Keith Brautigam

Biography

In addition to the biographical information listed below, you may learn more about Dr. Brautigam at his professional website: www.keithbrautigam.com.

A national and international performer and pedagogue, Dr. Keith Brautigam's credits range from numerous performances on the concert and opera stage to utilizing his expertise in vocal training at universities, choral organizations, and opera apprenticeship programs throughout the USA and abroad.

As an oratorio and concert soloist, Dr. Brautigam made his Cleveland Orchestra debut singing the baritone solo in Orff's Carmina Burana under the direction of Robert Porco, and later returned as the baritone soloist in Georg Frideric Handel's Israel in Egypt. Other credits include numerous performances of G.F. Handel's Messiah, Felix Mendelssohn's Elijah, Haydn's Creation, and the Fauré Requiem with such organizations as the Calvin Oratorio Society, the Grand Rapids Symphony, the Bel Canto Chorus of Milwaukee, the Michigan City Choral Society, the historical Moody Church in Chicago, and Christ Memorial Church in Holland, Michigan; Johannes Brahms' Ein Deutches Requiem and J.S. Bach's Coffee Cantata (BWV 211) with the Grand Rapids Symphony; the Bloch Sacred Service and the Fauré Requiem with the Marion Philharmonic; Ravel's Chanson Madecasses with the Chicago Ensemble; and regular performances with the Baldwin-Wallace Bach Festival and the Fort Wayne Bach Society, both through which he has specialized in singing the role of Christus in all of the Bach Passions.

Dr. Brautigam's opera engagements include Germont in La Traviata with Chautauqua Opera; Schaunard in La Boheme and the Sergeant of Police in Pirates of Penzance with Cleveland Opera; Papageno in Die Zauberflöte and Father Capulet in Roméo et Juliette with Opera Grand Rapids; Tonio in I Pagliacci with Skylight Opera Theatre of Milwaukee; Pantalone in Mozart's "new" opera, The Jewel Box, with Chicago Opera Theater; as well as performances with other companies throughout the USA.

As a recitalist and pedagogue, highlights include a residency as a guest vocal instructor at the Northwestern University School of Music in Evanston, Illinois; regular summer appearances with the Michigan City Chamber Music Festival performing such works as Schubert's Die Winterreise and Schumann's Dichterliebe; weekly voice workshops with the Grand Rapids Symphony Chorus and the Calvin Alumni Choir; and appearances at the Festival International de Musica de Buenos Aires - performing both at the famous Teatro Colon and the Salon Dorado of the Casa de la Cultura, where he has been regularly invited to the renowned Colon Instituto of the Teatro Colon to conduct master-classes in their opera apprenticeship program.

Dr. Brautigam earned his Bachelor of Music degree from Grand Rapids Baptist College, and Master and Doctor of Music degrees in vocal performance from the Indiana University School of Music in Bloomington, Indiana. He is a full professor in his third year on the faculty of Indiana Wesleyan University. Previously, he served on the faculties of Calvin College in Grand Rapids, Michigan; the Baldwin-Wallace College Conservatory of Music in Berea, Ohio, where he served as chair of the voice department; Moody Bible Institute in Chicago; and Huntington College in Huntington, Indiana. 

Work History 

• Indiana Wesleyan University, 2009-present, Professor of Voice 
• Calvin College, Grand Rapids, Michigan, 2003-2009, Tenured Professor of Voice 
• Baldwin-Wallace College Conservatory of Music, 1997-2003, Tenured Professor of Voice, Chair of Voice Department 
• Moody Bible Institute, 1993-1997, Associate Professor of Voice 
• Huntington University, 1989-1993, Associate Professor of Voice 

Achievements

• Numerous lead roles and solo performances with opera companies, orchestras, and choral organizations, including:  Cleveland Orchestra, Cleveland Opera, Chautauqua Opera, Opera Grand Rapids, Chicago Ensemble, Kentucky Opera, Calvin Oratorio Society, Grand Rapids Symphony, Fort Wayne Philharmonic, Chicago Opera Theater, Moody Church, Salon Dorado-Buenos Aires, and many others. 
• Guest instructor at the Instituto of the Teatro Colon, Buenos Aires, Argentina; Northwestern University 
• Students have won numerous awards and gone on to perform with the Metropolitan Opera, Royal Opera House, New York City Opera, Opera Montreal, Vancouver Symphony Orchestra, Caramoor Music Festival, Norwegian National Opera, Semper Opera-Dresden, Cleveland Opera, Boston Pops Symphony, Michigan Opera Theater, Regina Opera, DiCapo Opera, Opera Theatre of St. Louis, Liederkranz Foundation, National Lyric Opera, and many others. 
• Founder and president of Vocal Masterclassics, LLC  (www.vocalmasterclassics.com) 

Performance excerpts

Degrees

• D.M. - Vocal Performance
  1987, Indiana University Jacobs School of Music
• M.M. - Vocal Performance
  1982, Indiana University Jacobs School of Music
• B.M.
  1979, Grand Rapids Baptist College