Photo by Dylan M. Austin
Seattle-based lyric baritone Darrell J. Jordan has been praised for his “shining, beautiful voice” (Broadway World), his "expressive baritone and facial expressions" (The SunBreak), and has been called “the star of the show” (Columbia Heart Beat). He holds a B.A. in both Psychology and Music and a M.M. in Voice Performance from the University of Missouri, and a D.M.A. in Voice Performance from the University of Washington. He currently studies with nationally renowned voice teacher, Dr. Kari Ragan. Previous instruction has been from Steven Tharp and Ann Harrell. Before matriculating at the University of Washington, Dr. Jordan served on the faculty at the University of Missouri, the Swinney Conservatory of Music (Central Methodist University), Columbia College, and Stephens College, where he taught a full private voice studio, voice class, and separate Italian, German, English, and French lyric diction classes. His students have gone on to win or place in competitions such as NATS, The American Prize, and the Glory Int’l Music Competition.
In demand as a recitalist and concert soloist, his recent solo concert engagements have been with Amherst Early Music Festival, the Odyssey Chamber Music Series, Rolla Choral Arts Society, Choral Arts Alliance of Missouri, the Missouri Symphony, the Southside Philharmonic Orchestra, the Toledo Symphony, Thalia Symphony, Olympia Chamber Orchestra, and the Seattle Art Song Society. Dr. Jordan has performed over 30 full roles, some favorites being: Papageno (Die Zauberflöte), Dandini (La Cenerentola), Guglielmo (Così fan tutte), Count Almaviva (Le nozze di Figaro), Dr. Falke (Die Fledermaus), Ignacio (Lucrezia), Count Gil (Il segreto di Susanna), Bunthorne (Patience), Belcore (L’elisir d’amore), and Falstaff (Falstaff). Opera credits include Opera West, Tacoma Opera, Wilmington Concert Opera, Music On Site, Inc., St. Louis Opera Collective, Haymarket Opera Company, Gateway Opera, the Institute for 17th Century Music, the Show-Me Opera, Lawrence Opera Theatre, the Puget Sound Concert Opera, Northwest Opera In Schools Touring Company, Operamuse, Seattle Modern Opera Company, Pacific Northwest Opera, the Gilbert & Sullivan Society of Seattle, Opera on Tap, OperaBend, and Seattle Opera.
In 2023, Dr. Jordan will make his debut with the Seattle based choral ensemble, Radiance. He will also sing the roles of Diego/Bonito/Eduardo in the West Coast premiere of Frida Kahlo and the Bravest Girl in the World with Seattle Opera in the spring of 2023. Later in the fall of 2023, he will perform the role of Dandini in La Cenerentola with Barn Opera, Morales in Carmen with Tacoma Opera, Pierre Lafitte in Cabildo with Puget Sound Concert Opera, and Ben in The Telephone with Engage Opera.
In 2022, he made his Tacoma Opera debut as Dr. Malatesta in Don Pasquale, and performed the role of Harlequin in Ariadne auf Naxos in his Barn Opera debut, and sang Montano in Pacific Northwest Opera’s production of Otello. He also gave the world premiere of you do not recognize the bodies in the water, singing the role of Mark at Opera America.
He can be heard as the baritone soloist on the album St. Lawrence Psalter, and on the two upcoming albums being released by the Seattle Art Song Society. He is a member and co-artistic director of the nationally recognized, award-winning professional vocal chamber ensemble, Vox Nova. He is currently under management with Vocal Artist Management Services.