Baritone Stephen Salters to Join UT College of Music
The University of Tennessee College of Music is proud to announce the addition of prestigious vocalist Stephen Salters to its vocal faculty as Assistant Professor of Voice.
Salters is a widely respected baritone singer with a long list of credits and accolades accumulated throughout his storied career. His evocative performances spanning a wide breadth of repertoire have garnered acclaim throughout much of the globe, including Europe, Asia, and the United States. He has collaborated with acclaimed conductors such as Christoph Eschenbach, James Conlon, Seiji Ozawa, Robert Spano, Nicholas McGegan, Keith Lockhart, Ivor Bolton, Will Crutchfield, Leonard Slatkin, Hugh Wolff, Bobby McFerrin, Jane Glover, Jeff Tyzik, and Martin Haselboeck. On the opera stage, he has performed in more than 30 roles, excelling in both standard repertoire and contemporary works. Recent credits include the lead role of Kovalyov in a rare performance of Shostakovich’s opera The Nose in Boston and orchestra concerts in France, the fantastic role of Elijah in Canada and recitals in Europe and Hawai’i,in addition to several world premieres.
Salters first gained worldwide attention in 1996, when he won First Place in Belgium’s Queen Elisabeth International Competition of Singing and became the first American to win the Grand Prix of one of the most important vocal competitions in the world. He captured First Place in the 1996 International Puccini-Licia Albanese Competition; National Finalist of the 1996 Metropolitan Opera Council Auditions; first place winner of the Leontyne Price Competition; recipient of the Esther B. Kahn Career Entry Award; candidate of the Marian Anderson Award; and a George London Foundation Award in memory of Bruce Yarnell. It was indeed no surprise when Mr. Salters next obtained America’s most prestigious vocal award, the 1999 Walter W. Naumburg International Competition becoming the first and only musician to win both the Queen Elisabeth & Walter W. Naumburg International Competitions in their combined approximately 180-year history.
“The students of UT consistently showed an insatiable desire to learn, dive into their more authentic selves, and expand their wisdom,” he said. “I am eagerly anticipating this thrilling new adventure in the College of Music, and in this monumental moment, becoming a part of its history.”