Curtis Tucker

Curtis Tucker

ctuckermusic@gmail.com

Website: www.curtistuckermusic.com

   Saint Augustine, FL

Conductor, composer, and opera producer Curtis (Curt) Tucker became Artistic Director of First Coast Opera in 2014. Formerly general and artistic director of opera companies in New York, Ohio, and Indiana, he is a strong proponent of American works, a leading interpreter of Gilbert and Sullivan operettas, and a respected producer and conductor of a wide range of operatic and musical theater repertoire. As guest conductor, Curt has appeared with Cincinnati Opera, Syracuse Opera, Mobile Opera, Wichita Grand Opera, Fresno Grand Opera, and the Gilbert and Sullivan Society of San Jose. In 2011, he paced the world premiere of Michael Ching’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream opera a capella, as well as a studio recording of the work released by Albany Records in August 2014. Curt’s original compositions largely reflect his life-long love of and commitment to vocal music. He has written two one-act operas, both on librettos by his frequent collaborator Nelson Sheeley. Conceived as a companion piece to Stravinsky’s L’histoire du Soldat, The Stranger’s Tale premiered at Sorg Opera in 2005 and later headlined the 2009 Resonanz Festival in Albany, New York. His family opera, The Trial of B. B. Wolf, premiered at SaratogaArtsFest in June 2011. His songs and choral works have been performed throughout the United States, and his projects have received grants from the National Endowment for the Arts and state arts councils in Massachusetts, Ohio, and California. Curt earned a Bachelor of Music Education degree, magna cum laude with Honors in Music, from Central Methodist University, the Master of Music in Conducting degree from the University of Northern Colorado, and a Juris Doctor degree from Northeastern University School of Law. He also received certificates in Voice from the Chautauqua School of Music and Arts Administration from the Professional Arts Management Institute in New York City.