Michael Sokol, voice • Email • Phone: (916) 278-6472

Baritone Michael Sokol grew up in Phoenix, Arizona, where as a child he was a member of the Phoenix Boys Choir for many years. He has sung "Faninal" in Der Rosenkavalier with the Nashville Opera; "Nardo" in Mozart's La Finta Giardiniera with the Netherland's Opera Zuid; "Popolani" in Offenbach's Barbe-Bleue with Opéra Français de New York; and the world premiere of There Is a Garden: The Music of Leonard Bernstein, conceived, created, and directed for Chicago Opera Theater by Sokol's wife, soprano Angelina Réaux, who performed in it as well. Acclaimed for his performances of 20th-century opera, he created the role of Frank Lloyd Wright in the world premiere of Darren Hagen and Paul Muldoon's opera Shining Brow and the role of the Magician in the American premiere of Stephen Oliver's Mario and the Magician.

As cantorial soloist, Michael has premiered works by many Jewish composers, and has worked with congregations throughout the United States, including Temple Beth Israel, Phoenix and Isaac M Wise, Cincinnati.

As a choral conductor, Mr. Sokol has conducted ensembles at University of California Santa Barbara, Western Kentucky University, and the choirs of the Santa Barbara Hillel Society and Temple Beth Israel, Phoenix. A voice student of Marlena Malas, he also studied with Italo Tajo, Martial Singher, and John Reed.

Currently, Mr. Sokol is a Professor at the University of the Pacific in Stockton, CA, having recently finished his tenure at the University of California at Santa Barbara, where he taught voice and opera for five years.