Matthew Plenk, tenor
Associate Professor of Voice
Artistic Director Lamont Opera Theatre
University of Denver
Lamont School of Music
2344 E Iliff Ave
Denver, CO 80210
Matthewplenk.us
Education
Artist Diploma, Yale University, New Haven, CT – 2007
Voice Performance – Emphasis; Opera
MM, Yale University, New Haven, CT – 2006
Voice Performance – Emphasis; Opera
BM Cum Laude, University of Hartford; Hartt School of Music – 2004
Voice Performance
Professional Training
Lindemann Young Artist Development Program, Metropolitan Opera – 2007 – 2010
James Levine, Music Director; Brian Zeger, Executive Director
Specialized training in music, language, dramatic coaching, and movement from the Met’s artistic staff and invited master teachers; Scotto, Allen, Te Kanawa, Hampson, van Dam, Hagegård, Grist, Valente, Soviero, Polenzani, Beczala, Fisher, Wadsworth. Monthly masterclasses with James Levine. Role assignments in Met productions. Role study, annual song recitals and patron concerts.
Samling Scholar Masterclass, Newcastle, Cumbria, UK, – 2008
Karon Wright, Founding Artistic and Executive Director
International workshop with an emphasis on song repertoire and individual artistry. Studied with Malcolm Martineau, Paul Farrington, and Amanda Roocroft.
Current Position
Associate Professor of Voice – 2015 – Present
Artistic Director of Opera
University of Denver; Lamont School of Music
Denver, CO
Duties include teaching Applied Voice for the following degrees: Artist Diploma, Performer’s Certificate, Master of Music, Bachelor of Music and Bachelor of Arts. Coach singers and pianists on various styles of vocal music. Teach undergraduate courses on diction. Direct productions for Lamont Opera Theatre. Perform various solo recitals and Lamont Symphony Orchestra concerts. Recruiting duties have included an audition trip to Interlochen to hear and record auditions. Serve on Faculty Senate, Curriculum, Recital Board, Graduate Academic Review, and Master of Music Oral Examination Committees Teaching Evaluation Task Force.
Other Teaching Positions
Private Voice Teacher 2003 – Present
Various locations, USA
Teach voice lessons to students of varying degrees of proficiency and ability. Addressing voice technique, sight singing, basic music theory and language.
Denver, CO, Hartford, CT, New Haven, CT, Portland, OR, New York, NY
Voice Teaching Assistant 2004 – 2007
Yale University; Yale School of Music
New Haven, CT
Teaching voice lessons to undergraduate voice majors and non majors.
Serve on Voice Juries Committee.
Student Accomplishments
Master of Music Candidate – Peabody Conservatory at Johns Hopkins 2020
Participant – Song Studio at Carnegie Hall w/ Renee Fleming 2020
Participant – Aspen Music Festival and School + 2020
Masters Candidate – University of Michigan 2020
Participant – Orvieto Musica 2019
Participant – Music Academy International 2018
Participant – Dramatic Voices Program Berlin 2019
Master of Musical Arts Candidate – Yale University 2019
1st Place Winner – Denver Lyric Opera Guild Competition 2019
Emerging Artist – Virginia Opera Emerging Artist Program 2018
Soloist – Boulder Philharmonic 2017
Soloist – Opera in the Ozarks 2016
Master of Music – Mannes School of Music 2020
Magda, La Rondine, Chicago Summer Opera 2019
Participant – Miami Music Festival 2018
