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Brett A. Payne, Tenor Brett A. Payne, young lyric tenor made his operatic debut as Don Jose in the 2014 production of Bizet’s Carmen with the Music Academy of the West. Critics praised him saying, “The role of Don Jose was sung magnificently.” They then went on to say, “Payne drew a convincing arc of development from boyish (but vulnerable) moralism to murderous torment.” In 2007 he made his European debut in the Salzburg Music Festival with a solo concert in the Schloss Mirabel Palace. In 2006 Brett was hired to sing the tenor solos in Handel’s Messiah with the Enid Symphony Orchestra.

Brett has been a voice student of Jeffery and Rebekah Ambrosini for the last ten years and attended both Oklahoma City University and the University of Oklahoma perusing a vocal performance degree. A recipient of a full scholarship to OCU and the more prestigious Presidential Scholarship to OU. While attending university he participated in competitions both within the U.S. and Europe. Winning first in the collegiate level of the Oklahoma N.A.T.S. competition and the Crescendo Music Awards Competition where he won both the first prize of $10K as well as the people’s choice award. From this he was awarded the opportunity to study abroad with the University of Miami at Salzburg’s summer program. During his months in Salzburg he competed in the UM Salzburg Vocal Competition where he won the grand prize which included a recital in the Salzburg Music Festival.

Brett has spent years working with some of the most influential vocal coaches, directors, singers, and conductors of our time. Including master classes taught by Tenor George Shirley, Heldentenor Clifton Forbis, Baritone Kim Josephson, Soprano Leona Mitchell and the renowned mezzo-soprano Marilyn Horne. He partakes in regular coachings with Keith Chambers of Dallas Opera, John Churchwell of San Francisco Opera, Nino Sandikidze of LA Opera, Denise Masse of The Metropolitan Opera and John Fisher of La Scala, The Welsh National Opera, Deutsche Grammophone and Decca Records. Brett has had the opportunity to work with stage director Gregory Fortner of the Metropolitan and LA Operas as well as David Paul of the Juilliard School and the Metropolitan Opera’s Lindemann Program. He was most recently lead by Maestro James Gaffigan of Lucerne Symphony Orchestra, LA and Vienna Operas. Brett continues his extensive work with Marilyn Horne on everything from repertoire choices to career planning.

Residing in his home town of Perry Oklahoma where Brett is working to bring a deeper musical experience to his community. Recently founding High Note Studio where he and colleagues offer private lessons in piano and voice. In the future Brett hopes to offer guitar, violin and cello as well. Recently teaming up with Perry Main Street to work on bringing several events through Perry. In the fall of 2016 Brett will be joined by talented singers from across the country and the Enid Symphony Orchestra for a production of Bizet's opera Carmen in concert. Brett has organized several educational programs for those in the community new to opera or those who want a deeper understanding of the music and story of Carmen. He is excited to share his love of opera and music with his Perry family. Brett has been selected as a young artist with the Ash Lawn Opera in Charlottesville Virginia and is preparing the role of Pinkerton from Puccini's Madama Butterfly which will open August 2015.

Reviews: "Don José, Brett Payne, wielded a luscious tenor, especially in the flower song... [in] the last act, his crazed desperation was palpable in the climactic duet with Carmen." SASHA METCALF - Opera News Magazine http://www.musicacademy.org/Opera%20News%20Carmen%20review.pdf

"Tenor, Brett Payne (Don Jose)... sang with authority having reaped a summer of training from one of the best vocal staff in the world." Daniel Kepl - CASA Magazine http://www.danielkepl.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/CARMEN-AUGUST-3-AND-TUESDAYS-AT-8-JULY-29.pdf

"The role of Don José was magnificently sung by tenor Brett Payne. The opera is essentially a morality tale of the temptation and fall of this soldier, and Payne drew a convincing arc of development from boyish (but vulnerable) moralism to murderous torment." Joseph Miller- Santa Barbara Independent http://www.printfriendly.com/print/?source=cs&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.independent.com%2Fnews%2F2014%2Faug%2F05%2Freview-emcarmenem-granada-theatre%2F