Bass
ABOUT
Praised for his “clear enunciation and powerful steady voice” by Opera Canada, Drew Comer is an exciting American bass originally from Indianapolis, Indiana. In the summer of 2024, he will join The Santa Fe Opera as an Apprentice Artist, where he will sing in productions of La traviata (Flora's Servant, Doctor Grenville (cover), and chorus), Don Giovanni (Il Commendatore (cover) and chorus), Der Rosenkavalier (Waiter 2, Lackey 4 (cover), and chorus), and the world premiere of Gregory Spears' The Righteous (chorus), as well as the Apprentice Scenes program.
After receiving a Performer Diploma from Indiana University in May 2023, Comer joined Cedar Rapids Opera as a Smith Young Artist where he performed the role of Simone in Puccini's Gianni Schicchi. In April 2023 he performed the role of Simone in Carol Vaness's Opera Workshop, in addition to scenes from Don Carlo (Filippo II) and Billy Budd (Claggart). He was recently seen as a Guard in the world premiere of Pulitzer Prize-winning composer Shulamit Ran's opera Anne Frank at Indiana University under the direction of Crystal Manich. In February 2023, he performed the entirety of Schubert's Schwanengesang to great acclaim, earning a Performer Certificate from Indiana University in recognition of "musical understanding and technical proficiency in recital." In September 2022, he performed the role of Il Commendatore in Mozart's Don Giovanni with Indiana University Opera Theater under the baton of Louis Lohraseb and direction of Michael Shell. Comer also made his debut as the Bass Soloist in Beethoven’s 9th Symphony with the Indiana University Philharmonic Orchestra and Oratorio Chorus, led by maestro Thomas Wilkins. He is the recipient of an Encouragement Award from the Idaho-Montana District of the 2022-23 Metropolitan Opera Laffont Competition.
Comer made his Italian debut in July 2022 at the Musica e Musica Festival in Mercatello sul Metauro, Italy, where he sang the role of Simone in Puccini’s Gianni Schicchi, conducted by Bruce Stasyna. Highlights of the 2021-22 season included a last-minute call to jump in as the Second Armored Man in Mozart’s Die Zauberflöte, his debut as Pistola in Verdi’s Falstaff (both productions under the direction of Michael Shell), and singing the role of The Sheriff in an exciting new production of William Grant Still’s Highway 1, USA directed by Kimille Howard, all produced at Indiana University Opera Theater. In March 2022, he was a finalist and prize winner at the Orpheus National Vocal Competition in Murfreesboro, TN. He also had his first foray into the role of Il Commendatore from Mozart’s Don Giovanni when he performed the second act in Carol Vaness’s Opera Workshop in December 2021. Previously, he was seen in the role of Sarastro in Mozart’s Die Zauberflöte with Bloomington Chamber Opera in the company’s inaugural production. Additionally, in the 2019-20 season Comer brought life to the role of Marco in James Marvel’s radical adaptation of Puccini’s Gianni Schicchi as well as the bumbling drunk Antonio in Mozart’s Le nozze di Figaro conducted by maestro Antony Walker, both performed with Indiana University Opera Theater.
Following his 2018 portrayal of Curio in Handel’s Giulio Cesare with Indiana University Opera Theater, Comer made his international debut in with the Halifax Summer Opera Festival in Halifax, Nova Scotia, performing the roles of Seneca (L’incoronazione di Poppea) and Masetto (Don Giovanni). Other role credits include Pooh-Bah (The Mikado), Publio (La clemenza di Tito), Sarastro (Die Zauberflöte), and Osmin (Die Entführung aus dem Serail) in scenes directed by soprano Katherine Jolly in her Opera Workshop at Indiana University. In addition to his work onstage, Comer has also enjoyed performing in masterclasses led by soprano Caroline Worra and tenor Matthias Klink.
A graduate of Indiana University's prestigious Jacobs School of Music, where he studied with Jane Dutton and Gary Arvin, Comer holds both B.M. and M.M. degrees in Vocal Performance and a minor in Spanish. He was awarded the Wilfred C. Bain Award in Opera, which funded his Performer Diploma studies.