Wes has been celebrated for his visceral story telling ability where he “deploys his mighty baritone to stunning effect, using interpretive phrasing and nuanced delivery” (Albany Times Union). This past November, Wes returned to Nashville Opera in his role debut as Charlie in Heggie and Scheer’s Three Decembers. This winter he returns to Fargo-Moorhead Opera for another run of Three Decembers as well as Escamillo in Carmen, followed by his debut with Eugene Opera, reprising the role of Hannah Before in Kaminski, Campbell, and Reed’s As One. Additionally, this summer will see two more company and role debuts as he joins Urban Arias as a soloist in their production of Elvis Costello’s The Juliet Letters and West Edge Opera for the West Coast Premiere of Mazzoli and Vavrek’s Breaking the Waves as Jan Nyman.

An acclaimed interpreter of modern works as well as the traditional cavalier baritone repertoire, past highlights include the title role in Hamlet with Fort Worth Opera, Stanley Kowalski in A Streetcar Named Desire with Kentucky Opera, Father Flynn in Doubt with Union Avenue Opera, Jonathan in Siren Song with Hawaii Opera Theatre, Ping in Turandot with Nashville Opera, the title role in Guillaume Tell with the Southern Illinois Music Festival, Belcore in L’elisir d’amore with Gulfshore Opera, Masetto in Don Giovanni with Opera Philadelphia and Opera Naples, Achilla in Giulio Cesare with Opera Roanoke, Escamillo in La Tragédie de Carmen with Syracuse Opera, Marcello in La bohème with Hawaii Opera Theatre, Fort Worth Opera, and Norwalk Symphony, Schaunard in La bohème with the Crested Butte Music Festival, Zurga in Les pêcheurs de perles with Opera Delaware and Baltimore Concert Opera, the baritone soloist in Broadway Extravaganza with Opera Hong Kong, Sciarrone in Tosca with Dallas Opera, and Morales in Carmen with the Glimmerglass Festival.

Wes has also performed as Billy Bigelow in Carousel with Union Avenue Opera and Utah Festival Opera, Curly in Oklahoma! with Maryland Live Arts and Utah Festival Opera, and Mac and Frank Butler (understudy) in Annie Get Your Gun with the Glimmerglass Festival. He participates in readings of new works as often as possible.

Mr. Mason has been featured on the cast recordings of Three Way as Dax/Larry with Naxos and Before Night Falls as Reinaldo Arenas with Albany Records (credited as Wes Mason). He has also received awards from the Sullivan Foundation, The Loren L Zachary Society, and The Metropolitan Opera National Council. Wes graduated from the Academy of Vocal Arts and the University of Michigan where he was presented the Earl V. Moore Award for outstanding contribution to the School of Music, Theatre, and Dance.