JAKE WALTERS

BIOGRAPHY

Amor vincit odi
Semper vincit amor 

Jake Walters is a tenor from Tucson, Arizona, striving to change how we view both classical and popular music. Mr. Walters, a Tucson native, has performed in numerous musical theatre productions ranging from professional-grade performances, to smaller, community pieces. These include Stephen Sondheim’s Into The Woods, playing Jack, Charles Strouse’s Bye Bye Birdie, playing Mr. MacAfee, and various roles in several runs of musical adaptations of Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol at The Comedy Playhouse. 
More recently, he has appeared in several University of Arizona Opera productions,  covering for L’Aumônier in Poulenc’s Dialogues of the Carmelites, and performing as Orpheus in Orphée aux enfers by Offenbach. Additionally, he was a featured soloist in University of Arizona Symphonic Choir’s recent performances of Mozart’s Coronation Mass in Spring 2018, and their performance of Haydn’s Missa Cellensis in Spring 2019. Mr. Walters also took part in Lawrence Opera Theatre’s 2016 and 2017 Seasons in Lawrence, Kansas, playing “First Sailor” in an avant-garde presentation of Henry Purcell’s Dido and Aeneas, and covering “Monostatos” in Mozart’s The Magic Flute. Mr. Walters was also awarded 2nd place in his division of the 2018 NATS competition, and tied for 2nd place in the 2018 Amelia Rieman competition.  
In addition to his performances in opera and musical theatre, Mr. Walters also writes, produces, and performs his own music. He has performed in numerous venues across Arizona, both as a solo artist, and with his band, Creating the Scene. His charismatic and powerful stage presence has been compared to the likes of Freddie Mercury, Mick Jagger, and David Bowie. 
He recently graduated with a Bachelor of Music in Voice Performance at the University of Arizona Fred Fox School of Music. He has had the privilege of studying under the direction of soprano, Yunah Lee, and former Metropolitan Opera tenor, Dr. Hugo Vera. He also works as music director for Gaslight Youth Theatre and Troubadour Theatre. Mr. Walters intends to continue to pursue performance and composition.