American Baritone Christian Bowers has been hailed by Opera News for his “warm well-knit baritone”, and by BroadwayWorld.com for his “strong, clear voice.” Mr. Bowers is an alumnus of the Domingo-Cafritz Young Artist Program at Washington National Opera. While with WNO, he performed many roles including Schaunard in La bohème, The Pilot in The Little Prince, Second Commissioner/ First Officer in Dialogues of the Carmelites, The Chirurgo in La forza del destino, Dancaïro in Carmen, and Stubb in Moby-Dick as well as covering Dandini in La Cenerentola.

After completing the program, he made his debut with Shreveport Opera as Escamillo in Carmen and Captain Corcoran in HMS Pinafore. In addition, he covered Simon Thibault and Father Arguedas in the world premiere of Bel Canto at the Lyric Opera of Chicago last season. In the summer of 2016, he reprised his role as Figaro in Il barbiere di Siviglia with Opera Project Columbus. Bowers kicks off an exciting 2016-2017 season with several company debuts in both opera and musical theater. Upcoming engagements include Escamillo in Carmen with Utah Opera, Emile de Becque in South Pacific with Annapolis Opera, Duruflé’s Requiem with the National Symphony Orchestra under the baton of Donald Runnicles, reprising his role of Maximilian in Candide with the Théâtre du Capitole de Toulouse and Opéra National de Bordeaux, and Count Almaviva in Le nozze di Figaro with Teatru Manoel in Malta.

In the summer of 2014, Mr. Bowers received high acclaim for his performance as the leading role of Clyde Griffiths in An American Tragedy at The Glimmerglass Festival. Prior to joining WNO, he attended the prestigious Academy of Vocal Arts in Philadelphia, where he performed Hermann in Les contes d’Hoffmann (2011), Belcore in L’elisir d’amore (2012), and Figaro in Il barbiere di Siviglia (2013). He has also participated in training programs with Santa Fe Opera and Sarasota Opera and made his professional debut in April of 2013 as Masetto in Opera Colorado’s production of Don Giovanni.

In 2014, Mr. Bowers won first prize in the Violetta Dupont Vocal Competition and was a grant winner at the Giuilo Gari Foundation International Vocal Competition. He was a finalist in the Houston Grand Opera Eleanor McCollum Competition and the George London Foundation in 2013 and won second prize in the Mario Lanza Vocal Competition in 2011. He was also a district winner at the Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions in Philadelphia in 2010 and 2011.

In addition to his training in leading young artist programs, Mr. Bowers is a recipient of an Artist Diploma from the Academy of Vocal Arts (2013), a double Masters of Music in Opera and Vocal Performance from Temple University (2010), and a Bachelor of Music from the State University of New York at Purchase College Conservatory of Music (2007).

A native of Hankins, New York, he enjoyed exposure to many different genres of music while growing up in the Catskill Mountains. He attended fiddle, bluegrass, rock, and folk festivals and even had a chance to meet and work with American legend Pete Seeger. He prides himself on his collaborations with some of the leading creators of contemporary American music, including Lee Hoiby, Tobias Picker, Jake Heggie, Lori Laitman, Huang Ruo, Theodore Morrrison and Gene Scheer. When he is not working on classical music, he enjoys hiking, kayaking, reading, and playing his 5-string banjo.