.

Jamie Barton, Mezzo-soprano

Critically acclaimed by virtually every major outlet covering classical music, American mezzo-soprano Jamie Barton is increasingly recognized for how she uses her powerful instrument offstage – lifting up women, queer people, and other marginalized communities. Winner of the Beverly Sills Artist Award and Richard Tucker Award, both Main and Song Prizes at the BBC Cardiff Singer of the World Competition, Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions and a Grammy nominee, Ms. Barton has been described by The Guardian as “a great artist, no question, with an imperturbable steadiness of tone, and a nobility of utterance that invites comparison...

Russell Braun, Baritone

Renowned for his luminous voice “capable of the most powerful explosions as well as the gentlest covered notes” (Toronto Star) baritone Russell Braun rightfully claims his place on the concert, opera and recital stages of the world. His intelligent and thoughtful portrayals of Chou En-lai, Billy Budd, Prince Andrei, Figaro, Papageno, Count Almaviva, Don Giovanni, Pelléas, Eugene Onegin, and The Traveller have captivated audiences at the Metropolitan Opera in New York, l'Opéra de Paris, the State Opera in Vienna, the Royal Opera, Covent Garden, the Los Angeles Opera, La Scala in Milan, and at the Salzburg and...

J'Nai Bridges, Mezzo-soprano

J’Nai Bridges, known for her “plush-voiced mezzo-soprano” (The New York Times), has been heralded as “a rising star” (Los Angeles Times), gracing the world's top stages in repertoire ranging from traditional favorites to world premieres to spirituals and standards. Her 2019-20 season included seven house debuts and two role debuts, including her much-anticipated house debut at The Metropolitan Opera as Nefertiti in Philip Glass's opera, Akhnaten.

Nicholas Brownlee, Bass-baritone

Bass-baritone Nicholas Brownlee has been described as “charismatic and charming” (New York Times) with a “commanding presence” and “rich tone” (Musical America). He is a first prize winner of the Hans Gabor Belvedere Singing Competition, winner of the Zarzuela prize at Operalia, and Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions grand prize winner. He is the creator and star of podcast, "Hook, Push, & Pray" which was recently acquired by the Dallas Opera Network.

Nicole Cabell, Soprano

Nicole Cabell, the 2005 Winner of the BBC Singer of the World Competition in Cardiff and Decca recording artist, is one of the most sought-after lyric sopranos of today. Her solo debut album, Soprano was named “Editor’s Choice” by Gramophone and has received an incredible amount of critical acclaim and several prestigious awards, including the 2007 Georg Solti Orphée d’Or from the French Académie du Disque Lyrique. Cabell teaches at DePaul University.

Leah Crocetto, Soprano

Described by the New York Times as possessing an “agile coloratura technique and a feeling for the Italianate style… with warmth, full penetrating sound and tenderness,” American soprano Leah Crocetto continues to astonish audiences with her moving portrayals of opera’s greatest heroines. Last season, Ms. Crocetto was Norma in concert with North Carolina Opera, followed by her solo recital debut at Carnegie Hall with pianist Mark Markham. With Seattle Opera, she performed the role of Leonora in Il trovatore, and debuted with the Melbourne Symphony as the soprano soloist in Verdi’s Requiem. On the concert stage, she...

Kiera Duffy, Soprano

American soprano Kiera Duffy is recognized for her gleaming high soprano and insightful musicianship in repertoire that encompasses Handel, Bach, and Mozart to the modern sounds of Berg, Glass, and Zorn. She recently earned the highest critical praise for the world premiere of Missy Mazzoli and Royce Vavrek’s Breaking the Waves as Bess McNeill at Opera Philadelphia. “Duffy rolled back time to become what great opera singers are supposed to be but usually aren’t now—an unforgettable embodiment of profound emotion through music” (Parterre Box). Duffy is the head of Undergraduate Voice Studies at University of Notre Dame.

Quinn Kelsey, Baritone

Hawaiian Baritone Quinn Kelsey, the 2015 Metropolitan Opera’s Beverly Sills Award recipient, is in demand for the Verdi, Puccini and French repertoires in houses such as the Metropolitan and San Francisco Operas, the Lyric Opera of Chicago, the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden and the Opernhaus Zürich. He is also a noted recialist, performing in distinguished concert halls in Chicago, New York, Honolulu, Santa Fe, and London.

