Gregory Stapp

Gregory Stappis an Americanbasswho has performed actively in concerts and operas internationally for more than 35 years. He has had a particularly fruitful partnership with theSan Francisco Opera,portraying more than 30 roles with the company since 1980.He has also worked actively as a private voice teacher and as a teacher ofmaster classesat a number of universities. He is the current Second Vice President of theAmerican Guild of Musical Artists.

Early life and education

Born and raised in Colorado, Stapp attended Doull Elementary School, Kunsmiller Junior High School, andCherry Creek High Schoolin Denver. He earned aBachelor of MusicfromLoretto Heights Collegein 1976 where was a pupil ofGeorge Lynn,the former music director ofWestminster Choir College.He pursued further studies in opera at theAcademy of Vocal Artsin Philadelphia from 1976-1980. He studied withDorothy DiScalaat the school and earned an Artist’s Diploma in 1980.In the summer of 1979 he pursued graduate work at theJacobs School of MusicatIndiana University Bloomingtonwhere he was a student of longtimeMetropolitan OperastarMargaret Harshawand also worked as a Graduate Assistant in voice. He also studied singing withJanet Parlova,Jerome HinesandJudith Natalucci.

Career

While at the AVA, Stapp appeared in 15 student opera productions, including portraying the part ofCharlemagnein the United States premiere ofFranz Schubert'sFierrabrasat theWalnut Street Theatreon May 11, 1980.He was also active with professional musical organizations in Philadelphia. He made his first appearance with thePhiladelphia Orchestrain July 1978 as Il Tio Sarvaor inManuel de Falla'sLa vida brevewithEnriqueta Tarrésas Salud andRafael Frühbeck de Burgosconducting. That summer, he made his concert debut with theOpera Company of Philadelphia;and that November, he made his OCP stage debut as Il conte di Ceprano inGiuseppe Verdi'sRigolettowithSherrill Milnesin the title role,June Andersonas Gilda, and conductorGerhard Samuel.

In fall 1980 Stapp joined the San Francisco Opera'sSan Francisco/Affiliate Artists-Opera Program,making his stage debut with the company as the Second Armored Man inWolfgang Amadeus Mozart'sThe Magic Flute.After a series of smaller roles with the company, he portrayed his first larger role with the SFO, Raimondo inGaetano Donizetti'sLucia di Lammermoorin November 1981. He continued to perform periodically with the company up through 2005, appearing in such parts as Achillas inGiulio Cesare,Brander inLa Damnation de Faust,Dansker inBilly Budd,Friar Lawrence inRoméo et Juliette,Lodovico inOtello,the Parson inThe Cunning Little Vixen,Pluto inIl ballo delle ingrate,and the Priest inLady Macbeth of the Mtsensk Districtamong others.Fifteen of his performances with the SFO were broadcast nationally onNPR.

Stapp has also sung roles with more than 60 other opera companies in the United States.In June 1983 he performed the role of Totor in the world premiere ofFrederick Delius'sMargot la Rougeat theOpera Theatre of St. Louis.He made his debut at theNew York City Operain November 1983 as Nourabad inGeorges Bizet'sLes pêcheurs de perleswithJon Garrisonas Nadir.He later returned to the NYCO to portray Sarastro inThe Magic Flutein 1987, a performance which was broadcast nationally onPBS'sGreat Performances.On November 15, 1986 he performed the role of Emperor Altoum in the United States premiere ofFerruccio Busoni'sTurandotat theConnecticut Grand OperawithPatricia Craigin the title role.In 1993 he portrayed John MacKay in the world premiere ofBern Herbolsheimer'sMark me Twainat theNevada Opera.

Stapp remains active as a performer and teacher; a notable student being baritoneStephen Dickson.He taught voice, conducting and music history atNotre Dame de Namur Universityin Belmont, California (where he conducted Mozart'sThe Marriage of Figaro) until 2015, when he moved his private vocal studio toMonument, Colorado.

External links

• Gregory Stapp Official WebsiteArchived2010-04-16 at theWayback Machine
• Gregory StappatIMDb