Tenor Nicholas Cravens has finished his studies at the University of Michigan where he studied with Stanford Olsen. Born and raised in Meridian, Idaho, he was introduced to opera early while working with the Opera Idaho Children’s Chorus, performing in several operas including La Bohéme, Carmen, and more. Nicholas has performed in several roles while at Michigan, including Elder Hayes in Carlisle Floyd’s Susannah, Reverend Rankin in Rise for Freedom, the John Parker Story by Adolphus Hailstork, culminating into his final opera during his last semester, where he performed the role of Werther in Massenet’s Werther. He graduated with his Bachelors of Music from Idaho State University, where he studied with Kathleen Lane, performing as the understudy for the Stage Manager in Ned Rorem’s Our Town. Previously, Nicholas spent a summer with the Taos Opera Institute in Taos, New Mexico where he worked with Mary Jane Johnson, Linda Poetschke, and Stephen Morscheck. Last year, Nicholas made his professional debut with Opera Idaho, performing the role of Tybalt in Charles Gounod’s Roméo et Juliette, and will be performing the role of Gastone de Letorières as well as the understudy for Alfredo Germont in the upcoming production of Verdi’s La Traviata with Opera Idaho. He is glad to be back in the Treasure Valley and is thankful of the support he has received from his family, and of the direction and advice he has received from the wonderful faculty at the University of Michigan, including Stanford Olsen, Dr. Kirk Severtson, Dr. Matthew Thompson, Dr. Timothy Cheek, Mo Zhou and Abbigail Coté.