Recognized by Opera News as “a high quality baritone with dynamic and coloristic flexibility,” and named in the feature “Who’s Hot?” by International Magazine Opera Now, baritone Raymond Ayers continues to show himself as someone to watch. He was most recently awarded best performance in a new opera by the German Critic Awards.

Last season, Mr. Ayers continued his international career in performances as Germont in La Traviata, Jupiter in Orpheus in der Unterwelt, Ottokar in Der Freischutz, Silvio in I Pagliacci, Dandini in La Cenerentola and Chucho in the European premier of Salsi Puedes all at Theater Hagen in Germany. Mr Ayers also made his debut as Carl Magnus in A Little Night Music with Lyric Opera San Diego. Next season (2010-2011) he returns to Hagen in performances as Guglielmo in Cosi fan Tutte, Figaro in Il Barbiere di Siviglia, Silvano/cover Renatoin Un Ballo in Maschera and Ping Turandot. He will again collaborate with the Minnesota Orchestra in 2011 singing Papageno in Die Zauberflöte.

Career highlights include performances at New York City Opera singing Schaunard in La Bohème, as well as performances with Radio Festival Montpellier singing Carmina Burana, also broadcast on French National Radio. Other notable performances include Sharpless in Madama Butterfly, Chou En Laiin Nixon in China and Masetto (Don Giovanni cover) in Don Giovanni with Minnesota Opera; Guglielmo in Cosi fan Tutte with Chautauqua Opera, and Scapinin L’ile de Merlin with New Orleans Opera.

Mr. Ayers is a frequent guest with the Minnesota Orchestra having collaborated with esteemed music director Osmo Vänskä and acclaimed conductor Andrew Litton. He was most recently seen in their Bernstein Festival singing Bernstein’s Mass (Celebrant). He shared the stage with renowned artists Deborah Voigt, Carl Tanner and Greer Grimsley singing Tosca (Angelotti), and was also heard at Sommerfest in the Orchestra’s production of La Bohème (Marcello), and twice as the Father in their charming holiday production of Hansel and Gretel.

Mr. Ayers maintains an active concert schedule having performed with the Central City Orchestra, Delaware Jazz Festival Orchestra, Duluth Festival Orchestra, Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra, Princeton Pro Musica, Princeton Symphony Orchestra, Minnesota Orchestra and Radio Festival Montpellier.

Mr. Ayers holds degrees from Westminster Choir College (BM) and Manhattan School of Music (MM). He is recorded on both Albany Records and Afkalabels and is an accomplished oboist. The Connecticut Opera Guild Competition, Eisenberg-Fried Concerto Competition, Metropolitan Opera National Council, Palm Beach Opera Competition, Schubert Club Competition, Shreveport Singer of the Year Competition, Sun Valley Voice Competition and the Violetta DuPont Vocal Competition have all honored Mr. Ayers for outstanding achievement and artistic excellence.