Culture & Arts

Quinn Kelsey: Hawai‘i’s “Superb Young Baritone”

Hawaiʻi Public Radio | By Noe Tanigawa

Published June 24, 2016 at 5:05 AM HST

Quinn Kelsey left Hawai‘i thirteen years ago to tackle a winding and often treacherous road to success in the rarified world of international opera. Last year, the New York Times called Kelsey a “superb young baritone” in the run up to his astonishing Beverly Sills Award commendation from the Metropolitan Opera. HPR’sNoeTanigawa reports, he’s home to share the fruits of his progression.

QuinWeb.mp3

How does a kid from Hawai'i break into opera at the highest levels? Here's how Quinn Kelsey did it, and what he finds there. Now 38, Kelsey figures he's got thirty good years of singing to go and reveals how he might like to branch out.

Hawai'i Opera Theatre closes its 2015-16 Season with baritone Quinn Kelsey as Rigoletto in a full concert staging at the Neal Blaisdell Center this Sunday, 4pm. The performance will feature the Hawai'i Symphony under the direction of Hal France.

RIGOLETTO:

Quinn Kelsey

GILDA:
Nadine Sierra

DUKE OF MANTUA:
Barry Banks

SPARAFUCILE:
Matthew Treviño

MADDALENA:
Cynthia Hanna

GIOVANNA:
Blythe I. Kelsey