About Me
Baritone Christopher Herrera, a native of Los Angeles, California, was first introduced to music at age 11 after being enrolled in his junior high school's choir against his wishes. Three years later he was named Outstanding Graduate in Music. More importantly, a love for music and singing had been begun.
In 1999 he began studying solo voice under soprano Dr. Deanna Murray at California State University, Northridge. While there he received his first taste of opera, performing leading roles in works like Mozart's Die Zauberflote & Cosi fan tutte, Donizetti's Betly, Copland's The Tender Land, and as a guest artist with USC Opera in their production of Gianni Schicchi. As a member of CSUN's top vocal ensemble he performed at such well-known venues as The Hollywood Bowl under Esa Peka Salonen with The Los Angeles Philharmonic, The Kodak Theatre with tenor Russell Watson and singers Barry Manilow & Barbra Streisand. In addition, he toured with the group and performed at numerous historical sites throughout the Czech Republic, Germany and the UK. The choir would go on to win the prestigious "Choir of the World" title in Llangollen, Wales. In 2002, he was a featured soloist during the group's appearance at the ACDA Convention in San Antonio, Texas. Later that year, Christopher made his international operatic debut at the Teatro dei Ricomposti in Anghiari, Italy in the role of Guglielmo in Mozart's Cosi fan tutte.
In 2005, Christopher received his M.M degree from the University of Arizona. While there he performed leading roles in The Merry Wives of Windsor & Le Nozze di Figaro. He has been a featured soloist throughout the cities of Los Angeles, San Antonio, Tucson, Phoenix, and Green Valley, performing works like Stainer's Crucifixion (Jesus), Beethoven's Mass in C, Mozart's Coronation Mass, Schubert's Mass in G, and the requiem masses of both Mozart and Faure. While in Tucson, Christopher was introduced to Opening Minds through the Arts, a local arts-based education program. As an O.M.A music artist, Christopher has been able to reinforce children's reading and writing skills using opera. This work led his appointment in 2006 as Arizona Opera's resident teaching artist doing similar work in Tucson/Phoenix/Yuma schools.
During Arizona Opera's 2006-7 season, Christopher will appear as Antonio in Mozart's Le Nozze di Figaro under the stage direction of world-renowned baritone Sir Thomas Allen.
