Biography

Tenor Gary Glaze, Professor at the Flora L. Thornton School of Music is nationally known as a devoted teacher and advisor-mentor. His former and current students pursue significant singing careers throughout the U.S. and in Europe and have taken first place honors in the Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions, Placido Domingo’s Operalia, Zachary Competition, the World Music Masters Competition, NATS competitions. Born in Pittsburgh, Glaze came to the Thornton School in 1992, and served as Chair of the Vocal Arts and Opera Department from 1993-2005.  As a compliment to his teaching, Glaze serves as an adjudicator for the Metropolitan National Council Auditions, Bel Canto Auditions, and gives master classes across the and in Europe.

 

Gary Glaze gained the attention of the music world during his many seasons with the New York City Opera at Lincoln Center and in regular appearances as a concert artist in New York at Carnegie Hall, Avery Fisher Hall, Alice Tully Hall, Metropolitan Museum of Art, Town Hall and at the Caramoor Festival.  After debuting in the Metropolitan Opera’s Park Series as Don Ottavio in Don Giovanni, he joined the Met roster. Of his acclaimed European debut as Almaviva in Rossini’s Il Barbiere di Siviglia with the Netherlands Opera in Amsterdam, Het Parool wrote, “A discovery of importance: an agile lyric tenor with the silken-like brilliance of the pure bel-canto.” Re-engagements in Amsterdam followed, along with successful debut performances at the Prague State Opera as Tamino and as Tom Rakewell at the Teatro Colon in Buenos Aires.

 

Well known for his lyrical and stylish singing, Glaze has been heard on NPR and PBS broadcasts from Alice Tully Hall at Lincoln Center and he has performed with the New York Philharmonic under Leonard Bernstein, the Minnesota Orchestra under Stanislaw Skrowaczewski and Raymond Leppard, and with Arthur Fiedler in his famous pops concerts. In demand as an oratorio artist Glaze has sung with symphony orchestras and choral societies across America, highlighted by performances with conductor Sir David Willcocks in Bach’s St. Matthew Passion, and the title roles in Britten’s St. Nicolas and in Elgar’s  The Dream of Gerontius.  Chamber music collaboration is a particular love of Mr. Glaze, with performances at the Marlboro, Newport, Luzerne, San Luis Obispo, Mohawk Trails music festivals and at the Library of Congress.

Professional Experience

Current Professional Affiliation(s):
International Vocal Institute, Hvar, Croatia
Pacific Vocal Institute, Vancouver Island, B.C.
Career Highlights:

• New York City Opera, Lincoln Center, New York
• Netherlands Opera, Staddschouwburg, Amsterdam
• Teatro Colon Opera, Buenos Aires, Argentina
• Santa Fe Opera, New Mexico
• Minnesota Orchestra, Orchestra Hall, Minneapolis
• Clarion Music Society, Alice Tully Hall at Lincoln Center, New York, NPR broadcasts
  

Honors, Awards & Competitions:
Awards from:
                                                                                                                                              

• The Martha Baird Rockefeller Fund for Music

• The Kathryn Long Trust of the Metropolitan Opera
• Corbett Foundation Fellowship
• William Matheus Sullivan Foundation

Other recognition:

 

• The Loren L. Zachary Society for Performing Arts, Artistic Merit: Performer-Teacher

• Who's Who in Opera, 1st Edition, Maria Rich, editor (unsolicited)
• The American Music Handbook, The Free Press, (unsolicited)
• Outstanding Young Artist Award, Musical America/Hi-Fidelity Magazine
• Outstanding Alumnus Award, Dana School of Music, Youngstown State University

Music Festivals:

• Mostly Mozart Festival, Lincoln Center, New York
• Marlboro Music Festival, Vermont
• Newport Music Festival, Rhode Island
• Luzerne Chamber Music Festival, New York
• San Luis Obispo Mozart Festival, California

Research Interests:

• American art song

Publications:

• Opera America, Perspectives: Audition Advice for Singers, Washington DC, ongoing publication.
• Opera America, Perspectives: The Singer Manager Relationship, Washington DC, ongoing publication
• Music Teachers'National Association, American Music Teacher, Book Reviews

Academic Degrees

• Doctoral Studies, University of Michigan
• M.Mus, University of Michigan
• B.Mus., magna cum laude, Youngstown State University

Other Academic Experience:

• Director, Bay View Music Festival and Conservatory, 1995-2000
• Artist in Residence, State University of New York, Stony Brook, 1981-1992
• Associate Professor, University of Rhode Island, 1989-1992
• Artistic Director, Berkshire Opera Company, 1985-1990
• Affiliate Faculties: Temple University, Princeton University, Hofstra University, 1981-1985
• Affiiliate Artists, Inc. (New York), Sears-Roebuck Foundation Residencies: Stetson University, Arizona State University, Kansas Corsortium of Private Colleges, Santa Barbara Arts Council, 1975-1981.

Studied with

• Margaret Harshaw, Metropolitan Opera, Indiana University
• Ralph Herbert, Metropolitan Opera, University of Michigan
• Cornelius Reid, Vocal Pedagogue and Author, New York City