Jacob Lassetter

With his powerful voice and commanding stage presence, baritone Jacob Lassetter is quickly establishing himself on the operatic and concert stage. Critics have praised his dignified characterizations, his soaring high range, and his deep, rich tone quality.

In the spring of 2013 Dr. Lassetter reprises his critically acclaimed interpretation of the baritone solos in Orff’s Carmina Burana with both Ottumwa Symphony Orchestra and Grinnell Symphony Orchestra. Later in the spring he will debut as baritone soloist in Walton’s Belshazzar’s Feast at Luther College. In 2012 Dr. Lassetter sang his signature role of Germont in La Traviata with Opera Theatre of the Rockies. He most recently sang Germont in the summer of 2010 at Music by the Lake, and the role served as his Italian debut at the Teatro Accademico in Castelfranco Veneto. Later in 2012 he returned to Peninsula Music Festival as baritone soloist in Beethoven’s Symphony no. 9, and to the Rochester Choral Arts Ensemble as baritone soloist in Hadyn’s Lord Nelson Mass. In 2011 he was baritone soloist in Orff’s Carmina Burana with the Rochester Choral Arts Ensemble, as well as the Chicago Bar Association Symphony Orchestra at Orchestra Hall in Chicago, where he also performed Fauré’s Requiem with Manhattan Concert Productions. Additional performances in 2011 included Verdi’s Requiem with the Peninsula Music Festival and Mozart’s Requiem with Coe College.

Dr. Lassetter’s operatic repertoire includes the title of roles in Mozart’s Don Giovanni and Le Nozze di Figaro, Enrico in Lucia di Lammermoor, Don Alfonso in Cosi fan tutte, and Griswold in Dominick Argento’s The Voyage of Edgar Allan Poe. His concert credits include Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9, Handel’s Messiah, and Bach’s St. John Passion and St. Matthew Passion. In 2008, he made his debut at New York City’s Carnegie Hall performing with his wife, soprano Karen Kanakis.

Dr. Lassetter was recently named a Semi-finalist in the Marguerite McCammon Voice Competition. He was a Regional Finalist in the National Association of Teachers of Singing Artist Award Competition, and received the Encouragement Award from the Southern Ohio District of The Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions. He is an alumnus of the Young Artist Programs of Chautauqua Opera, Des Moines Metro Opera,and Utah Festival Opera.

Dr. Lassetter holds a Bachelor of Music degree, magna cum laude, from Louisiana State University, the Master of Music degree from The University of North Texas, and the Doctor of Musical Arts from the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music. This summer he will return to the voice faculty of Lutheran Summer Music for his second consecutive season. Before joining the voice faculty at Luther College in 2006, he held teaching assistantships at The University of North Texas and The University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music.