This young French Canadian tenor studied in Montreal (CAN), Santa Barbara & New York (USA).

After studying trombone and singing in Montreal, he pursued his studies with the Music Academy of the West (CA, USA), the Vocal Art Canadian Institute (ICAV) and the Orford Arts Center with Marilyn Horne, Warren Jones, Michel Sénéchal, Joan Dornemann, Edith Bers et Tom Krause.

In 2011 he joined the Atelier lyrique de l’Opéra de Montréal where he took part in several productions of the Opéra de Montréal.

He started his career outside Canada at the Chautauqua Music Festival (USA) where he sang Don Ottavio (Don Giovanni), the Chevalier de la Force (Dialogues des Carmélites), and, in the summer 2014, the title role of Werther. He also sang Fernando (Motezuma) with Montreal Baroque, extracts from Rigoletto at the Gala concert of Opéra de Québec, Zémir et Azor (Azor) with Violons du Roy. In 2014 he made his debut in France with l’Affaire Tailleffaire at the Opéra de Limoges.

At the Curtis Institute, he sang between 2014 & 2016, Tom Rakewell from Rake’s Progress, Rodolfo from La Boheme, Des Grieux from Massenet’s Manon; in May 2016 he sings Les Feluettes with l’Opéra de Montréal and in July 2016 the Duke from Rigoletto at the Chautauqua Music Festival,

In parallel, Jean-Michel Richer took part in several concerts with Studio de Musique Ancienne de Montréal (C. Jackson), I Musici (J.M. Zeitouni), l’ensemble Caprice (M. Maute) and his recital Songs of Travel with pianiste Martin Dubé was awarded the Josef-Traxel scholarship in 2013.

Jean-Michel Richer is supported by the Jacqueline Desmarais Foundation which enables him to pursue his vocal training with Marlena Kleinman Malas in New York.

In the past months he sang: Gonzalve from l’Heure Espagnole with Opera National de Lorraine, Don Ottavio from Don Giovanni with the Opéra de Montréal and Saskatoon Opera, the revival of Les Feluettes with Pacific Opera Victoria, some rare French repertoire Leonore ou L’Amour Conjugal from Bouilly & Gaveaux with Opera Lafayette in Washington, the World Premiere of Another brick in the wall with Montreal Opera.