Elem Eley -- Home

American baritone Elem Eley enjoys a remarkably varied career, from opera, oratorio and recital to premières of contemporary vocal music. This past season (2009-2010) included a return to Avery Fisher Hall as soloist in Messiah with the Peniel Concert Choir, Carmina Burana with the Springfield (MO) Symphony, recitals at Berry College and Westminster Choir College of Rider University, and a performance on the Joy in Singing Anniversary Gala at Merkin Concert Hall. In 2008 and 2009, Mr. Eley returned to Lincoln Center with Musica Sacra (Kent Tritle conducting) for Carmina Burana and the world première of Alessandro Cadario’s Cantata for Revival, to the Springfield (MO) Symphony for Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony, and to the Oratorio Singers of Westfield for Bach’s Mass in b. Bach was further represented by Christus in the St. John Passion (Princeton Pro Musica), and he sang performances of Handel’s Israel in Egypt at Lehigh University. 2008 recitals included Masters of Modern American Art Song II at Symphony Space in New York City, and a French recital in Princeton. This season includes the world première of Martin Hennessy’s Ruminations, and Wolf’s Italienisches Liederbuch, with soprano Faith Esham and pianist JJ Penna (both recitals in Princeton), as well as the Bach Weihnachts-Oratorium with Princeton Pro Musica, and the first concert in a new series, entitled Martin Hennessy is Dead!, at New York City's Christ and St. Stephen's Church. Mr. Eley's spring residency in Vienna includes a performance of the Italienisches Liederbuch (also with colleagues Esham and Penna) at the Schubert Geburtshaus.

Other notable engagements included a début with Musica Sacra (the late Richard Westenburg conducting) as soloist in Bach's Cantata No. 82, a series of performances led by another legendary choral maestro - Robert Page - singing Carmina Burana, the world première of Vera of Las Vegas by Daron Hagen and Paul Muldoon; and appearances with the Symphony Orchestras of Charlotte, Kansas City, New Jersey, Sioux City and Springfield, the Orchestra of St. Luke's at Carnegie Hall, The Little Orchestra Society at Lincoln Center and the Calvin Oratorio Society. Mr. Eley sang the title role of Don Giovanni for his debut at the Operafestival di Roma and has appeared in productions with the Opera Companies of Cincinnati, Hawaii, Shreveport and Syracuse, Athena Grand Opera, the Sylvan Opera Festival, the Center for Contemporary Opera and Musica Europa 2001.

Mr. Eley is featured on four CDs released in 2008-2009, two of them on Albany Records - a solo album, Drifts and Shadows: American Song for the New Millennium (JJ Penna, pianist), and a group of Three Antarctica Songs by Laurie Altman on Mr. Altman's CD, entitled On Course. A review in Journal of Singing (Nov/Dec 2009) lavishly praises Drifts and Shadows, declaring, "No matter what technical and expressive hurdles these songs present, Eley surmounts them with conviction and assurance... What they [Eley and Penna] achieve here is truly profound." Fanfare opines, "This is a miraculous compilation of gems...a Want List candidate." Stephen Estep reviewed Drifts and Shadows early in 2009 for the American Record Guide, and picked it as one of his six Critics’ Choices 2009, in the Jan/Feb 2010 issue. Mr. Eley is cast in the première recording of the Hagen/Muldoon opera, Shining Brow, released in 2009 by Naxos. Additionally, he is featured on a recording of Steven Sametz's Dulcis Amor, with the Princeton Singers and tenor John Aler, recently released by Arsis Recordings.

Later in 2011, Eley and Penna will produce another CD, Der Geist spricht/The Spirit Speaks, to include Lieder of Schubert, Schumann, Brahms, Wolf and Frank Martin.

With degrees in voice from Baylor University and Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, the native Georgian pursued doctoral study at Indiana University, studying with Margaret Harshaw. Winner of the 1996 Joy in Singing Award, Elem Eley is Professor of Voice at Westminster Choir College of Rider University.