Brett Barnes

Baritone

A native Texan, Mr. Barnes has been thrilling and entertaining Austin's audiences since his student days at the University of Texas. By day, he is a very successful Development Director for non-profits, currently for Lifeworks, a nonprofit organization dedicated to transitioning youth and families from crisis to safety and success, and formerly for Conspirare, a grammy-nominated choral ensemble based in Austin. Prior to that, he was the Artistic Administrator for Austin Lyric Opera for three years and a featured performer in over 22 productions. Maintaining an active singing career, he regularly performs with Texas Early Music Project and the Schola Cantorum of St. Mary’s Cathedral. As a soloist, Mr. Barnes has been featured with The Houston Masterworks Chorale, Austin Symphony, San Antonio Symphony and Pops in a Broadway Review as well as their productions of Madama Butterfly and A Little Night Music by Stephen Sondheim, Midland Odessa Symphony, Mid-Texas Symphony, Victoria Bach Festivaland the Richardson Symphony to name just a few. He has performed with Tulsa Opera, Opera Theatre of St. Louis, Beaumont Civic Opera, Capitol City Opera and is a founding member of the Not-Quite-Rite Players of the Scottish Rite in Austin, performing traditional melodramas. He has been honored as a National Young Artist, Metropolitan Opera Regional Winner, awarded the Marguerite McCammon Award for Vocal Excellence by Ft. Worth Opera, vocal winner of the Soratin competition, and was chosen to participate in the inaugural Festival-de-St. Cérè under the direction of Maestro Robert Shaw.