Javier Gonzalez Tenor

Javier Gonzalez is a native of Southern California.   He is recognized for the “precision and soaring beauty of his tone,” according to organist Mark Willey of the Spencerville Evensong Series in Washington DC. He has been described by music critic and composer Daniel S. Crafts as a “…bold arresting tenor… with a shining lyricism.” He has studied under such singers as Medea Namoradze-Ruhadze, noted Georgian soprano, and under Professor Leslie Umphrey at the University of New Mexico. Mr. Gonzalez has performed in concert and opera productions playing the roles of Javier in Luisa Fernanda, Tamino in Die Zauberflöte,Canio in I’Pagliacci, Pinkerton in Madama Butterfly, Don Jose in Bizet’s Carmen, Edgar in Puccini’s Edgar, Roberto in Puccini’s Le Villi, and Opera Southwest's revival debut of Franco Faccio's Amleto playing the role of Laerte.  He has performed with world-renowned tenor Placido Domingo on the Kennedy Center opera stage and has also performed on the stage of Carnegie Hall in New York City under the baton of world-renowned composer John Rutter.  He has also appeared with the Alexandria Symphony, New England Symphonic Ensemble, Symphony Irvine and New Mexico Philharmonic. He has performed as a guest soloist with the Desert Chorale of Santa Fe and with Polyphony: Voices of New Mexico. 

Mr. Gonzalez has been a recipient of the first place prize in the Barry Alexander International Vocal Competition in New York City, was a finalist in the Domingo-Cafritz Young Artist competition and first place winner of the UNM concerto competition and the regional NATS competition of New Mexico.  Mr. Gonzalez has also appeared in several oratorio works on the international stage, performing Requiem by Verdi, Requiem by Mozart, Requiem by Lloyd Webber, Lord Nelson Mass by Haydn, Magnificat by Pergolessi, Misa Criolla by Ramirez, Messiah by Handel, Messa Di Gloria by Puccini, just to name a few, on such stages as Dvorak Hall in Prague, Ely Cathedral in Cambridge, St. George’s Chapel at Windsor Castle, the renowned Alba Music Festival in Italy, National Cathedral in Washington DC, St. Francis Basilica and Loretto Chapel in Santa Fe, New Mexico and Popejoy Hall in Albuquerque, New Mexico.  He also sang the role of John the beloved apostle on the stage of Carnegie Hall in the world premiere of the acclaimed operatic tableau, Oh My Son, by young Spanish composer, Marcos Galvany. 

For ten years, he served as the assistant choral director of the Georgetown Presbyterian Chorale in Washington DC and has also been a guest choral and vocal clinician for the Vocal Arts Society of Washington.  He also served as voice teacher for the Spencerville Academy in Silver Spring, Maryland for 8 years.  Gonzalez holds a Masters degree in vocal performance and choral conducting from the University of New Mexico and served on the voice faculty at UNM as recipient of the UNM vocal assistantship award.  Over the last 6 years, Gonzalez organized and launched the La Sierra Summer Vocal Institute for singers in collaboration with the Montecito International Music Festival which seeks to empower and educate young musicians and vocalists.  He is also the founder and chair of Live For 1, Inc., a non-profit organization using the performing arts to engage communities in humanitarian causes such as the current refugee crisis in the Middle-East.  He has been an adjunct professor of voice at La Sierra University in Riverside, California and currently teaches at California State University and is recently become part of the music faculty at Weimar University, near Lake Tahoe, CA.