Basso Cantante Jonathan Ten Brink has been seen throughout the continental United States in Opera, Oratorio, Operetta, Concert, Recital, and Chamber settings. His “big voice” that “rumbles like foghorns” (Pioneer Press) is regarded as “rich” (Madison Magazine), “heartwarming” (Examiner), and “possessing considerable agility” (Grand Rapids Press). He has been a featured performer with the Minnesota Orchestra, Skylark Opera, Fresco Opera Theatre, and Metropolitan Symphony Orchestra. With more than 20 opera roles performed, his favorites include “Hamen” in Handel’s Esther, “Father” in Hansel and Gretel, “Scarpia” in Tosca, and “Belcore” in L’elisir d’amore.
Dr. Ten Brink is highly regarded as a performer of early music. He has toured extensively with The Rose Ensemble, given the North American premier as Alfesibeo in Cavalli’s resurrected Gli Amore d’Apollo e di Daphne under the musical direction of Paul O’Dette, and is well known as an interpreter of J.S. Bach, having performed and recorded both Passions, the Christmas Oratorio, Magnificat, and numerous cantatas.
He is a frequent collaborator in chamber music and in the professional choral setting. In addition to performing as both chorister and soloist at the Oregon Bach Festival, he has worked with Glorious Revolution Baroque, the Minnesota Chorale, and Oratory. He was a section leader at the historic House of Hope Presbyterian Church in St. Paul, MN. An advocate of contemporary music, Dr. Ten Brink has given first readings of more than 30 works and performed regularly with the First Readings Project. He worked with Meredith Monk on the Songs of Ascension premier at the Walker Art Center, and was part of a 24-hour performance of Piotr Szyhalski’s Empty Words project for the Northern Lights Minnesota Festival.
His discography includes a multiple-award-winning production of Handel’s Messiah with the Calvin College Oratorio Society, J. S. Bach’s Matthäus-Passion and Johannes-Passion, the only English version of Heinz Werner Zimmermann’s Psalmkonzert, Live: Music from the Land of Three Faiths with The Rose Ensemble, and a Grammy-nominated performance of Mozart’s Grand Mass with Exultate. He holds degrees from the University of Minnesota (DMA), Bowling Green State University (MM), and Calvin College (BA) and currently teaches voice and related courses at Shorter University.