American Baritone Jorell Williams, known for having “a solid vocal core and easy, natural production” (Opera News), and “a deliciously resonant baritone voice” (Broadway World) has been heralded as “a rock-solid singer with a keen understanding of his own expressive depths” (The Washington Post), is gracing the world’s most prominent concert and opera stages. The 2023-2024 season showcases Mr. Williams in debut engagements in the titular role of Don Pasquale with Opera Omaha, Nadia Boulenger’s La Ville Morte with Greek National Opera (co-production with Catapult Opera), Beethoven’s 9th Symphonywith Symphony Nova Scotia, Dvorak’s Te Deum with The Ottawa Choral Society, in concert with Canadian Art Song Project, with returns to the National Philharmonic Orchestra and Elmer Iseler Singers for Handel’s Messiah. A Native of Brentwood, NY, Jorell made his Lincoln Center Theater Off-Broadway debut in Lynn Nottage and Ricky Ian Gordon’s critically acclaimed Intimate Apparel in January 2022 (co-produced with The Metropolitan Opera and filmed for PBS Great Performances). Next season includes the title role of Don Giovanni with Finger Lakes Opera, with a return to New York Festival of Song (NYFOS) for “My Brother’s Keeper”.
His concert engagements include Ginastera’s Estancia with the Eugene Symphony Orchestra, Dvorak in America with the South Dakota Symphony Orchestra, Wynton Marsalis’ Abyssinian Mass and Duke Ellington’s Sacred Songs with the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra, Jennifer Hidgon's Dooryard Bloom with the Philharmonic of Southern New Jersey, Brahms’ Ein Deutsches Requiem with the Omaha Symphony Orchestra, Durufle Requiem with the Kingston Chamber Singers, Faure Requiem with the Juneau Symphony Orchestra, Handel’s Israel in Egypt with Le Consort Baroque D’Ottawa, and John Musto’s River Songs with Songfest - Los Angeles. His career has brought him on tour with the Mark Morris Dance Company, Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra, Chorale Le Chateau, American Modern Ensemble, and Essential Voices USA. He had the honor to perform with Wynton Marsalis and the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra in A Celebration of America at the Kennedy Center’s Eisenhower Theater on the occasion of the first Presidential Inauguration of Barack Obama, as well as the European premiere of Marsalis’ Abyssinian Mass at the Barbican during the 2012 Olympics in London. Mr. Williams has also worked alongside some of today’s most versatile artists, including Lauryn Hill, Erykah Badu, Laura Kaminksy, Damien Sneed, Jon Batiste, Laura Karpman, David Lang, and most recently, Jennifer Higdon, for her 2017 Grammy nominated World Premiere Opera Cold Mountain with the Santa Fe Opera.
Jorell has won awards from organizations such as The Jensen Foundation, The Gerda Lissner International Competition, The Schuyler Foundation for Career Bridges, The Licia Albanese Puccini Foundation, The American Traditions Competition, Harlem Opera Theater Competition, The National Association of Negro Musicians [NAMN], The Liberace Foundation, The Serge & Olga Koussevitzky Competition, Civic Morning Musicals Competition, David Adams Art Song Competition, and the Rochester Classical Idol XII Prize. He is an advocate for artist rights and serves as chair of the artistic arts council of Finger Lakes Opera, is a member of the artistic council advisor for The Denyce Graves Foundation, On-Site Opera, and currently on the New Music Board for the Brooklyn Art Song Society, using his experience to consult with arts organizations on their Diversity, Equity and Inclusion initiatives.