James Taylor Studios

I am dedicated to the training of singers and actors and the the growth of self-assured performers, teaching with a proven technique.

www.jamestaylorstudios.com

James Taylor, M.M. (Yale), is an internationally celebrated tenor. At home in opera, concert, recital, and musical theatre, he has appeared with numerous opera companies, symphonies, and theatres, including the New York City Opera, San Francisco Opera, Gottigen Handel Festspiele, and the Nederlandse Reisopera. He has given recitals in the US, Europe, and Asia, and has appeared in leading roles in musicals.

In his earlier roles as baritone, Mr. Taylor performed the title roles in Il Barbiere di Siviglia and Le nozze di Figaro, Marcello in La Boheme, among others. As tenor, his performances have included Siegmund in Die Walküre, Parsifal in Parsifal, Don Jose in Carmen, Manrico in Il Trovatore, Cavaradossi in Tosca, and Pinkerton in Madama Butterfly. His many concert performances include Hándel's Messiah, Bach's Magnificat, Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9, and Mozart's Requiem.

Among his numerous awards, Mr. Taylor was winner of the Metropolitan Opera District Auditions for Connecticut, and was a finalist in the International Belvedere/Hans Gabor Competition, the Dutch International Vocal Competition, and the Lieder Competition of the International Johannes Brahms competition. In addition, Mr. Taylor was invited to participate in the International Tchaikovsky Competition in Moscow.

A talented and sought-after educator, he has served as Director of Opera at Drake University and the University of Alabama, and has been on the music faculties of VCU and the University of Virginia. In his roles as director, he is extensively involved in every aspect of the performing arts, including opera, musical theatre, orchestral, choral, and dance. His students have gone on to such prestigious schools as the New England Conservatory, Juilliard, Manhattan School of Music, Yale University, and the Royal College of Music. Several of his students perform regularly in opera and musical theatre, and have their own theatre companies across the United States and in Europe.

Mr. Taylor has had the pleasure to work with many of the top Artist Teachers in the business, such as Richard Cross, Doris Yarick-Cross, Jackson Sheats, Andrew Gainey, and Seth Riggs. He has also participated in Master Classes with Placido Domingo, Sherrill Milnes, and Regine Crespin.

Mr. Taylor resides in Bon Air, Virginia, with his wife Sheridan, their two daughters Virginia and Meg, and their dog Maddy, who loves to sit in on lessons and applaud.

I enjoy the journey with each student. The opportunity to help them take risks, help them build confidence, and relish the breakthrough moments that lead them on to becoming the best they can be. I am grateful to be a part of each student’s journey.