American tenor Brian Joyce, recognized for his distinctive characterizations, has performed with opera companies in Europe and the United States. For the upcoming 2011-2012 season, he will be adding three new exciting roles to his repertoire. The year begins as Rodriguez in the rarely performed Massenet opera, Don Quichotte with Empire Opera. The season continues as Arturo (Lucia di Lammermoor) and Pang (Turandot) in two exciting productions with Austin Lyric Opera for the company’s 25th anniversary celebration.

In the 2010-2011 season, Mr. Joyce appeared with Regina Opera as Spalanzani and Frantz in Les Contes d’Hoffmann. He also performed with Austin Lyric Opera as Gastone in La Traviata and Dr. S in Michael Nyman’s chamber opera, The Man Who Mistook His Wife for a Hat, in which the Austin Chronicle complimented the “subtle gestures and expressions that revealed the depths of (his) feelings”. A frequent performer with Austin Lyric Opera, he has sung roles in Rigoletto, L’Étoile, Die Fledermaus, and the American premiere of Philip Glass’ Waiting for the Barbarians.

His other American engagements have included La Bohème with the Dallas Opera, Salome with Opera Cleveland, and Die Zauberflöte with Opera in the Heights, as well as concert appearances with Key West Symphony and the Austin Classical Guitar Society. His previous European engagements include numerous performances in Oldenburg at the Oldenburgishes Staattheater (Les Contes d’Hoffmann and Erendira), and in Düsseldorf at the Deutsche Oper am Rhein (Norma, L’Orfeo, L’Amour des Trois Oranges, La Traviata).

Mr. Joyce received his Bachelor of Music from the University of North Texas and his Master of Music from Stephen F. Austin State University. His studies also include some doctoral work at the University of Texas. He was the resident artist and teacher at the SolFest Opera Seminar, sponsored by the Key West Symphony.