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Douglas Renfroe is a nationally acclaimed bass baritone
who made his Lincoln Center debut in Schumann’s
Paradise and Peri and his Carnegie Hall debut in
Orff’s Carmina Burana. He has specialized in
oratorio works and has performed throughout the United
States and Europe the Beethoven Ninth Symphony,
Brahms’ Requiem, Mendelssohn’s Elijah and
Haydn’s Lord Nelson Mass. Conductors with whom he
has sung include Leopold Stokowski, Leonard Bernstein
and Loren Maezel.
Critics in Austria have said: “Douglas Renfroe’s virile
bass, remarkably lyrical in the upper register, was
equally rich in the dark deeps of the low sustained
tones.” Regarding his theatre works, as Tevye it has
been said: “Mr. Renfroe owns the role of Tevye. His rich
vocal line is only matched by the warmth he displays as
the father. He acts as if he talks to God on a regular
basis.”
Dr.
Renfroe has appeared at the Washington Opera with
Placido Domingo, the Boston Opera directed by Sarah
Caldwell, and has been a concert recitalist under
Columbia Artist Management. From 1970-1974, he was the
Director and Bass Soloist with the U.S. Navy Sea
Chanters in Washington, D.C. In 2003, he made his
Edinburgh Music Festival debut. He has been featured as
soloist in several recordings with various symphonies
throughout the world in addition to a solo recording of
German lieder. In 2006 he returned to Bulgaria and
Israel performing the Verdi Requiem and portrayed
Tevye in Fiddler On the Roof. He returned to the
Varna International Music Festival in 2007 and sang
Elijah, prior to returning to Scotland for his fifth
concert tour. In 2009 he presented his ninth European
concert tour.
As a
conductor, he has created two Equity Theatre companies,
the Concord Symphony Orchestra and was Artistic Director
of the Lakes Region Symphony. He was responsible for the
Summer Pops programs while with the U. S. Navy Band, and
has appeared as a guest conductor at the Varna
International Music Festival prior to his performing as
a vocal soloist, New Hampshire Music Festival and has
served as an adjudicator for various orchestral and
chamber festivals. In 2010, he was appointed as Artistic
Director of the Voices of Naples, an auditioned
choral ensemble in Naples, FL.
Presently living in Ft. Myers, FL, he has been the
Cantor and Music Director at Temple Bat Yam on Sanibel
Island since 2001, Music Director at Beach United
Methodist Church on Ft. Myers Beach, FL, served as
Artistic Director of Moorings Capital Opera in Naples,
Florida, and was Adjunct Professor and Director of
Choral and Vocal Activities at Edison College. He is in
demand as a soloist throughout the United States and is
listed in the 1980 edition of Outstanding Young Men
in America and the 2004 edition of Who’s Who in
America for his outstanding achievements in the
performing arts. In 2004, he received an Honorary
Doctorate from University of California. |
DOUGLAS
RENFROE