Mariusz Kwiecien, Baritone

Mariusz Kwiecien is recognized worldwide as one of the leading baritones before the public today. Known for his handsome voice, incisive musicianship and captivating stage presence, he performs with the Metropolitan Opera, Covent Garden, Paris Opera, Vienna State Opera, Lyric Opera of Chicago and Bavarian State Opera, and with many other renowned theaters around the world. He is in demand for his portrayals of the title roles in Don Giovanni, King Roger, and Eugene Onegin, as well as for Almaviva in Le nozze di Figaro, Malatesta in Don Pasquale, Riccardo in I Puritani, and Rodrigo di Posa...

Isabel Leonard, Mezzo-soprano

Multiple Grammy Award-winning Isabel Leonard continues to thrill audiences both in the opera house and on the concert stage. In repertoire that spans from Vivaldi to Mozart to Nico Muhly, she has graced the stages of the Vienna State Opera, Paris Opera, Salzburg Festival, Bavarian State Opera, Carnegie Hall, Glyndebourne Festival, Teatro Comunale di Bologna, Aix-en-Provence Festival, Metropolitan Opera, Lyric Opera of Chicago, San Francisco Opera, Los Angeles Opera as Rosina in Il barbiere di Siviglia, Angelina in La Cenerentola, Cherubino in Le nozze di Figaro, Dorabella in Così fan tutte, Charlotte in Werther, Blanche de la...

Amanda Majeski, Soprano

Internationally renowned American lyric soprano Amanda Majeski is rapidly garnering critical acclaim for a voice of “silvery beauty” (Musical America), “sings with remarkable commitment and radiance of tone... She sounds exquisite.” (The Guardian), and “Majeski’s well-rounded soprano...is so warm and glorious, the singing so outstanding, that she leaves no emotions unstirred.” (Financial Times) Her 2019-20 season includes four debuts with the Nürnberger Symphoniker, New York Philharmonic, Teatro dell’Opera di Roma, Teatro Real Madrid and performances with Lyric Opera of Chicago. Majeski has taught students privately for several years, and also has vast experience leading masterclasses.

Ryan McKinny, Bass-baritone

American bass-baritone Ryan McKinny has been praised for his “elegant and articulate” vocalism (OC Register), as well as a powerful voice that “drips with gold” (Opera News). McKinny was the first recipient of the Birgit Nilsson Prize for singing Wagner at Plácido Domingo’s Operalia Competition held at Teatro alla Scala in Milan and the Kirsten Flagstad/George London Award from the George London Foundation. He was a Grand Finalist in the 2007 Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions and is featured in the film The Audition released by Decca on DVD. Mckinny is at the forefront of the #keepthemusicgoing...

Russell Thomas, Tenor

With a “heroically shining tone of exceptional clarity and precision” (Opera Magazine) and “gorgeously burnished power” (New York Times), American tenor Russell Thomas uses his signature elegance and intensity to create vivid character portrayals on the world’s most important stages. Mr. Thomas is an alumnus of the young artist programs at the Metropolitan Opera, Seattle Opera, Florida Grand Opera, and Opera Theatre of St. Louis, and has received prizes from the George London Foundation for Singers, Liederkranz Foundation, Licia Albanese Puccini Foundation, and Richard Tucker Music Foundation. In 2010, he swept the Grand Prize, Audience Prize, and...

Tamara Wilson, Soprano

Soprano Tamara Wilson is gaining international recognition for her interpretations of Verdi, Mozart, Strauss and Wagner and is the 2016 recipient of the prestigious Richard Tucker Award. Other recent honors include an Olivier Award nomination and Grand Prize in the annual Francisco Viñas Competition held at the Gran Teatre del Liceu in Barcelona, Spain. Ms. Wilson’s 2019-2020 season included returns to the Canadian Opera Company, Deutsche Oper Berlin, Oper Frankfurt and a debut with The Santa Fe Opera. Ms. Wilson is also the creator and star of Youtube channel, "Exit Stage Left" and has extensive masterclass eperience....