I was born in Princeton, New Jersey. Both of my parents were enrolled at Westminster Choir College under the tuteledge of the reknowned Choral Master, Dr. John Finley Williamson. They followed him to Scranton, PA and took jobs there. They then moved back to their home state of Texas for a number of years taking music jobs wherever possible. They made the big move to Phoenix, AZ in 1966 where they remained for fourteen years.
As a teenager, deciding music was definitely NOT for me, I endeavored to become a football player. Lettering in high school, but not reaching my full potential, I went on to try my hand at junior college football. The players I found were of a much higher and more serious caliber. With a hightened sense of self-preservation, I returned to Grand Canyon College (now University) and majored in art and, as an afterthought, minored in music. The music minor decision was arrived at by simple practicality - and an endeavor to stop running from destiny; I had accumulated many choral and voice credits from being in my father's choirs that I had admired over the years.
In my final year of study, I was persuaded by a member of the Music Department to perform in an opera on the promise of some scholarship money. The money never surfaced...but the seed was sown. A small investment in some opera recordings tilled the already fertile soil. Cesare Siepi, George London, and Sherrill Milnes were three voices that strongly affected me. In particular, it was the robust American sound of Mr. Milnes' voice that turned me to opera as a career choice. (Later in my career, a dream became reality when I was cast as 'Ford' opposite Mr. Milnes' 'Falstaff' in the 1996 season opener for New York City Opera).
After graduating with a Bachelor of Art degree from Grand Canyon College, I decided that some remedial music training might be in order. I followed my parents to Tulsa, OK where I pursued a Bachelor of Music degree. Here I sang 'Colline' in "La Boheme", 'Figaro' in "Le Nozze di Figaro", and, strangely enough, 'Major-General Stanley' in "The Pirates of Penzance".
In December of 1982, I was married.
After graduating a second time, now with a Bachelor of Music degree, I went to Inspiration Point Fine Arts Colony in Eureka Springs, AK. There, under the baton of Roger Cantrell, I learned 3 major roles, including 'Enrico' in "Lucia di Lammermoor", which would later become one of my biggest successes at New York City Opera.
After this, I moved to Charlotte, NC to take on my first professional engagement. There I sang the roles of 'Don Magnifico' in "La Cenerentola", 'Papageno' in "The Magic Flute", and 'Mephistopheles' in an adaptation of Gounod's "Faust". The experience I gained there was invaluable. Many of my audiences were under the age of 12 - they are the toughest audience there is.
I received my first big break with the San Francisco Opera young artists summer training program, "Merola". There I performed the title role of "Don Giovanni". In the fall, I performed the same role with the touring branch of the program, Western Opera Theater, where I continued to hone my craft. Following the tour, I received an Adler Fellowship with the San Franciso Opera Center. This gave me the opportunity to perform small roles, and understudy major roles for main stage productions with such great performers as Placido Domingo, Luciano Pavarotti, Mirella Freni, Nicolai Ghiaurov, Leo Nucci, and Ruth Ann Swensen. In 1987, I completed my Adler Fellowship and began performing regionally.
In December 1989, my son Lucas was born. We moved from San Francisco to the Northeast to be closer to the opportunities in New York City. This was a time of great hope and expectations. Soon after, however, my career ran into some rough spots: lack of focus, some bad reviews, management difficulties, and some bad career choices took their toll. Also my marriage ended in divorce. These issues resulted in a period of about three years where I floundered as an artist.
I began auditioning in New York City, but without success until I ran into Jerome Hines, the great Metropolitan Opera bass, whom I had met a few years previously. Mr. Hines invited me to join his program for young artists in New Jersey known as Opera Music Theatre International, otherwise known as OMTI. This was to be a turning point in my career. It was here that Mr. Hines and I began isolating and eliminating the bad vocal and personal habits that had plagued me so far.
My next big break happened during a master class at OMTI. I sang for the acclaimed director, Frank Corsaro. Mr. Hines had shown him a film clip of my portrayal of 'John the Baptist' from the Bolshoi Opera production of Mr. Hines' opera, "I Am The Way." During the master class, Mr. Corsaro voiced his positive impression of my work and asked me if I would like to audition for the New York City Opera. I answered, "That would be fine." Mr. Corsaro replied that he would set it up. Doubtful, but biting my tongue, I said, "Great!" The reason for my lack of enthusiasm is understandable as I had made an inauspicious debut with the New York City Opera some years earlier. I also had reauditioned several times since then to no avail.
Mr. Corsaro was as good as his word and the audition took place. I was shocked when New York City Opera called my agent and requested that I sing the full 1994-95 season with them including appearances as 'Escamillo' in "Carmen", 'Enrico' in "Lucia di Lammermoor", and the title role in Boito's "Mefistofele". That season marked the beginning of the career I am enjoying now.
My firstborn, Lucas, attends St. Vincent the Martyr Elementary School in Madison, New Jersey. Lucas is quite the athlete. In fact, he played basketball at the Meadowlands Arena in an exhibition game. In addition to Basketball, he plays Football, Baseball and LaCrosse. One of my great joys is to have performed the role of 'Sharpless' in "Madama Butterfly" at the Garden State Arts Center opposite Lucas in the role of "Trouble". I also had the pleasure of performing with him in New York City Opera's production of "Falstaff". Lucas performed the acting role of 'Robin' the page. What a thrill!
On May 8, 1999, Karen Michelle Linstedt, a gifted pianist, became my wife. We are looking forward to performing recitals together. Our first child, Matthew Jesse Delavan, was born May 11, 2000. He is a lot of fun, but we're not entirely certain what he's into yet. He does like opera.
More good news: we are expecting another boy sometime in July. Three boys and an opera singer...say a prayer for my wife.
I look forward to the new challenges ahead including a European debut. We'll see where the road leads from here.
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