Thomas Cannon

Thomas Cannon is a passionate performer and instructor of voice. Dually recognized for his “strong and striking” instrument (Opera Today) and “keen dramatic sense” (Texas Classical Review), Thomas has continually gained recognition performing technically and dramatically demanding roles that range from the classics of Mozart, Verdi, and Puccini, to the contemporary works of the American operatic stage.

He recently had an impressive debut in the role of Amonasro in Verdi’s Aida at the Utah Festival Opera and reprised the role of Porgy in Gershwin’s Porgy & Bess at Greensboro Opera alongside Rhiannon Giddens to great acclaim. Further performances with distinguished arts institutions include appearances as Germont in La Traviata at Opera Orlando, Sharpless in Madama Butterfly at Indianapolis Opera, and Scarpia in Tosca at Opera Roanoke. Cannon’s debut of Porgy at Fort Worth Opera marked him a “vocal powerhouse” (The Column) and his Escamillo in Carmen was “riveting” at The Music Academy of the West. Other roles of note include Enrico in Lucia di Lammermoor, Conte di Luna in Il Trovatore, Albert in Werther, Figaro in Ghosts of Versailles, and title roles of Don Pasquale and Gianni Schicchi.

Mr. Cannon has sung extensively with Arizona Opera where he was engaged as a resident artist and has returned to perform roles in Gregory Spears’ Fellow Travelers and Redler’s The Falling and The Rising. In addition, he is a graduate of the training programs at The Glimmerglass Festival, Chautauqua Opera, Santa Fe Opera, The Dallas Opera, and Music Academy of the West.

Thomas appears regularly as a concert soloist. He has performed Verdi’s Requiem at Carnegie Hall-NYC conducted by Hiroya Aoki, and Delius’ Eine Messe des Lebens with The American Symphony Orchestra under the direction of Leon Botstein. He has sung Haydn’s Die Schöphfung and Mozart’s Requiem at The Esterhazy Palace in Eisenstadt, Austria. A host of performances elsewhere have included Brahms’ Ein Deutsches Requiem, Handel’s Messiah, Bach’s B Minor Mass, and St. Matthew’s Passion. He recently performed Beethoven’s 9th Symphony with The Colorado Symphony under the direction of Peter Oundjian. He has been a featured soloist with The Lied Society of Minnesota, NYC’s Center for Contemporary Opera, Canterbury Voices OKC, the Walla Walla Symphony Orchestra, and The St. Cecilia Chorus of NY. Thomas’ “resonant timbre [and] dramatic sensibility” (Onstage NTX) was noted in his performance of Damien Geter’s An African Requiem at Fort Worth Opera, under the direction of the composer.

Dr. Cannon has performed as an artist-teacher and clinician throughout the country, and he holds a Bachelor of Music from Baylor University, a Master’s in Vocal Performance from The Juilliard School, and a Doctor of Musical Arts from The University of Oklahoma. His notable teachers have included Marlena Malas, Mignon Dunn, Dr. John Van Cura, Kim Josephson, and Marilyn Horne. Further apprenticeships have included Opera North, and The International Vocal Arts Institute under the direction of Joan Dornemann. Thomas was the first-place winner of Oklahoma University’s Benton Schmidt Competition, and he received a full scholarship to attend The Juilliard School. Garnered awards include those from The Dallas Opera Guild, The Chautauqua Opera Guild, The Anna Sosenko Foundation, West Palm Beach Opera, Opera Birmingham, IVAI’s Silverman Prize, and The Metropolitan Opera National Council.

Thomas has served on the faculties of The University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma and The Hartt School at The University of Hartford. He currently serves proudly as an Assistant Professor of Voice at Boston University.