Remembering Gary Glaze

Text adapted from the New York Times Obituary for Gary Glaze, originally posted on Jan. 11, 2026.

Gary Glaze, USC Thornton Professor Emeritus of Vocal Arts, died on January 5, 2026, surrounded by his family and caretakers in Essex, CT. He was 87. An internationally-renowned tenor of opera, oratorio and concerts, Glaze performed over 14 seasons with the New York City Opera at Lincoln Center, the Kennedy Center and the Los Angeles Music Center. His success included starring as Don Ottavio in Don Giovanni with the Metropolitan Opera. For 24 years, Gary Glaze served as professor of Vocal Arts at USC Thornton, retiring in 2016 as Professor Emeritus of Vocal Arts.

The son of Thelma and Harry Glaze, Gary is survived by his wife Cynthia Munzer, brothers Harry and James Glaze, sister-in-law Jan Glaze, step-daughter Christina Munzer, son-in-law Grant Milthorpe and grandsons, Rhys and Ciaran, nephews Brian Glaze and Michael Tacchella, and nieces Amy Glaze Hedayatpour, Kim Tacchella Hapner, and Laurie Tacchella.