BIO

Known for his “voluptuous, elegant tone,” and “robust, baritonal heft,” American lyric tenor Joshua Dennis has made his mark on a variety of repertoire across the globe. Mr. Dennis, a champion of new works, has had the honor of originating many roles including Marc in the Santa Fe Opera’s world Premiere production of M. Butterfly, Ground Control in Washington National Opera’s world premiere of Jeanine Tesori and George Brant’s Grounded, and “Shoeless” Joe Jackson in Minnesota Opera’s world premiere The Fix to name a few.

Recently, Mr. Dennis sang the role of Léonard in Nadia Boulanger’s world premiere orchestration of La Ville Morte, a  co-production with the Greek National Opera and Catapult Opera performed in Athens, Greece and for the U.S. premiere in New York.

Recent engagements include the Duke of Mantua in Opera Colorado’s Rigoletto, the tenor soloist in Handel’s Messiah with Pacific Symphony, a concert with the Wagner Society of Santa Fe, and soloist for Nico Muhly’s Stranger with Santa Fe Opera featuring the Del Sol Quartet. In prior seasons, Mr. Dennis created the roles of Prince Frederic in The Thirteenth Child with the Santa Fe Opera and Dean Clarkson in the world premiere of Stinney: An American Execution with Opera Grand Rapids. He also made his role début as Don José in Carmen with Opera Idaho, performed as Don Ottavio in Don Giovanni with Opera San Antonio, and performed as a soloist in Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9 with Oregon Symphony. He was heard as Theodore Billings in Arizona Opera’s feature film production of the world premiere of Clint Borzoni/John de los Santos’ production, The Copper Queen, released in autumn 2021. He also appeared with Arizona Opera as Bern Venters in the world premiere of Riders of the Purple Sage. Other highlights include Roméo in Roméo et Juliette with Minnesota Opera and Utah Opera, where he was also heard as Greenhorn in Jake Heggie’s Moby Dick; Alfredo in La Traviata with Seattle Opera, Opera Columbus, and Opera Idaho, where he also performed the title role of Werther; the Duke of Mantua in Verdi’s Rigoletto with Minnesota Opera and Dayton Opera; Jaquino in Beethoven’s Fidelio with the Santa Fe Opera and the Houston Symphony; and title role of Faust with Opera San Antonio and Annapolis Opera. 

On the concert stage, Mr. Dennis has been featured in Handel’s Messiah with the Santa Fe Symphony and the Las Vegas Philharmonic, Beethoven’s Mass in C with the Phoenix Symphony, and Mahler’s Das Lied von der Erde at the XXI Festival International de Piano en Blanco y Negro in Mexico, and others. 

Mr. Dennis has held apprenticeships with Des Moines Metro Opera and Santa Fe Opera. In 2018, Mr. Dennis was the only tenor to represent the USA in Placido Domingo’s Operalia Competition in Astana, Kazakhstan.