Faculty

Gary Glaze is a professor emeritus of vocal arts at the USC Thornton School of Music.

Gary Glaze, tenor, gained the attention of the music world during his 14 seasons with the New York City Opera at Lincoln Center, the Los Angeles Music Center and the Kennedy Center, in addition to regular concert appearances at Carnegie Hall, Avery Fisher Hall, Alice Tully Hall, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, Town Hall and the Caramoor Festival. After performing in the Metropolitan Opera parks series as Don Ottavio in Don Giovanni, he joined the Met roster and was engaged by opera companies across America. Of his acclaimed European debut as Count Almaviva in Rossini’s Il Barbiere di Siviglia with the Netherlands Opera, Het Parool wrote of him: “A discovery of importance; an agile lyric tenor with the silken-like brilliance of the pure bel-canto.” Re-engagements in Amsterdam followed, along with successful performances at the Prague State Opera as Tamino and as Tom Rakewell at the Teatro Colon in Buenos Aires.

Well-known for his stylish singing, Glaze has been heard on NPR and PBS broadcasts from Tully Hall at Lincoln Center. He performed with the New York Philharmonic under Leonard Bernstein, the Minnesota Orchestra under Scrowaczewski and Leppard, and with Arthur Fiedler in his famous pops concerts. In demand as a concert artist, Glaze has sung with orchestras and choral societies throughout the U.S., highlighted by performances under Sir David Willcocks in Bach’s St. Matthew Passion and title roles in Britten’s St. Nicolas and Elgar’s Dream of Gerontius. Chamber music collaborations are a particular love of Glaze’s, with performances at the Marlboro, Newport, Luzerne, San Luis Obispo and Mohawk Trails music festivals, as well as at the Library of Congress.

As a professor emeritus of vocal arts and opera at the USC Thornton School of Music, Glaze is known as a devoted teacher and mentor. During the 2013-14 season, his former USC students performed at the Metropolitan Opera, the New York City Opera and the Santa Fe Opera. Others have pursued significant careers throughout the U.S. and in major opera houses in Milan, Berlin, London, Rome and Copenhagen. Many have taken top honors in the Metropolitan Opera National Council auditions, Placido Domingo’s Operalia, the Zachery Competition, the World Music Masters Competition and NATS competitions.

Born in Pittsburgh, Glaze joined the Thornton faculty in 1992 and served as the chair of the vocal arts department and opera program for four three-year terms. As a compliment to his teaching, Glaze has acted as adjudicator for the Metropolitan National Council auditions, Bel Canto auditions and Zachary Society and Liszt competitions. He has given master classes in cities across America and in Guadalajara (Mexico), Beijing (China), Hvar (Croatia), Viterbo (Italy), and Qualicum, Vancouver Island British Columbia in Canada.

Career Highlights:

• New York City Opera, Lincoln Center, New York
• Netherlands Opera, Staddschouwburg, Amsterdam
• Teatro Colon Opera, Buenos Aires, Argentina
• Santa Fe Opera, New Mexico
• Minnesota Orchestra, Orchestra Hall, Minneapolis
• Clarion Music Society, Alice Tully Hall at Lincoln Center, New York, NPR broadcasts

Honors, Awards & Competitions:

Awards from:

• The Martha Baird Rockefeller Foundation
• The Kathryn Long Trust of the Metropolitan Opera
• Corbett Foundation Fellowship
• William Matheus Sullivan Foundation

Other recognition:

• The Loren L. Zachary Society for Performing Arts, Artistic Merit: Performer-Teacher
• USC Thornton School of Music Awards: Excellence in Service; Excellence in Teaching.
• Who’s Who in Opera, 1st Edition, Maria Rich, editor (unsolicited)
• The American Music Handbook, The Free Press, (unsolicited)
• Outstanding Young Artist Award, Musical America/Hi-Fidelity Magazine
• Outstanding Alumnus Award, Dana School of Music, Youngstown State University

Music Festivals:

• Mostly Mozart Festival, Lincoln Center, New York
• Marlboro Music Festival, Vermont
• Newport Music Festival, Rhode Island
• Luzerne Chamber Music Festival, New York
• San Luis Obispo Mozart Festival, California

Research Interests:

• American art song

Publications:

• Opera America, Perspectives: Audition Advice for Singers, Washington DC, ongoing publication.
• Opera America, Perspectives: The Singer Manager Relationship, Washington DC, ongoing publication
• Music Teachers’National Association, American Music Teacher, Book Reviews

Other academic experience:

• Director, Bay View Music Festival and Conservatory, 1995-2000
• Artist in Residence, State University of New York, Stony Brook, 1981-1992
• Associate Professor, University of Rhode Island, 1989-1992
• Artistic Director, Berkshire Opera Company, 1985-1990
• Affiliate Faculties: Temple University, Princeton University, Hofstra University, 1981-1985
• Affiiliate Artists, Inc. (New York), Sears-Roebuck Foundation Residencies: Stetson University, Arizona State University, Kansas Corsortium of Private Colleges, Santa Barbara Arts Council, 1975-1981.

Studied with:

• Margaret Harshaw, Metropolitan Opera, Indiana University
• Ralph Herbert, Metropolitan Opera, University of Michigan
• Cornelius Reid, Vocal Pedagogue and Author, New York City