Described as having “a gorgeously warm tone and deep resonance” (Opera News), baritone Darren Drone is quickly making a name for himself in the opera world. In the 2022–2023 season, Drone made a series of exciting debuts with esteemed American companies including Seattle Opera as Baron Douphol in La Traviata, Portland Opera as Zuniga in Carmen, and Opera San José in the title role of Verdi’s Falstaff. He also participated in a workshop of Nmon Ford’s House of Orfeus, performed in a concert of operatic favorites with the Santa Fe Symphony and joined the Lyric Opera of Chicago roster where he will cover Preacher Man and Bilal in the world premiere of Daniel Roumain’s and Anna Deavere Smith’s The Walkers. In the summer of 2023, Drone debuted at The Glimmerglass Festival as Marcello in La bohème and Grégorio in Roméo et Juliette. Future seasons will also see him at Dallas Opera and Florentine Opera.

In the summer of 2021, Drone joined the Santa Fe Opera roster, covering the roles of the Count in Le nozze di Figaro, Starveling in A Midsummer Night’s Dream, and the Captain in Eugene Onegin. In the summer of 2022, Drone returned to Santa Fe, singing Moralès in Carmen and covering the title role of Falstaff.

His 2020–2021 season began with his second year of residency with Michigan Opera Theatre. During his first year with the company, roles included covering Leporello in Don Giovanni, covering the title role in Sweeney Todd, performing both the title roles in Gianni Schicchi, as well as Buoso’s Ghost, covering Tonio in Pagliacci, and preparing the role of Young Man/Man in Bar in Champion (canceled due to COVID–19). In the spring of 2020, Drone was awarded as a semifinalist in the Lotte Lenya Competition, performed with the Detroit Youth Symphony Orchestra, and was scheduled to make his company debut with Opera Maine as William in The Fall of the House of Usher (canceled due to COVID–19). In 2021, Drone made his company debut with Opera Naples as Riff in West Side Story and singing Baron Douphol while covering Germont in La Traviata. He was also set to make his role debut as the title role in Le nozze di Figaro with Opera in the Heights (COVID 19).