ABOUT DERREK
Hailed by Opera News for his “handsome sound,” and described as a “standout” by the Wall Street Journal, tenor Derrek Stark, is quickly establishing a reputation as an elegant performer with nuanced and stylish singing.
The 2024/25 season has some exciting role debuts for Mr. Stark; he will return to Knoxville Opera to perform Frederic in Pirates of Penance, as well as Opera Tampa and Gulfshore Opera to sing Candide, and Edgardo in Lucia di Lammermoor, respectively. Derrek will also revisit the role of Pinkerton in performances of Amelia Island Opera’s production of Madama Butterfly.
In the 2023/24 season, Derrek returned to The Metropolitan Opera to cover Prunier in La rondine, made a role debut with Pacific Opera Project singing the Prince in Rusalka, as well as Alfred in Die Fledermaus. Mr. Stark made his Amelia Island Opera debut as Rodolfo in La bohème, and joined the Lakeland Symphony Orchestra performing Pinkerton in Madama Butterfly. He also made both his house and role debut with Knoxville Opera as Fenton in Falstaff.
In 2022/23, he joined The Metropolitan Opera roster covering the Trojan Man in Idomeneo, the Royal Herald and Lerma in Don Carlo, and Flavio in Norma. Mr. Stark also joined the Dayton Performing Arts Alliance and the Dayton Philharmonic for their New Year’s Eve concert, performed as the tenor soloist in Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony with the Kansas City Symphony Orchestra, and made his New Jersey Festival Orchestra debut in their Three Tenors Holiday Concert. Additionally, he returned to Eugene Opera as Rodolfo in La bohème, and joined the Norwalk Symphony Orchestra to perform Tamino in Die Zauberflöte. Mr. Stark also made a role debut with Opera Tampa singing Adolfo Pirelli in Sweeney Todd.
In 2021/22, Mr. Stark was heard at Eugene Opera as Tamino in Die Zauberflöte, joined Gulfshore Opera for Alfred in Die Fledermaus, made a return to Opera Tampa as Rinuccio in Gianni Schicchi. He made a hourse debut as Rodolfo in La bohème with Bar Harbor Music Festival. He debuted the role of Pinkerton in Madama Butterfly with Opera Tampa and Eugene Opera. In 2020, Mr. Stark sang performances of Rodolfo with the Imperial Symphony Orchestra and made a role debut as Percy in Baltimore Concert Opera’s Anna Bolena. Engagements canceled due to COVID19 include performing the title role in Idomeneo with Opera Fuoco and joining Inland Northwest Opera as Alfredo in La traviata. In 2019, Mr. Stark made his international debut with Opernhaus Zürich as the Italian Tenor in Der Rosenkavalier and returned to Palm Beach Opera as Alfredo in La traviata. Other engagements that season included a role premiere with Teatro Nuovo as Arturo in La straniera and Rinuccio in Gianni Schicchi with OperaFusion.
Previous season highlights include Giasone in Medea in Corinto with Teatro Nuovo, Rodolfo in La bohème with San Antonio Opera, The Governor in Candide with Palm Beach Opera, Harry in La fanciulla del West with Santa Fe Opera, Rodolfo in La bohème with Miami Lyric Opera, and Remendado in Carmen with Lyric Opera Kansas City. Other role highlights include Alfredo in La traviata, Rinuccio in Gianni Schicchi, Peter Quint in The Turn of the Screw, Tamino in Die Zauberflöte, and Fenton in Falstaff.
Equally at home in concert repertoire, Mr. Stark has performed with the Atlantic Classical Orchestra, the Boise Philharmonic, the Orchestra of Saint Luke’s, and the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra in repertoire ranging from Beethoven’s 9th Symphony, to Orff’s Carmina Burana, and Rossini’s Petite messe solennelle.
Mr. Stark won 2nd place in the Giulio Gari International Voice Competition, 3rd place in the Opera Columbus Cooper-Bing Competition, 3rd place in the Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod, and is a 2018 Sullivan Foundation Grant Winner. He has also received an encouragement award from the Gerda Lissner International Voice Competition, a Campbell/Wacther Scholarship from Santa Fe Opera, and a Bel Canto Vocal Scholarship Foundation award.
Stark is an alumnus of many prestigious training programs including; Santa Fe Opera, Palm Beach Opera, Bel Canto at Caramoor, and the Lyric Opera of Kansas City. He holds a B.M. from Mansfield University, PA, and a M.M. from The Jacobs School of Music, Indiana University.