Sebastian Armendariz, Tenor

Noted for his emotional performance, magnetic stage presence, and exhilarating upper register, Sebastian is an artist perfectly suited for the operatic stage and beyond.

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What's Coming and What's Passed

Sebastian returned to operatic stage in 2024 as Nemorino in New Jersey Lyric Opera’s production of L’elisir d’amore. He made his debut at 54 Below in August 2024 singing the works of Christian De Gré Cardenas, and created the role of Juan Escutia at the premiere of Orgullo! by Christian De Gré Cardenas at The Public on September 15th.

In 2023 Sebastian joined Opera Theatre St. Louis in a new opera workshop in NYC and appeared as the titular role in a concert performance of Donizetti’s Roberto Devereux at St John’s in the Village.

In 2022, Sebastian performed Richmond County Orchestra’s Hispanic Heritage Concert, a recital for Salon 58, and placed as a semi-finalist in the Federation of the Art Song’s Art Song Fellowship competition.

Summer 2021 saw Sebastian join Theatre Now’s developmental reading of Steve Wallace’s new musical adaptation of George Orwell’s “Animal Farm” as the villainous propagandist pig, Squealer.

2020 marked Sebastian’s move to New York City, and the beginning of a new chapter in Sebastian’s professional career as a multi-faceted and passionate performer.

In the Fall of 2019, Sebastian joined Indianapolis Opera as a Resident Artist where he covered the role of Nemorino in Donizetti’s L’elisir d’amore. He also performed in outreach performances, concerts, and masterclasses throughout Indianapolis during his residency.

Sebastian returned to the Chautauqua Institution in the summer of 2019 where he performed as Flute opposite Matthew Rose (Bottom) in Britten’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream for four performances July 16th-19th. While in Chautauqua, he studied voice with Joan Patenaude-Yarnell, worked with tenor William Burden, and coached with Craig Rutenberg and Michal Biel.

On June 9th, 2019 Sebastian produced and performed in his first independent recital titled “Songs for Martha” in Chicago at St. Chrysostom’s Church.

In 2018-19 Sebastian completed two successful residencies in Florida where he sang with Sarasota Opera for their Winter 2019 and Fall 2018 Opera Seasons as an Apprentice Artist.

In the Summer of 2018, Sebastian performed the title role of Prince Karl Franz for Chautauqua Institution’s summer production of The Student Prince by Romberg. While in residence at Chautauqua, Sebastian studied voice with Marlena Malas, coached and performed with Bénédicte Jourdois and Martin Dubé, participated in Master Classes with mezzo-soprano Claudia Catania, tenor William Burden and composer Ben Moore, worked individually with Brian Zeger, Craig Rutenberg, Mikael Eliason, and Michael Dean, and performed for members of the National Federation of Music Clubs in their annual scholarship recital.

“Armendariz disarmed the audience and dared to plumb the emotional depths of each song, while maintaining the technique to reach the highest notes reachable by the tenor voice.

If he already has this skill so early in his career, he is an artist to watch.”

— Chicago Vocal Arts