John Tibbetts | baritone
Operatic baritone John Tibbetts, praised for his
“unexpectedly rich voice” and “reverberating tones”
(Palm Beach Post), has earned recognition for his
warm lyric baritone, engaging theatrical presence,
and performances ranging from Puccini,
contemporary opera, and musical theater.
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Upcoming engagements include Perchik in Fiddler on the Roof with Union Avenue Opera under the baton of Scott Schoonover and Vulcano in Donizetti's Il fortunato inganno with Pacific Opera Project under the direction of Josh Shaw.
Internationally, Tibbetts made his operatic film debut as Adam in Edwin Huizinga's Angel with Toronto's Opera Atelier. Premiered at Toronto's TIFF Bell Lightbox, the groundbreaking production marked Opera Atelier's first original work conceived specifically for film and featured Tafelmusik under the baton of David Fallis alongside an internationally acclaimed cast including Measha Brueggergosman-Lee.​​
Palm Beach Opera (2019) Tibbetts (center) with Maria Vasilevskaya (left)
An active concert soloist, Tibbetts performed the role of Adam in Haydn's The Creation alongside internationally acclaimed bass Morris Robinson. He has appeared with the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra and performed Brahms's Ein deutsches Requiem with the Atlanta Master Chorale. Additional concert engagements include Britten's War Requiem and Orff's Carmina Burana with the American Festival Orchestra under the baton of Craig Jessop, former Music Director of the internationally renowned Mormon Tabernacle Choir.
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Recent operatic highlights include Sharpless in Madama Butterfly alongside soprano Elaine Alvarez, Ping in Turandot with Opera Grand Rapids, Le Dancaïre in Carmen with the Richmond Symphony alongside Denyce Graves, and Masetto in Don Giovanni with Opera Tampa alongside Maria Zouves and with Gulfshore Opera under the direction of Josh Shaw.
Tibbetts is Co-Founder and Artistic Director of Amelia Island Opera. Working alongside his wife, Executive Director, and soprano Victoria Isernia, he recently oversaw the company's record-breaking fifth season, which included five consecutive sold-out productions and the launch of the Amelia Island Opera Vocal Competition.
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Season highlights included producing and performing the title role in Rossini's Il Signor Bruschino, presented in a double bill with Bernstein's Trouble in Tahiti, in which Isernia starred as Dinah. Earlier in the season, he appeared as Ben in Menotti's The Telephone.
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Additional Amelia Island Opera appearances include Marcello in La Bohème, Ben in Menotti's The Telephone, and the title role in Rossini's Il Signor Bruschino.
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Tibbetts has appeared with Opera Theatre of Saint Louis, Cincinnati Opera, and the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra. An alumnus of several distinguished young artist programs, he was praised by Palm Beach ArtsPaper for his “adept, well-characterized performance” as Fiorello in Il barbiere di Siviglia while a Benenson Young Artist with Palm Beach Opera. Additional appearances include Virginia Opera, Central City Opera, Sarasota Opera, Kentucky Opera, Opera Saratoga, and the Hawaii Performing Arts Festival.
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Tibbetts began 2026 touring as Le Dancaïre in Carmen with Teatro Lirico d'Europa, appearing with Palmetto Opera, the Daytona Symphony Orchestra, and other presenters throughout the Southeast.
Tibbetts was a semifinalist in both the Jenson Foundation Vocal Competition
and the Opera at Florham Vocal Competition. In 2024, he was named both an Opera Finalist and a Crossover Finalist in the John Alexander National Vocal Competition. He was a finalist in the 2018 Lotte Lenya Competition and in the 2016 Corbett Competition. Earlier distinctions include finalist recognition in the Bailey & Argento Competition and an Encouragement Award from the Metropolitan Opera Laffont Competition, as well as an Honorable Mention in the NOA Scenes Competition, all in 2015.
Tibbetts holds a Master of Music in Voice from the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music and a Bachelor of Music in Voice Performance from Georgia State University. Prior to GSU, he studied at the Georgia Institute of Technology, where he began singing with the All Saints Choir under fellow CCM alumnus Raymond Chenault and studied voice with tenor Richard Clement. Tibbetts studied with William McGraw while a student at CCM. He currently studies with Manny Perez.
While at Georgia State University, Tibbetts performed Mahler's Rückert-Lieder with the Georgia State University Orchestra under the baton of Michael Palmer.​​
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