"makes a commanding figure"
- Charleston Gazette

"captivated with a rich, resonant voice, impeccable comic timing and a commanding presence."
- Washington Post

ABOUT

Jimi returns to Annapolis Opera, where he was seen in last season's Il barbiere di Siviglia. His role premiere as Dr. Bartolo garnered praise from the Washington Post, proclaiming, "The baritone captivated with a rich, resonant voice, impeccable comic timing and a commanding presence." This production of Carmen marks Jimi's third Escamillo, having previously flourished the toreador's cape in West Virginia and Syracuse last season.

In his fifth professional season, the artist numbers his roles at 16, having also performed Figaro, Papageno (NB - this production was staged with giant puppets, pre-Taymor. Jimi performed the role on 4 foot stilts!), Schaunard, Thomas Garret, Masetto, Enrico Ashton, Mustafa, Rigoletto, Germont, Plunkett, Billy Bigelow, Monterone, Pizzaro, and Tonio.

Born in Hawaii, raised on Cape Cod, and settled in Syracuse, Jimi's repertoire is as varied as his travels. The baritone's concert credits include Carmina Burana, the requiem settings of Brahms, Fauré, Mozart and Verdi, Bach cantatas 211, 145, 78 and 68, Songs of Love and War (Moravec), Mefistofele in Boito's prelude and conclusion, Elijah, Schubert Mass in G, Messiah, Polar Express and The Wolf in Peter vs. the Wolf.

The artist's performance venues include Syracuse Opera, Opera Vivente, West Virginia Symphony, Annapolis Chorale, Finger Lakes Chorale, Tri Cities Opera, Connecticut Concert Opera, Opera Memphis, Syracuse Symphony Orchestra and Roanoke Symphony Orchestra. Jimi is particularly fond of his outreach performances for younger audiences, in which he plays Peter (Hansel and Gretel), Don Giovanni Pig (The Three Little Pigs), The Wolf (The Return of Little Red Riding Hood and Little Red's Most Unusual Day), The Giant (Jack and the Beanstalk), Ben (The Telephone) and Dinty (Never Tickle a Mule).

The baritone was a finalist in the Chester Ludgin American Verdi Baritone Competition, winner of the Joyce Dutka Arts Foundation Vocal Competition and recipient of the Manfred Meyer Artist of the Year award. Jimi will next appear as Tonio in Syracuse Opera's production of Pagliacci.