biography

Hailed by the Ruppiner Anzeiger as "The New, Young Pavarotti," American-born tenor J. Warren is an emerging star in the opera world with a distinct full-lyric voice that is known for singing the legato melodies of Verdi and the passionate, yet tender, interpretations of arias from Puccini.

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He has captivated audiences in the U.S. with "those juicy tenor sounds and a winning smile..." (OperaWire.com) and a voice that "can trumpet notes and make extraordinary throbbing sounds harkening back to a golden age when gods like (Giuseppe) di Stefano still roamed" (OperaWire.com). In Germany, he has ensnared audiences and critics who have described him as possessing an "unbelievable tenor voice full of power and passion..." (Ruppiner Anzeiger). German critics have also praised Mitchell's tenor voice as possessing "Glittering high notes with lyrical brilliance, technically perfect, seemingly effortless in the variation of vocal colors" (Deutschlandfunk).

 

The 2020 season began with a return, for the third consecutive year, to Berlin as the featured tenor soloist in a New Year’s Opera and Operetta Gala with the Deutsches Filmorchester Babelsberg at the Konzerthaus Berlin. The Lied Society in Minneapolis, MN presented Jay as the featured tenor in a Love Songs and Arias Opera Gala and then…Covid-19 hit and all arts organizations all over the world shut down.  The season was to feature a return to Palm Springs, CA as a featured soloist with the Palm Springs Opera Guild on their highly anticipated "Opera in the Park" concert, but hat performance was cancelled due to Covid restrictions.

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Fortunately, all was not lost.  Jay made the transition to the digital media platforms in order to continue making music during those turbulent times.  He was one of four African-American opera singers invited to perform a “live streamed” concert entitled, “We Are The Change” in the Ordway Theatre (Minneapolis, MN).  Also, J. Warren recorded and released a new digital album, The Recital Album.  “My response has been, and will always be, a commitment to using my voice as a tool to bring us all closer together in solidarity with love, dignity, respect, and integrity for one another.”  In addition, Jay embarked on a massive collaborative project with celebrated, African-American, composer, Dr. Rosephanye Powell.  His gift of voice and interpretation of new, modern, music was on full display as he recorded multiple newly composed art songs by Dr. Powell. These songs were premiered in February 2022 with long-time collaborative pianist, Jan McDaniel, in a recital entitled, “The Song Experience.”  

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The 2019 season began with a return to the Konzerthaus Berlin as featured tenor soloist with the Madeburgischen Philharmonie, and a role debut singing Rodolfo in Puccini's La Bohéme with Heartland Opera Theatre in Joplin, Missouri. Also, from 200 singers nationwide, J. Warren was named a 2019 Grand Finalist in the Loren L. Zachary National Vocal Competition and went on to win the 5th place Award. In the summer of 2019, Jay appeared in concert in Berlin, Germany to celebrate the 200th anniversary of German writer, Theodore Fontane, and was featured in a solo concert with the Palm Springs Opera Guild in Palm Springs, CA.

 

Highlights from the 2018 season include: Appearance in Berlin, Germany as the featured tenor in concert at the Konzerthaus Berlin with the Staatskapelle Halle, debut as the tenor soloist in Verdi's Requiem with the Columbus Symphony Orchestra, solo concert performances with the Bemidji Symphony Orchestra and the Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra, and a role debut singing Il Duca in Verdi's Rigoletto with the Painted Sky Opera Company.

 

Being a former choral conductor and music educator, J. Warren realized a career in opera was possible when he entered to compete in the Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions. In 2011, he won the Trudy Oliphant Sundgren Young Singer Encouragement Award.  Returning the following year, he was named a district finalist and a 2nd place Midwest regional winner.  During the same time, J. Warren was named a recipient of the Agnes Varis Career Encouragement Grant and a nominee for the Sara Tucker Award (Richard Tucker Music Foundation). This early success gave Jay the encouragement to resign from his conducting position and pursue a career in opera.  

 

Out of 450 singers worldwide, J. Warren is a two-time winner of the Kammeroper Schloss Rheinsberg International Opera Competition in Rheinsberg, Germany. As a result, he made European debuts as Alfredo in Verdi's La Traviata (2015) and Cavaradossi in Puccini's Tosca (2016). Following this success, J. Warren was invited to the Bellevue Palace in Berlin, Germany to give a concert for the President and First Lady of Germany in celebration of the Kammeroper's 25th anniversary. 

 

Additionally, Jay is a 2013 recipient of the Irene Cummings Hostetler and Theodore Hostetler Full Scholarship in Voice and was a 2013 voice fellow at the Music Academy of the West in Santa Barbara, CA where he worked with Legendary mezzo-soprano, Marilyn Horne, and was chosen by Ms. Horne to participate in her weeklong workshop at Carnegie Hall entitled, "The Song Continues," where he was one of four singers, and the only tenor, who performed in a public master class with her.

 

J. Warren is the youngest of three children and first discovered music at a young age when he learned to play drums, piano, and conducted the choir at his family’s church in Montgomery, Alabama.  Jay currently resides in Oklahoma City where, in his spare time, he enjoys Salsa dancing.  His love and passion for choral music continue to grant him opportunities to work with choirs all over the US and abroad.    

He was awarded the Bachelor of Vocal Music Education degree from Auburn University (Auburn, AL), and the Master of Music degree in Choral Conducting from Oklahoma City University (Oklahoma City, OK).