BRIAN CHENEY - Tenor

Brian Cheney is emerging as one of the most unique and thrilling American tenors of his generation. Having recently made his Carnegie Hall debut, this exciting young tenor has received national acclaim for his interpretation of operatic roles such as Ferrando in COSI FAN TUTTE, Nemorino in L'ELISIR D'AMORE, Rodolfo in LA BOHEME, the Duke in RIGOLETTO, Alfredo in LA TRAVIATA and Tom Rakewell in THE RAKE'S PROGRESS.

During the final years of Jerry Hadley's life, the legendary American tenor served as a powerful and influential mentor and dear friend to Mr. Cheney. He, himself, refers to Hadley as, "my best friend, my brother and my musical father." Having learned from him the art, nuance and stylistic ease of singing many different operatic roles, Viennese and American operetta, Musical Theater, as well as American popular song and art song make Mr. Cheney one of today's most versatile artists. Very much like Mr. Hadley, he also has a profound commitment to new operas as well as to American opera. Mr. Hadley had this to say about his protégé, "Mr. Cheney captures the heart and attention of the listener without resorting to artifice. He has the courage to reveal himself through his voice, a quality both refreshing and rare in a young singer. He is the real thing!"

No stranger to the concert stage, Mr. Cheney's oratorio and concert experience ranges from critically acclaimed performances of Handel's MESSIAH in New York City, Providence, and Philadelphia to Mendelssohn's ELIJAH, Gounod's ST. CECILIA MASS, Mozart's REQUIEM as well as Leonard Bernstein's CANDIDE.

He is also an accomplished recitalist who was hailed recently by the Danbury News Times, "...what Cheney has is a wonderful gift for capturing the nuances and emotions in songs of any language." He is honored to be making his Weill Hall at Carnegie Hall debut with dear friend and pianist, Catherine Venable. With whom he has collaborated on several occasions performing recitals and concerts throughout the United States.

He is a native of Michigan and attended Manhattan School of Music as well as Temple University. A part-time real estate investor, small business owner, and avid Star Wars fan, he makes his home in Canaan, New York with the three most important women in his life: his wife and two daughters.