Photo by Dylan M. Austin
Seattle-based lyric baritone Darrell J. Jordan has been praised for his “shining, beautiful voice” (Broadway World), his "expressive baritone and facial expressions" (The SunBreak), and has been called “the star of the show” (Columbia Heart Beat). He holds a B.A. in both Psychology and Music and a M.M. in Voice Performance from the University of Missouri, and a D.M.A. in Voice Performance from the University of Washington. He currently studies with nationally renowned voice teacher, Dr. Kari Ragan. Previous instruction has been from Steven Tharp and Ann Harrell. Before matriculating at the University of Washington, Dr. Jordan served on the faculty at the University of Missouri, the Swinney Conservatory of Music (Central Methodist University), Columbia College, and Stephens College, where he taught a full private voice studio, voice class, and separate Italian, German, English, and French lyric diction classes. His students have gone on to win or place in competitions such as NATS and The American Prize.
In demand as a recitalist and concert soloist, his recent solo concert engagements have been with Amherst Early Music Festival, the Odyssey Chamber Music Series, Rolla Choral Arts Society, Choral Arts Alliance of Missouri, the Missouri Symphony, the Southside Philharmonic Orchestra, the Toledo Symphony, Thalia Symphony, Olympia Chamber Orchestra, ARTEK, and the Seattle Art Song Society. Dr. Jordan has performed almost 40 roles, some favorites being: Papageno (Die Zauberflöte), Dandini (La Cenerentola), Guglielmo (Così fan tutte), Count Almaviva (Le nozze di Figaro), Dr. Falke (Die Fledermaus), Ignacio (Lucrezia), Count Gil (Il segreto di Susanna), Bunthorne (Patience), and Morales (Carmen), Harlequin (Ariadne Auf Naxos), and Belcore (L’elisir d’amore). An advocate for music by American composers, Dr. Jordan is a two time recipient of the Ernst Bacon Award for American Music. Additionally, he has premiered a number of new operas with Seattle Opera (August in Everything After and Beau in Chop Chop) and Opera America (Mark in you do not recognize the bodies in the water), and gave the West Coast premiere of Frida Kahlo and the Bravest Girl in the World with Seattle Opera singing the roles of Diego/Bonito/Eduardo. In 2026, he will sing the demanding role of Joseph De Rocher in Dead Man Walking with Tacoma Opera by American composer, Jake Heggie.
Opera credits include Opera West, Tacoma Opera, Wilmington Concert Opera, Music On Site, Inc., St. Louis Opera Collective, Haymarket Opera Company, Gateway Opera, the Institute for 17th Century Music, the Show-Me Opera, Lawrence Opera Theatre, the Puget Sound Concert Opera, Northwest Opera In Schools Touring Company, Operamuse, Seattle Modern Opera Company, Pacific Northwest Opera, the Gilbert & Sullivan Society of Seattle, Opera on Tap, OperaBend, Vashon Opera, Landlocked Opera, Engage Opera, Barn Opera, Vermont Opera, and Seattle Opera.
He can be heard as the baritone soloist on the album St. Lawrence Psalter, and on the two upcoming albums being released by the Seattle Art Song Society. He is a member and co-artistic director of the nationally recognized, award-winning professional vocal chamber ensemble, Vox Nova. He is currently under management with Vocal Artist Management Services.