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discipline = "Baritone"
primary_image = "https://res.cloudinary.com/schmopera/image/upload/v1636121538/media/2021/11/BlakeDenson_ipcsw5.jpg"
primary_image_credit = ""
related_companies = ["scene/companies/wolf-trap-opera.md", "scene/companies/houston-grand-opera.md"]
slug = "blake-denson"
title = "Blake Denson"
website = "https://www.blakeadenson.com/"
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Baritone Blake Denson, praised for his “captivating dramatic interpretations" with “a striking upper register “and "a sound that boomed to the back of the house” (_Opera Wire_), is a native of Paducah, Kentucky. Recently, Mr. Denson was named a Grand Finalist winner of the 2020 Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions. 

In the 2021-2022 Season Mr. Denson will return to Houston Grand Opera Studio where he will finish is final season with the company as a studio artist. Mr. Deason will be seen singing scenes from _Rigoletto_ in the Studio Showcase. He then will sing the role of Morales while coving the role of Escamillo. In the winter he will sing the role of Daddy/Time in the world premiere of _The Snowy Day_ and Sing the role of the Jailor in _Dialogues of the Carmelites_. In the Spring Mr. Denson will sing the role of Gregorio in two different productions of _Romeo and Juliet_. Mr. Denson’s summer plans are still to be determined.

In the 2020-2021 season Mr. Denson was a Studio Artist in the prestigious Houston Grand Opera Studio where he made his company debut in the Studio Scenes Showcase singing the roles of Don Giovanni, Ramiro from _L’heure espagnole_, and Dancaire from _Carmen_. Due to COVID-19, Mr. Denson was not able to make his company debut in the role of Morales in _Carmen_. Fortunately, he performed with the company in the new Houston Grand Opera Digital 2020-2021 season. He performed Father in _Hansel and Gretel_, covered the role of Daddy/Tim in the world premiere of _The Snowy Day_, and was a feature soloist in the Giving Voice Concert and Suite Espanola Concert. Mr. Denson also competed and was a winner in multiple competition in the 2020-2021 season. Some of those include: The Pasadena Competition, NOA Competition, Opera Mississippi Competition, Opera Ithica, Annapolis Opera, Partners for the Arts, Gilbert and Sullivan, Orpheus Vocal Competition, and Perfect Day Music Foundation.

Mr. Denson's 2019-2020 season started with him returning to Rice University for his final year of his master’s program at the Shepherd School of Music. He competed and was named a second-place winner for the Houston Saegebund Vocal Competition. In the summer of 2019 Mr. Denson was a member of the Wolf Trap Opera Studio program where he covered the title role of Emperor Kaiser in _Emperor Kaiser der von Atlantis_ and Pierot in _L'île de Merlin_. He returned to Wolf Trap Opera for the 2020 summer season to perform as Captain in _Eugene Onegin_, covering Marcello in _La bohème_, and the title role of Onegin in _Eugene Onegin_. Unfortunately, due to COVID-19 Mr. Denson was not able to perform these roles but did attend the Wolf Trap Opera 2020 summer and performed video recorded scenes from _Eugene Onegin_, _La bohème_, and _The Crucible_.

The 2018-2019 season included him earning his bachelor’s degree in music performance from the University of Kentucky. While at the University of Kentucky he performed in productions such as Joe in _Show Boat_ and Dottore Grenvil in _La traviata_. Mr. Denson also workshopped and starred in the world premiere of Bounce the Basketball Opera composed by the late Glen Roven. Shortly after graduating from the University of Kentucky he participated in the Houston Grand Opera Young Artist Vocal Academy. Other highlights of the 2018-2019 season included his debut with the Shepherd School of Music Opera at Rice University. He performed in their production of _La Calisto_ as Mercurio as well as Elder McLean in _Susannah_. 

Currently, Mr. Denson resides in Houston, Texas with his family. He is a proud christian man that loves to spend time with his family. Mr. Denson is also a proud member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc. by way the EXalted Epsilon Chi chapter at the University of Kentucky. Mr. Denson uses his gifts and influence to present the same grace, love, and hope that was given to him through Jesus Christ. He is grateful and thankful for every one that has poured into his life.