Soloist – Lamont Chorale – Chichester Psalms 2018
Doctor of Musical Arts Candidate – University of Miami 2020
Assistant to the Director, Lamont Summer Academy 2018
Performance Experience
Opera
Central City Opera Central City, CO 2022
Strauss, Die Fledermaus, Alfred
Lamont Opera Theatre Denver, CO 2019
Puccini, Il Trittico, Luigi
RAI Torino Torino, ITALY 2018
Wagner, Der Fliegende Holländer, Steuermann
The Cleveland Orchestra Cleveland, OH 2018
Wagner, Tristan und Isolde, Young Sailor/Shepherd
Central City Opera Central City, CO 2017
Mozart, Cosi fan tutte, Ferrando
Opera Theatre of St. Louis St. Louis, MO 2016
Verdi, Macbeth, Macduff
Lyric Opera of Kansas City Kansas City, MO 2015
Mozart, Don Giovanni, Don Ottavio
Chicago Symphony Orchestra; Ravinia Festival Highland Park, IL 2015
Wagner, Der fliegender Holländer, Steuermann
The Metropolitan Opera New York, NY 2014 – 2015
Donizetti, Lucia di Lammermoor, Arturo
Mozart, Don Giovanni, Don Ottavio – cover
Wagner, Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg, David – cover
Mozart, Die Zauberflöte, Tamino – cover
The Metropolitan Opera New York, NY 2013 – 2014
Mozart, The Magic Flute, Tamino
Mozart, Cosi fan tutte, Ferrando – cover
Virginia Opera Norfolk, Fairfax, VA 2013
Mozart, The Magic Flute, Tamino
Opera Theatre of St. Louis St. Louis, MO 2013
Gilbert & Sullivan, The Pirates of Penzance, Frederick
Los Angeles Opera Los Angeles, CA 2013
Wagner, Der fliegende Holländer, Steuermann
The Metropolitan Opera New York, NY 2012 – 2013
Ades, The Tempest, Antonio – cover
Berlioz, Les Troyens, Hélas – cover
Des Moines Metro Opera Indianola, IA 2013
Mozart, Don Giovanni, Don Ottavio
The Metropolitan Opera New York, NY 2011 – 2012
Janačeck, Makropolus Case, Janek
New York City Ballet New York, NY 2012
Weill, The Seven Deadly Sins
Virginia Opera Norfolk, Fairfax, VA 2012
Gilbert & Sullivan, The Mikado, Nanki-Poo
Lyric Opera of Kansas City Kansas City, MO 2011
Mozart, Cosi fan tutte, Ferrando
The Metropolitan Opera Japan Tour Tokyo, Nagoya, JAPAN 2011
Donizetti, Lucia di Lamermoor, Arturo
The Metropolitan Opera New York, NY 2010 – 2011
Donizetti, Lucia di Lammermoor, Arturo
Atlanta Opera Atlanta, GA 2011
Mozart, Cosi fan tutte, Ferrando
Castleton Festival Castleton, VA 2010
Puccini, Gianni Schicchi, Rinuccio
The Metropolitan Opera New York, NY 2009 – 2010
Thomas, Hamlet, Marcellus
Puccini, Il Trittico, Song Seller
Strauss, Der Rosenkavalier, Italian Tenor – cover
Boston Lyric Opera Boston, MA 2009
Mozart, Don Giovanni, Don Ottavio
The Metropolitan Opera New York, NY 2008 – 2009
Wagner, Tristan und Isolde, Sailor’s Voice
Strauss, Der Rosenkavalier, Italian Tenor – cover
The Metropolitan Opera New York, NY 2007 – 2008
Wagner, Tristan und Isolde, Sailor’s Voice
Yale Opera New Haven, CT 2004 – 2007
Puccini, La Boheme, Rodolfo
Puccini, Gianni Schicchi, Rinuncio
Janačeck, Kat’a Kabanova, Kurdjaš
Britten, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Flute
Poulenc, Les Mamelles de Tiresias, Lacouf
Concert
Colorado Symphony Denver, CO 2022
Bruckner: Te Deum
Beethoven, 9th Symphony
Denver Philharmonic Orchestra Denver, CO 2021
Donizetti, Love Potion no.9 – selections from L’elisir d’amore
Rogue Valley Symphony** Medford, OR 2021
Hemenger, Ozymandias – World Premiere
Boulder Philharmonic Boulder, CO 2020
Hemenger, Ozymandias (performance postponed)
