Class of 2007, Music Performance, Voice

Hailing from Crestwood, Kentucky, a small town outside of Louisville, Jacob has landed roles in operas with several performance companies including the Operatic Young Artist Programs with Indianapolis Opera, St. Petersburg Opera Company, the Crested Butte Music Festival, Music by the Lake at Aurora University, Columbus Opera, the Lexington Opera Society, Kentucky Opera, and the Martina Arroyo Foundation. Jacob has seen stage time in Dido & Aeneas, The Begger's Opera, Tartuffe, Amahl and the Night Visitors, Le nozze di Figaro, Don Giovanni, Die Fledermaus, La Bohéme, Fidelio, La Fanciulla del West, The Magic Flute, and more recently, in Kentucky Opera's production of Showboat and Indianapolis Opera's production of Il barbiere di Siviglia, to name a few. Jacob has held titled roles in performances consecutively for the last three years.

Jacob experienced his first paid job as an operatic performer as a senior at the University of Evansville. Participating in a production of Die Fledermaus with the St. Petersburg Opera Company in St. Petersburg, Florida, alongside his applied teacher from UE, Jacob was offered the role of an understudy. During rehearsals, Jacob was called to step in and perform the role as the cast member was suddenly unable to perform. As Jacob already proved his abilities on stage at the University of Evansville, Jacob's applied teacher was able to attest to his skill level to the artistic staff, and the company asked him to take the role. In working closely with his applied voice teacher, Jacob feels, “The University of Evansville provided me the chance to test myself and my skills in a controlled environment so as to focus on skills that I needed to further develop. The faculty at the University of Evansville also provided opportunities to use my skills beyond the University and begin building experience in the working world.”

Jacob states that his ability to faithfully execute the composer's intentions in the score, and to closely follow stage directions greatly affect his ability to be hired and remain competitive in this field. He attributes these skills along with his strong and disciplined foundation in opera performing arts to his time at the University of Evansville.