James Grainger: Born in Los Angeles, Lyric bass James Grainger began his vocal training with Professor Henry Jacobi in New York with whom he was able to study also the pedagogy of vocal development. Musical and interpretive studies were with Bertha Melnik of the Juilliard School. Later, he was privileged to study with the tenor, Giuliano Ciannella, and conductor, Nicoletta Conti, in Bologna, Italy and attend master classes with Rolando Panerai and Renata Scotto. Teaching is also a major interest. “There is nothing more satisfying than seeing someone’s voice develop to its full expressive capacity within the framework of organic unity and overall balance”.

His career as a lyric bass began with the role of Emile in South Pacific and soon after he joined the Brooklyn Opera Society in the role of the Bonze in Madame Butterfly, which was filmed for PBS TV. He was invited shortly thereafter to join the Israel National Opera making his debut in the role of Zaccaria in Verdi’s Nabucco, successively singing several roles in the Italian and French repertoire. In Europe he has performed in Paris, Bologna, Florence, Luzern, Würzburg, Piacenza, Flensburg.

James has experienced and continues to explore the psychological and healing impact of music. Concert repertoire includes songs of the French, Italian, German and American composers, as well as opera. Oratorios include Handel’s Messiah, Verdi, Mozart, and Dvorak Requiems and Schumann’s Faust Szenen.