The Cleveland Orchestra Cleveland, OH 2020
Mozart, Requiem (performance postponed)
The Cleveland Orchestra Cleveland, OH 2020
Beethoven, 9th Symphony (performance postponed)
Denver Philharmonic Orchestra Denver, CO 2020
Beethoven, 9th Symphony, Choral Fantasy (performance postponed)
Rogue Valley Symphony Medford, OR 2020
Hemenger, Ozymandias – World Premiere (performance postponed)
Eugene Concert Choir Eugene, OR 2020
Beethoven, 9th Symphony, Choral Fantasy
Denver Philharmonic Orchestra Denver, CO 2019
Mozart, Requiem
The Cleveland Orchestra Cleveland, OH 2019
Schubert; Mass in Eb
Denver Philharmonic Orchestra Denver, CO 2019
Mozart, Mass in C minor
Hradec Kralove Philharmonic Prague, CZ 2018
Filas, Requiem; Oratio Spei
Hradec Kralove Philharmonic Hradec Kralove, CZ 2018
Filas, Requiem; Oratio Spei
The Cleveland Orchestra Cleveland, OH 2018
Orff, Carmina Burana
Eugene Concert Choir Eugene, OR 2018
Mozart, Grand Mass in C minor & Verdi Arias/ Ensembles
Eugene Symphony Orchestra Eugene, OR 2017
Berlioz, La Damnation de Faust, Faust
University Music Society Ann Arbor, MI 2017
Beethoven, Missa Solemnis
Colorado Symphony Orchestra Denver, CO 2016
Handel, The Messiah
Baltimore Symphony Orchestra Baltimore, MD 2016
Orff, Carmina Burana
Aspen Music Festival and School Aspen, CO 2016
Orff, Carmina Burana
Houston Symphony Orchestra Houston, TX 2015
Handel, The Messiah
Minnesota Orchestra Minneapolis, MN 2015
Handel, The Messiah
University Music Society Ann Arbor, MI 2015
Handel, The Messiah
New York Oratorio Society New York, NY 2015
Filas, Requiem; Oratio Spei
Lamont Symphony Orchestra Denver, CO 2015
Mahler, Das Lied von der Erde
Eastern Music Festival Greesboro, NC 2015
Mozart, Requiem
Cleveland Orchestra Cleveland, OH 2015
Strauss, Daphne, Shepherd/Leukippos – cover
New West Symphony Santa Monica, CA 2015
Mozart, Mass in C minor
Albany Symphony Albany, NY 2015
Mozart, Requiem – reimagined
The Metropolitan Opera Newark, NJ 2015
Donizetti, Verdi, – Belcanto récital at NJPAC
Oregon Symphony Portland, OR 2014
Beethoven, 9th Symphony
Oratorio Society of New York New York, NY 2014
Bach, St Matthew Passion, Arias
La Jolla Chamber Music Society La Jolla, CA 2013
Bach, Cantata no. 99
Brahms, Neue Liebeslieder Wälzer
Kansas City Symphony Kansas City, MO 2013
Rachmaninoff, The Bells
Los Angeles Philharmonic Los Angeles, CA 2012
Verdi, Rigoletto, Borsa
Cleveland Orchestra Cleveland, OH 2012
Strauss, Salome, Second Jew
The New Choral Society Scarsdale, NY 2011, 2012
Handel, The Messiah
Philadelphia Orchestra Philadelphia, PA 2011
Stravinsky, Oedipus Rex, Shepherd
Boston Symphony Orchestra Boston, MA 2011
Stravinsky, Oedipus Rex, Shepherd
Music @ Menlo Atherton, CA 2010
Britten, Holy Sonnets of John Donne
UNC Symphony Chapel Hill, NC 2010
Orff, Carmina Burana
MET Chamber Ensemble New York, NY 2008
Brahms, Liebslider/Neue Liebeslieder Wälzer
Boston Symphony Orchestra Tanglewood, MA 2008
Berlioz, Les Troyens, Iopas
Orchestra di Sinfonica di Milano Milan, ITALY 2006 – 2007
Lehar, The Merry Widow, Camille
Puccini, Gianni Schicci, Rinuncio
Yale Symphony New Haven, CT 2005
Stravinsky, Persephone
Recital
Lamont Faculty Recital Series Denver, CO 2022
Schubert, Die Schöne Mullerin, Keith Ward, piano
Stanley Hotel Recital Series Estes Park, CO 2020
Sahar Nouri, Pianist
Lamont Faculty Recital Denver, CO 2019
