Praised for his "voluminous sound" and “imposing, ringing baritone,” Canadian baritone and composer Joel Balzun was recently named the winner of the Fulham Opera Robert Presley Memorial Verdi Prize. Recent engagements include his debut with Los Angeles Opera, as well as performances with Cincinnati Song Initiative, Opera Las Vegas, Opera Santa Barbara Pacific Opera Project and Union Avenue Opera. He was also featured as Ivan Brisilov in the world premiere of Stephanie Fleischmann and Peter Knell's Arkhipov with Jacaranda conducted by Daniela Candilari. He is an alum of the apprenticeship programs at Opera Saratoga and Santa Fe Opera and has been a fellowship recipient at Tanglewood Music Centre and Ravinia Steans Music Institute. Also an accomplished composer, Mr. Balzun's “haunting and beautiful” music has garnered prizes from the SOCAN Foundation Awards for Young Composers, Dallas Wind Symphony’s 9th annual “Call for Fanfares”, Classical Marimba League International Composition Competition and the National Broadcast Orchestra’s Galaxie Rising Star Composers’ Competition. He has also been a finalist for the ASCAP Morton Gould Young Composers Awards. His music has been performed in Canada, Denmark, the United States, Costa Rica, Taiwan and the United Kingdom, by ensembles such as Alberta Winds, Calgary Civic Symphony, Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra, CCM Wind Orchestra, Dallas Wind Symphony, the National Broadcast Orchestra of Canada, La Orquestra Vientos de Costa Rica, and Windago. Additional performances include those by Cadillac Moon Ensemble, Standing Wave Ensemble, and such luminary soloists as Corey Hamm and Megan Moore. A devoted and enthusiastic teacher, he currently teaches at California Baptist University and Fullerton College. For the most up-to-date information, visit his website: www.joelbalzun.com
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