Brett Potts - Biography
Brett Potts is an up and coming tenor, who is quickly becoming a favorite with local audiences and conductors alike. Winner of the Edwin G. Levy Young Artist Award for 2011, Potts has sung a number of roles with Nickel City Opera in their productions of Rigoletto (Borsa), Amahl and the Night Visitors (King Kaspar), Il Trovatore (Ruiz), and Il Tabarro (Vendor, Lover). His lovely tone and ease of singing sends his musical message straight to the heart of the listener. In both oratorio and opera, his dramatic sense adds to the effectiveness of his performance. This summer, Brett covered the role of the Celebrant in Bernstein’s Mass for the Chautauqua Symphony Orchestra performance with the Buffalo Philharmonic Chorus, Doreen Rao conducting. He then performed the role for the Buffalo Philharmonic Chorus “Buffalo Sings!” Series on November 4th at Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, Buffalo, NY. For two years, Brett excelled in the Cadenza workshop, winning leading roles both years.
Brett sang for the premiere of Matthew Aucoin’s opera Second Nature for Lyric Unlimited, going on as a cover in the role of Jake, with Aucoin conducting. Brett sang the role for the Midwest tour for Opera in the Neighborhoods. Recent roles include Tamino (The Magic Flute) with Petite Opera and Don Giovanni (covered Ottavio) with Floating Opera Project. He also currently sings as a chorister with the Lyric Opera of Chicago. In 2011, Brett covered the role of the Celebrant in Bernstein’s Mass for the Chautauqua Symphony Orchestra, and later performed the role for the Buffalo Philharmonic Chorus, with Doreen Rao conducting. With the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra and Joann Falletta conducting, he sang in the solo quartet in Mozart’s Solemn Vespers. He also sang the tenor solo in Bernstein’s Chichester Psalms with the BPO.