Mark Billy

Voice

Native (Choctaw) baritone Mark Billy has a multi-faceted career in opera, recital, and concert work. Mark recently won first place the St. Croix Valley Opera Competition, in addition to a cash prize he will have the opportunity to sing with orchestra in a concert later in the summer conducted by Joseph Li.  The Schubert Club recently engaged Mark to sing and play a recital with pianist Nathan Cicero. This fall Mark will sing the role of King’s Man in Minnesota Opera’s world premiere production of Edward Tulane, by Paola Prestini. In 2020 Mark was awarded a prestigious grant from the Wagner Society of the Upper Midwest. This allowed Mark to curate a virtual recital that featured works by Verdi and Verismo composers juxtaposed with narratives of violence against Native Women to bring these largely untold stories to light. 

That same year Mr. Billy was to make his role and house debut at Mill City Summer Opera, singing Marullo in Katherine Carter’s production of Rigoletto as well as to cover the title role. Also in the summer if 2020 Mark sang the role of Angelotti in Chia Patino’s production of Tosca at the Northern Lights music festival. In the fall of 2019 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 and was a featured soloist at Hennepin Avenue United Methodist Church in Gerald Finzi’s In Terra Pax.