James C. Harris

New York-based singer and actor, James C. Harris, is quickly establishing himself as a versatile creative force across the country. Praised for his “engaging” (HamletHub), “scene-stealing” (Broadway DNA), and overall “excellent” (Voce di Meche) performances, James enjoys a budding career that treads the line between classical and contemporary genres. His recent operatic endeavors have included Ralph Vaughan Williams’ Five Mystical Songs at The Riverside Church (NYC), La bohème at Spoleto Festival USA, Oedipus Rex at Opera Philadelphia, and L’enfant et les sortilèges with The Philadelphia Orchestra. James made his off-Broadway debut in 2022 portraying Mel Ferrer in Audrey: The New Musical at The Players Theatre and has since returned to the New York stage in Secret of the Possible at the 14th St Y Theatre, Will Wilson Saves the World at the Spark Theatre Festival, and several concerts at the iconic NYC cabaret venue, 54 Below.

James is a recent graduate of Westminster Choir College (BM) and Manhattan School of Music (MM), where he sang such roles as Count Almaviva in Le nozze di Figaro, Jupiter in Orpheus in the Underworld, Charlot in Angélique, L’horloge comtoise in L’enfant et les sortilèges, and Guglielmo in Così fan tutte, among others. James is an Encouragement Award winner in The Metropolitan Opera’s 2023-24 Laffont Competition, a finalist of the 2023 Respighi Prize in Performance, winner of the 2023 Eisenberg-Fried Concerto Competition, first and second place winner of the 2020 Eastern Regional and National NATS competitions respectively, and winner of Westminster’s 2020 Dalton Baldwin Award in Art Song Performance.

He is also a proud member of the Actors’ Equity Association and the American Guild of Musical Artists. In addition to performing, James maintains a private voice studio for young singers in New Jersey, where he currently resides with his wife. Follow @jamhach and read more at jamescharris.net.

Blake Friedman

Tenor Blake Friedman has garnered praise from The New York Times for the “plummy fullness and dusky hue” of his voice and by New York Classical Review for his voice’s “buttery top.” Blake has performed leading roles and fulfilled soloist engagements for multiple performing arts organizations across the United States.

Since his first solo performance with Canterbury Choral Society in 2015 (in the title role of Benjamin Britten’s Saint Nicolas), Blake has performed with the Society in works spanning over 200 years of musical history. Notable roles include St. Francis of Assisi in the Society’s revival of Adriano Ariani’s Oratorio di San Francesco, the Evangelist in Johann Sebastian Bach’s St. Matthew Passion, and Judas in George Frideric Handel’s Judas Maccabaeus.

Operatic career highlights include the world premiere of A Nation of Others by Paul Moravec and Mark Campbell at Carnegie Hall; creating the role of Marc in the world premiere of Dan Shore’s Freedom Ride at Chicago Opera Theater; singing Irving Tashman in the New York City premiere of Morning Star by Ricky Ian Gordon for On Site Opera; portraying Iago in Rossini’s Otello with LoftOpera; and scoring critically acclaimed performances of Almaviva in Il Barbiere di Siviglia with Chautauqua Opera, where he was praised by OperaNews for his “romantic and funny” portrayal which “proved a highlight.”Other companies Blake has performed with include Dallas Opera, St. Pete Opera, Bel Canto at Caramoor, and Ash Lawn Opera.

 On the concert stage, he has appeared as soloist with New York Choral Society, New York City Ballet, New York Oratorio Society, Ensemble for the Romantic Century, Choral Artists of Sarasota, Key Chorale, and York Symphony in repertoire ranging from baroque masterpieces to world premieres.

 A champion of new American music, Blake served as the resident tenor for American Opera Projects Composers and the Voice Symposium from 2015-2018. He made his Prototype Opera Festival debut as Jimmy Smith in the reading of Stinney: An American Execution by Frances Pollock. Blake holds a Master’s and Professional Studies Diploma from Manhattan School of Music and a Bachelor’s from The Eastman School of Music.

https://www.blakefriedmantenor.com

Jennifer Grimaldi Toohey

The soprano solo role in Carmina Burana will be performed by returning Canterbury soprano soloist Jennifer Grimaldi Toohey. Jennifer made her European debut as the soprano soloist in Mendelssohn’s Elijah with the Charlemagne Orchestra in Brussels, under the direction of Bartholomeus-Henri Van de Velde. 

Solo engagements for Ms. Grimaldi Toohey include the soprano soloist in Mahler’s Symphony No. 8 with the Canterbury Choral Society at Carnegie Hall, the Vier letzte Lieder of Richard Strauss at Symphony Space in NYC with the New Amsterdam Symphony Orchestra and NY Repertory Orchestra, soprano soloist in Handel’s Messiah with the Babylon Chorale, soprano soloist in Mendelssohn’s Elijah with the Canterbury Choral Society in NYC, soprano soloist in Mahler’s Symphony No. 8 and Symphony No. 2 with the Minería National Symphony Orchestra of Mexico City, Wagner’s Wesendonck Lieder with the NY Repertory Orchestra, soprano soloist in Brahms’ Ein deutsches Requiem with the Flint Symphony in Michigan and soprano soloist in Beethoven’s 9th Symphony with the Sheboygan Symphony in Wisconsin and Mahler’s 8th Symphony with both the Nashua and Lexington Symphony Orchestras.

Additional highlights include the soprano soloist in Britten’s War Requiem & Brahms’ Ein deutches Requiem with the Queens College Choral Society; Mozart’s Requiem with the Reona Ito Chamber Orchestra and Chorus; Mahler’s Symphony No. 4 with the Queens College Orchestra, Bach’s Magnificat; Vivaldi’s Gloria with the New Amsterdam Baroque Orchestra; Handel’s Messiah with The New York Repertory Orchestra in conjunction with the New York Festival Singers; Barber’s Knoxville Summer of 1915 with Agincourt Orchestra; and Mozart’s Exultate, Jubilate with the Third Street Music School Settlement Orchestra.

Jennifer Grimaldi Toohey has performed with US opera companies and festivals including Sarasota Opera, Brevard Music Festival, Intermezzo Opera Festival, Utah Festival Opera, and Raylynmor Opera.  She created the role of Dolly in the New York City Premiere of Orpheus Descending by Bruce Saylor.

A graduate of The Aaron Copland School of Music at Queens College, Ms. Grimaldi Toohey is the co-founder and co-owner of the Long Island Studio of Music, serves on the voice faculty at The Aaron Copland School of Music at Queens College, and is as program director and voice teacher for the Queens Summer Vocal Institute.

Jennifer is a long-time student of her voice teacher and mentor Dr. Sherry Overholt.