Jay Carter (Counter-tenor)

Born: USA

The American counter-tenor, Jay Carter, received his undergraduate degree from William Jewell College where he studied voice with Arnold Epley. He received a Masters in Music from the Yale School of Music and Institute of Sacred Music, where he studied with James Taylor, Simon Carrington, and Judith Malafronte and was singled out for the Louise E. McClain scholarship. He was a 2008 regional finalist in the Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions.

Jay Carter is quickly gaining recognition as one of the nation’s finest, lauded for his luminous tone and stylish interpretations especially in the music of J.S. Bach, Leonard Bernstein, George Frideric Handel, Purcell and Antonio Vivaldi. Equally at home in the modern recital repertoire, he has gained acclaim for programs of modern classics typically outside the standard counter-tenor repertory by composers such as Quilter, Johannes Brahms, Benjamin Britten, and Hahn. Carter is a featured soloist on recordings of J.S. Bach’s Magnificat in D (BWV 243), Felix Mendelssohn’s Magnificat, and Dietrich Buxtehude’s Membra Jesu Nostri, all of which will be released commercially in late 2008.

His 2008-2009 season includes his Carnegie Hall debut in Messiah with Musica Sacra/Kent Tritle, Tavener’s Lament for Jerusalem with the Choral Arts Society of Washington/Norman Scribner, A. Vivaldi, G.F. Handel and J.S. Bach with the Louisville Bach Society and the title role in G.F. Handel’s Solomon with the Omaha Symphony. He will also record Antonio Caldara’s Medea and G.F. Handel's cantatas with the Kingsbury Ensemble.

Other recent repertoire includes G.F. Handel’s Saul, J.S. Bach’s Weihnachts-Oratorium (BWV 248) and numerous cantatas, L. Bernstein’s Missa Brevis and Chichester Psalms, Antonio Caldara’s Medea in Corino, A. Vivaldi’s Nisi Dominus, Cessate, omai cessate and Gloria, as well as Monteverdi’s Vespers of 1610. He has worked with noted conductors including Owen Burdick, Simon Carrington, Arnold Epley, Paul Goodwin, Stephen Layton, Sir Philip Ledger CBE, Nicholas McGegan and Helmuth Rilling.

In addition to concert performances and recitals, Jay Carter is also increasingly in demand as a guest lecturer on counter-tenor technique and repertory, frequently offering unique interactive lecture-recitals and master-classes. He lives in Liberty, Missouri with his wife and two children, and enjoys fine cuisine and reading short stories as well as serving as Artist-in-residence at William Jewell College. Carter is exclusively represented by Schwalbe and Partners

Source: Jay Carter Website
Contributed by Aryeh Oron (September 2009)

Recordings of Bach Cantatas & Other Vocal Works

Conductor

As

Works

Simon Carrington

Alto

BWV 243

Links to other Sites

Jay Carter, countertenor (Official Website)