RESUME 

Hailed as a “powerhouse” by the Post and Courier, Edward Brennan is an American Tenor known for his “fierce” interpretations and “baritonal” vocal quality.  He is establishing himself in the world of opera as one of the next generations fully dramatic singers. Making debuts as Canio, Turridu, and Lohengrin in the last two years.

 

Since his professional debut with The Utah Festival Opera in 2017, Edward has actively performed with companies like Opera MODO in Detroit, Michigan, The Cedar Rapids Opera Theater in Cedar Rapids, Iowa and Charleston Opera Theater in Charleston, South Carolina. Edward has been recognized in competitions across the country including the Gerda Lissner Foundation Competition, the Nicholas Zachary Competition, the Michael Ballam International Opera Competition, as well as the Nicholas Loren Vocal Competition sponsored by the Holland Chorale. He has been a celebrated soloist with orchestras including The Charleston Symphony Orchestra, Sinfonia da Camera, Sinfonietta bel Canto, The Danville Symphony Orchestra, and the Blackburn College Orchestra and Chorale. 

 

Edward proudly graduated from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. While a student at U of I, he was an active member in the Lyric Theater @ Illinois program studying with Metropolitan Opera singers including Jerold Siena and Nathan Gunn. Making appearances in most productions over his years there, the most memorable may have been his portrayal of Danilo in The Merry Widow, or Rapunzel’s Prince in Into the Woods. In 2018, Edward returned to Champaign to perform as a soloist with the Sinfonia de Camera alongside Nathan Gunn and Dawn Harris in a celebrated production of Gilbert and Sullivan’s The Pirates of Penzance. 

 

In 2019, Edward joined The Institute for Young Dramatic Voices, a training program that specializes in the cultivation of dramatic voices from around the world.  While there, he studied with international superstar, Mezzo-Soprano, Dolora Zajick and music staff from the Deutche Oper in Berlin and La Scala in Milan.

 

Originally from New Lenox, Illinois; Edward moved to Charleston, South Carolina in 2020 to be closer to his mentor and teacher Harold Meers. After relocating to South Carolina, he joined the staff of Charleston Opera Theater where he is now the Director of Development and Operations.  He is humbled to be part of the team bringing opera to the community with a focus on the heart and soul of the art form.