About Me: Baritone Jeffrey Gates is a Texas native who is currently studying with Dr. William Christensen at Oklahoma City University, where he is pursuing his Bachelor of Music degree in Vocal Performance. Most recently Mr. Gates received the 2008 Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions Young Singer Encouragement Award in Tulsa, OK.

Just in the last few years he has performed the operatic roles of Count Almaviva in Le Nozze di Figaro, Horace Tabor in The Ballad of Baby Doe, Rambaldo in Puccinis La Rondine, the Painter in the world premiere of Happy Garden of Life by Katarzyna Brochocka, Raul Perez in Pasatieris Hotel Casablanca (Regional Premiere), Cajus in Die Lustigen Weiber von Windsor, Samuel in Pirates of Penzance, and most recently he made his debut with Tulsa Opera in the Chorus of LElisir DAmore. Mr. Gates has also performed the role of Silvio in I Pagliacci with Oklahoma City Universitys Opera Scenes program. Other favorite roles include Pirate King in Pirates of Penzance, Counsel and Usher in Trial by Jury, Tevye in Fiddler on the Roof, and features in Sweeney Todd and Candide.

Equally at home on the concert stage, Mr. Gates has performed as the baritone soloist in Brahms Ein deutsches Requiem, Orffs Carmina Burana, as well as Händels Messiah with the Oklahoma City Philharmonic Orchestra.

He is a three-time 1st place winner at NATS, a semi-finalist in the Lois Alba Aria Competition, a three-time recipient of the Texas State Solo & Ensemble Outstanding Performer Award, and also a three-time recipient of the Texas Music Merit Scholar Award.

Mr. Gates has had contracts with Light Opera Oklahoma for the past two years doing various roles in Sweeney Todd, Candide, Pirates of Penzance, Trial by Jury, Naughty Marietta, Oh Coward, and The Music Man.

Mr. Gates future engagements include the premiere of The Nut and the Nun by Katarzyna Brochocka in the fall of 2009. In this new opera, he will be debuting the character of The Nut, a role created specifically for him.