Mark Billy

Native (Choctaw tribe) baritone Mark Billy is one of the most promising young baritones on the opera and concert stage today. During the 2020-21 season Mark will sing the role of King’s Man in Minnesota Opera’s world premiere production of Edward Tulane, by Paola Prestini.

In 2019 Mr. Billy was a Young Artist with Hawaii Opera Theatre where he sang the role of Figaro in their touring production of The Barber of Seville on three different Hawaiian islands. Following the tour, the baritone made his debut in the role of Marchese in La Traviata on HOT’s main stage, where he also covered Quinn Kelsey in the role of Germont. Also in 2019, Mark was featured as Marchese in La Traviata on the mainstage at the Northern Lights Music Festival in the Iron Range of Minnesota. Last October Mark joined the St. John’s Boys Choir to sing the role of Mega the Baker in Stephen Paulus’ opera The Star Gatherer. Mr. Billy was also the featured soloist in Mozart’s Requiem with the St. Catherine Choral Society.

Hailing from Finley, Oklahoma, Mark’s undergraduate studies in voice at the University of Oklahoma were under the mentorship of baritone Richard Anderson. The baritone also studied with the legendary mezzo-soprano Marilyn Horne. Mark's graduate studies at Indiana University's Jacob School of Music and were with soprano Carol Vaness. Mark is also an accomplished clarinetist, having studied with David Etheridge at the University of Oklahoma. Currently Mark serves as a baritone/bass soloist at Hennepin Avenue United Methodist Church, as Cantor at St. Stephen’s Catholic Church, as Soloist/Chorister at Minnesota Chorale, and is a member of Minnesota Opera Chorus.