Jason S. Bridges

Contact Details:
Email: jasonsbridges@yahoo.com

Born in Pennsylvania, Jason began his musical studies at the Eastman School of Music in Rochester, New York. His teachers at Eastman include Seth McCoy, Marlene Rosen, and Dale Moore. He next moved to Glasgow, Scotland to continue studying at the Alexander Gibson Opera School at the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama on the Mmus Opera course. There he studied with Peter Alexander Wilson and as a result of his work with the academy, Jason was awarded the International Scholarship for Opera Students to continue on the Mmus Advanced Opera course.

In November of 2001, Jason was awarded a scholarship from the Samling Foundation and was given the opportunity to work in one of their weekend masterclasses with Felicity Palmer and Malcom Martineau. Most recently he worked in masterclass with baritone Sir Thomas Allen.

Jason has performed throughout Britain. He has sung with the orchestra of St. John Smith Square in London and the Royal Scottish National Orchestra and Scottish Opera orchestras in Glasgow. Conductors he has worked with include Tim Dean, Louis Lane, Alexander Lazarev, John Lubbock, Ben Parry and Michael Rosewell.

Operatic roles include the title roles in both Candide and Albert Herring, Don Basilio in The Marriage of Figaro, Grosvenor in Patience, Sir Bruno Robertson in I Puritani, and Sellem in The Rake 's Progress. 2002 has been Jason's busiest year yet. As well as performing in several concerts throughout Scotland and England, Jason sang the roles of Rinuccio in Gianni Schicchi, 1{ussar in Stravinsky's Mavra, Aifredo in La Traviata, Des Grieux in Massenet's Manon, and Nemorino in The Elixir of Love. In April of 2003, Jason will be singing his debut of Edgardo in Lucia di Lammermoor in Aberdeen, Scotland.

With Samling: Participated in Weekend Masterclass with Felicity Palmer and Malcom Martineau in November of 2001. "I feel very fortunate to have worked with such accomplished artists. Felicity and Malcom offered all of us such wonderful suggestions. I have been able to apply the suggestions I received as well as suggestions made to others into my own singing and interpretation".

Past Achievements:
Performances: L'elisir d'amore, Nemorino, Geoffrey Dolton Clonter Opera Theatre, 2002; Manon, Des Grieux, Will Kerley Royal Scottish Academy, 2002; La Traviata, Aifredo, Ben Parry Haddo House Opera Society, 2002; Gianni Schicchi, Rinuccio, William Relton Royal Scottish Academy, 2002; Hussar, Mavra, Tim Dean Royal Scottish Academy, 2002; Rake's Progress, Sellem, Stephen Langridge Royal Scottish Academy, 2001; I Puritani, Bruno Robertson, Ben Parry Haddo House Opera Society, 2001; The Impresario, Herr Eiler, John Greer Eastman Opera Theatre, 1999; Patience, Grosvenor, Steven Daigle Eastman Opera Theatre, 1999; Albert Herring, Albert Herring, Steven Daigle Eastman Opera Theatre, 1998; Magic Flute, Tamino, John Greer Eastman Opera Theatre, 1998; Candide, Candide, Steven Daigle Eastman Opera Theatre, 1998; Marriage of Figaro, Don Basilio, John Greer Eastman Opera Theatre, 1997;
The King and I, Lun Tha, Karen Volpe Altoona Com. Theatre, 1994; Into the Woods, Jack, Nanette Anslinger Altoona Corn. Theatre, 1993.

Scene Work: La Traviata Aifredo Lee Blakely Royal Scottish Academy 2001; L'elisir d'amore Nemorino Lee Blakely Royal Scottish Academy 2001; Midsummer Night Lysander John Lubbock St John Smith Square 2001; Manon Des Grieux Adrian Osmond Royal Scottish Academy 2001; Alcina Oronte Adrian Osmond Royal Scottish Academy 2001; Werther Schmidt Adrian Osmond Royal Scottish Academy 2001; Rake's Progress Tom Rakewell Cynthia Buchan Royal Scottish Academy 2001;

Special Training & Awards: Masterciass Sir Thomas Allen Royal Scottish Academy 2002; Fencing Mark Makenzie British Academy of Fencing 2002; Masterciass Felicity Palmer and Malcom Martineau Samling Foundation 2001; Scholarship International Scholarship for Opera Singers Royal Scottish Academy 2001; Opera Workshop Hired as Instructor Nazareth College 1999; Scholarship PA Governor's School for the Arts Mercyhurst College 1993;

Languages: Mother tongue: English. Operational singing: French, Italian, German, Russian

Education: MMus Advanced Opera Royal Scottish Academy Tim Dean 2001-02; MMus Opera Course Royal Scottish Academy Christopher Underwood 2000-01; Graduate Studies Eastman School of Music Dale Moore/Stephen Daigle 1998-00; Bachelor of Music Vocal Perf. Eastman School of Music John Maloy 1994-98;

Current Activities: Auditions in UK, Europe, and US.

Forthcoming Events: Jason will be performing the role of Edgardo in Lucia di Lammermoor in Aberdeen.

Reviews:
"Jason Bridges was a personable Nemorino, by no means a country bumpkin, and his Una furtiva lagrima was winningly sung, without strain."
London Sunday Telegraph 2002 - Michael Kennedy

"Even so, Jason Bridges stole the show as Herring. His climactic drunk scene at the end of Act II was a theatrical tour de force. Every emotion, every gesture, felt incredibly true and right. And the singing? Clear, focused, and full of variety."
Democrat & Chronicle Opera Review. November 7 1998 - Rob Haskins

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