Steven Mayer, Pianist
Haverford College Concert Series Haverford, PA 2018
The Music of Robert Schumann; Steven Mayer, Pianist
Lamont Faculty Recital Denver, CO 2017
The Music of Robert Schumann; Steven Mayer, Pianist
Lamont Society Recital Series Denver, CO 2015
Chris Thompson, Pianist
Aspen Music Festival and School Aspen, CO 2013
Janačeck, The Diary of One Who Vanished
Directing
L’enfent et les sortilege – Ravel Denver, CO 2022
Lamont School of Music
Les Mamelles de Tiresias – Poulenc Denver, CO 2022
Lamont School of Music
A Night at the Opera Gala Denver, CO 2021
Lamont School of Music
Old maid and the Thief – Menotti Denver, CO 2021
Lamont School of Music
Cabildo – Beach Denver, CO 2021
Lamont School of Music
The Magic Flute – Mozart Denver, CO 2021
Lamont School of Music
The Fairy Queen – Purcell (arr. Britten/Hoslt/Pears) Denver, CO 2020
Lamont School of Music
The Magic Flute – Mozart (performance postponed) Denver, CO 2020
Lamont School of Music
A Night at the Opera Gala Denver, CO 2019
Lamont School of Music
The Firebringers – Kingsland Denver, CO 2019
Lamont School of Music
Il Trittico – Puccini Denver, CO 2019
Lamont School of Music
A Night at the Opera Gala Denver, CO 2018
Lamont School of Music
Die Fledermaus – J Strauss Yakima, WA 2017
Yakima Symphony Orchestra
Recordings
Requiem; Oratio Spei, Juraj Filas
Arturo, Lucia di Lamermoor, Metropolitan Opera HD Live Broadcast
Marcellus, Hamlet, Metropolitan Opera HD Live Broadcast
Song seller, Il Trittico, Metropolitan Opera Live SIRIUS Broadcast
Sailor’s Voice, Trisan und Isolde, Metropolitan Opera HD Live Broadcast
Complete Songs of Charles Ives, Vol. 1; Naxos Records
Complete Songs of Charles Ives, Vol. 2; Naxos Records
Complete Songs of Charles Ives, Vol. 3; Naxos Records
Complete Songs of Charles Ives, Vol. 4; Naxos Records
The Audition, The Metropolitan Opera
Professional Collaborations
Teachers
Gerald Martin Moore
Director of Yale Opera, Faculty at Lindemann Young Artist Development Program, Curtis Institute,
Vocal consultant for Decca Records
Deborah Birnbaum
Breath Specialist
Laura Brooks Rice
Voice Professor at Westminster Choir College, Artistic Director Co-Operative
Mark Oswald
Metropolitan Opera Baritone, Manhattan School of Music
Richard Cross
Voice Faculty at Yale
Joanna Levy
Associate Professor of Voice at Hartt School of Music.
Conductors
James Levine, Daniel Barenboim, James Conlon, Gustavo Dudamel, Franz Welser-Möst, Lorin Maazel, Charles Dutoit, Sir Neville Marriner, Thomas Adès, Partick Summers, Jiři Belohlavec, Louis Langrée, Jane Glover, Paul Gemignani, Gianandrea Noseda, Michael Stern, Kent Tritle, Ward Holmquist, Frederico Cortese, Gerald Steichen, Dominique Trottein, Edward Cumming, David Neely
Coaches
James Levine, Renata Scotto, Sir Thomas Allen, Kiri Te Kanawa, Thomas Hampson, Jose van Dam, Håkan Hagegård, Reri Grist, Benita Valente, Diana Soviero, Malcom Martineau, John Fisher, Paul Farrington, Ken Noda, Vlad Iftinca, Eric Trudel, Robert Cowart, Matthew Polenzani, Piotr Beczala, Stephen Wadsworth and Renee Fleming
Awards
Grand Finalist, Metropolitan Opera National Council
Anchor Award, University of Hartford Alumni Association
First place, Five Towns Music Competition
First Place, Friday Woodmere Music Club Competition
Fourth Place, Loren Zachary Society Competition