Quinn Kelsey began in opera in 1991 as a chorus member with the Hawaii Opera Theatre. For the Hawaii native, the last 30 years have taken him many places and have put him on many different stages in the U.S. and abroad.

The baritone holds a Bachelor's of Music degree in Performance from the University of Hawai'i at Mānoa.

Kelsey’s list of programs and study include the Chautauqua Institute with Marlena Malas, San Francisco’s Merola Opera Program under Sherri Greenwald and Mark Morash, and three years at Chicago’s Lyric Opera Center for American Artists, now known as the Ryan Opera Center. And for two seasons, Kelsey was accepted to the roster of the Marilyn Horne Foundation.

This past spring, Kelsey debuted the lead in Verdi's MACBETH with the Canadian Opera Company with sopranos Alexandrina Pendatchanska and Tracy Cantin, tenor Matthew Cairns, and bass Önay Köse, conducted by Speranza Scappucci. The 22/23 season ended with a return to the Met for LA BOHÈME.

In mid June, the baritone made his long-awaited debut as the baritone soloist in Brahms' EIN DEUTSCHES REQUIEM with soprano Lisette Oropesa, conductor Yannick Nézet-Séguin and the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra.

The 23/24 season begins promptly at Opera Philadelphia with another Verdi debut. Kelsey welcomes SIMON BOCCANEGRA to his repertoire with performances in late September, joined by soprano Ana María Martínez, tenor Richard Trey Smagur, and bass-baritone Christian Van Horn, with Corrado Rovaris at the podium.

On the heels of SIMON, the baritone will add yet another new Verdi to the list. Performances of UN BALLO IN MASCHERA at the Metropolitan Opera commence in late October and run until late November. Kelsey joins soprano Angela Meade, mezzo-soprano Olesya Petrova, and tenor Charles Castronovo in his role debut! Carlo Rizzi conducts the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra.

The Kelsey clan will be in Europe starting in late November, and on through the holidays until early March of 2024. First, a house debut with the Teatro Real - Madrid in a new production of RIGOLETTO. Production is triple casted. See website for specific performance dates. Kelsey's cast includes soprano Ruth Iniesta, tenor John Osborn, and bass Andrea Mastroni. Friend and mentor Nicola Luisotti conducts.

In the new year 2024, the baritone will make yet another role debut, this time as Filippo Visconti in Bellini's BEATRICE DI TENDA with the Opéra National de Paris. Cast includes soprano Tamara Wilson, mezzo-soprano Natalia Kutateladze, and tenor brothers Pene and Amitai Pati. Mark Wigglesworth conducts the Peter Sellars production. Kelsey is excited to finally return to Paris after a seven year hiatus since RIGOLETTO in 2016. The baritone made the decision to cancel contracts for IL TROVATORE and LUCIA DI LAMMERMOOR the beginning of this year to celebrate the birth of his daughter, Leonora.

Please! ALL of you, continue to protect yourself, your family and loved ones, and others until we've completely put Covid-19 behind us!