These concerts are the North Carolina Symphony debut for Issachah Savage.

Dramatic tenor Issachah Savage has appeared with orchestras including the New York Philharmonic, The Cleveland Orchestra, San Francisco Symphony, Los Angeles Philharmonic, Houston Symphony, The Philadelphia Orchestra, Danish National Symphony Orchestra, Rotterdam Philharmonic Orchestra, Orquestra Sinfônica do Estado de São Paulo, and the symphony orchestras of Boston, Chicago, Dallas, Detroit, St. Louis, Toronto, and Melbourne.

Among the highlights of his 2025/26 season, Savage will make his debut with the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra in Beethoven’s Missa solemnis. He has also returned to Lyric Opera of Chicago, for Echoes of Excellence: Celebrating the Legacy of Chicago’s Black Voices, and to the Orquestra Sinfônica do Estado de São Paulo, for Puccini’s Messa di gloria and Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9. Savage’s symphonic repertoire includes Smyth’s Mass in D, Rhiannon Giddens’ and Michael Abel’s Omar’s Journey, and Mozart’s Requiem.

Among his opera appearances, Savage has sung the title roles in Wagner’s Tannhäuser and Rienzi, Verdi’s Otello, and Britten’s Peter Grimes. Highlights include performances with the Metropolitan Opera, Lyric Opera of Chicago, Houston Grand Opera, LA Opera, Seattle Opera, Canadian Opera Company, Opéra national de Bordeaux, Dutch National Opera, and the Salzburg Festival.

Savage has been awarded grants and prizes from multiple organizations and notably earned the main prize, audience favorite, orchestra favorite, and a special honor at the 2014 Seattle International Wagner Competition.