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The American bass, Michael (Mike) Galvin, obtained his Bachelor of Music degree in Voice and Opera Magna Cum Laude from Ithaca College (2013-2017); and his Master of Music degree in Voice Performance and Literature from the Eastman School of Music, University of Rochester (August 2017-May 2019), as a student of Kathryn Cowdrick.
Michael Galvin has garnered a reputation as an eager and versatile young singer. In the summer of 2019, he joined the Boston Early Music Festival as a Young Artist, where he performed the role of Zoroastro in George Frideric Handel's Orlando. He was also invited to return to the language intensive opera program Si Parla, Si Canta where he sang the role of Simone in Gianni Schicchi with the Orchestra Sinfonica Carlo Coccia di Novara as well as with the Villa Nigra Opera Festival in Miasino, Italy. In the spring of 2019, he was seen as Leporello in Eastman Opera Theater’s production of W.A. Mozart's Don Giovanni. Other EOT credits include Seneca in L’incoronazione di Poppea and Bass Voice in Ricky Ian Gordon’s The Tibetan Book of the Dead. In the Fall of 2021, he joined the world premiere performance of Iphigenia, a new opera by jazz legends Wayne Shorter and Esperanza Spalding, produced by the Kennedy Center in conjunction with Real Magic and Octopus Theatrics. Iphigenia previewed at MassMoCa in early November, followed by a world premiere at ArtsEmerson and performances at The Kennedy Center, UC Berkeley, and the Broad Stage Santa Monica.
Previous credits in the 2022 season include singing the role of Babbage in Guerilla Opera’s workshop of The Thrilling Adventures of Lovelace and Babbage, a new opera by Elena Ruehr and Royce Vavrek; Evolution’s Journey, a concert of contemporary art song with Calliope’s Call; Ensemble in Champion with Boston Lyric Opera. In 2023 season, he joins Boston Lyric Opera in productions of La Boheme and Omar. He will be featured in the 2023 Boston Early Music Festival’s productions of George Frideric Handel's Alcina and Circé. He is featured on the BEMF recording of Circé (produced by CPO Records) slated to be released in Spring 2023. Additionally, 2023 sees him in concert engagements with organizations such as The Thirteen and Burlington Choral Society.
Michael Gavin believes in the value of versatility as a modern classical singer, leading him to be involved in numerous projects off the operatic stage in Early and New Music. While completing his graduate studies, he performed with the Eastman Collegium Musicum in presentations of Fairy Queen, King Arthur, and L’Orfeo (Rossi). He has been seen as a bass soloist with the Eastman School of Music: Bach Cantata Series (BWV 11, BWV 26, BWV 62) as well as with the Cornell Early Music Lab (Historia der Geburt Jesu Christi). His collaboration with Cornell Early Music Lab also included the North American premiere of Agostino Agazzari’s Eumelio, singing the role of Plutone.
An avid recitalist and concert programmer, Michael Gavin has worked extensively to curate the Granger Eastman Salon Series at the historic Granger homestead in Canandaigua, New York. In Fall 2021, he joined the roster of Calliope’s Call, a Boston-based art song coalition. He workshopped a set of art songs written by his longtime pianist collaborator Benjamin Pawlak in May of 2021. In April of 2019, he premiered a new work for bass and piano by acclaimed conductor and composer Benton Hess.
With a passion and penchant for teaching, Michael Gaavin has worked with students of varying ages and skill levels. He served as Applied Voice Instructor at Hobart and William Smith Colleges from August 2019 to May 2021. Since July 2021, he is Trip Consultant at EF Education First.
Michael Gavin continually seeks to champion the work of Queer creators in Classical Music. Through his drag persona Donatella Fermata, he programs operatic cabaret performances and does community engagement to amplify the voices of Queer artists in his field. |
