The Singer
Stephen Pitters, countertenor
"An exceptional young countertenor" ~ South Florida Classical Review
Last season, Dr. Pitters made his
LA Opera debut
in the principal role of Angel in
The Three Women of Jerusalem
(Las tres mujeres de Jerusalén)
by Carla Lucero,
conducted by Maestro James Conlon
and directed by Eli Villanueva.
He will reprise this role with LA Opera in April 2027.
Cathedral of Our Lady of Angels
Los Angeles, California
Dr. Pitters holds the Doctor of Musical Arts (D.M.A.) in Vocal Arts degree from the University of Southern California
Thornton School of Music, where he studied under the tutelage of
Ms. Elizabeth Hynes and Ms. Alexandra Loutsion.
In addition to his doctoral studies, Dr. Pitters served as a
Graduate Teaching Assistant for the Thornton School,
where his responsibilities included teaching musical theatre history,
group voice classes, and private voice lessons.
In addition to the Major Field, Dr. Pitters completed an
Academic Field in Music Teaching & Learning and
Elective Fields in Arts Leadership and Directing for the Operatic Stage.
Dr. Pitters also earned his Master of Music (M.M.) in Vocal Arts degree from the Thornton School and received the Opera Ensemble Award upon his graduation. Prior to his academic appointment, Dr. Pitters was the recipient of the prestigious Marilyn Horne Endowed Scholarship in Voice.
Adept in many genres of music, Dr. Pitters was featured on the historic 20th season of
American Idol on ABC
for his extensive vocal range and dynamic abilities.
Dr. Pitters is an Alto with Tonality,
a two-time GRAMMY Award-winning vocal ensemble.
In the 2025-2026 season, Dr. Pitters was named a
Rocky Mountain Region Finalist and
Utah District Winner
of the Metropolitan Opera Laffont Competition.
Previously, Dr. Pitters received the
Encouragement Award
from the San Diego District
of the Metropolitan Opera Laffont Competition.
Dr. Pitters has also been named a
Semifinalist of the James Toland Vocal Arts Competition
and a Grant Recipient from The Opera Buffs.
Dr. Pitters is a proud member of the
American Guild of Musical Artists (AGMA)
under the Soloist distinction.
In the 2023 season, Dr. Pitters was hand-selected to become a Prima Voce Emerging Artist in partnership with the Pasadena Conservatory of Music.
With the mentorship of Dr. Lisa Sylvester, they premiered a brand-new recital program entitled
"Hidden, Forbidden, Betrayed"
with stage direction by Mark Saltzman.
Giving voice to the arc of forbidden love, from infatuation to betrayal, this program was a deeply personal journey reflecting on the many emotional trajectories of romantic entanglements. This recital included works by George Clutsam, Charles Ives, Dr. Alan L. Smith, Jake Heggie, and a world-premiere commission by Mingjia Chen.
In the 2022 season, Dr. Pitters performed the leading role of The Refugee in Flight by Jonathan Dove with
USC Thornton Opera and USC Thornton Symphony
at the historic Bing Theatre in Los Angeles, California.
In the 2021 season, Dr. Pitters performed the title role of
Orfeo in Orfeo ed Euridice by C.W. Gluck with
USC Thornton Opera and USC Thornton Symphony
also at the Bing Theatre.
Dr. Pitters also sang the role of The Priest in In a Grove with Frost Opera Theater and Ensemble Ibis in a development workshop collaboration with composer Christopher Cerrone, librettist Stephannie Fleischmann, and director Mary Birnbaum.
In a Grove was commissioned
by LA Opera and Pittsburgh Opera.
Other recent engagements include the roles of
Der Weise in Hin und Zurück by Paul Hindemith and
Grape 2 in The Fox and the Grapes by Peter Winkler
with Frost Opera Theater.
Dr. Pitters also performed “Chôros No. 10” by Heitor Villa-Lobos with the New World Symphony of Miami Beach, Florida, under the direction of Michael Tilson Thomas.
Dr. Pitters prepared the role of Buff in
Mozart’s Der Schauspieldirektor with Frost Opera Theater before the COVID-19 pandemic cancelled the production.
Prior to the pandemic, international engagements
included recitals and opera scenes programs
in world-renowned European opera houses,
such as the Palau de Les Artes in Valencia, Spain,
and the Großer Saal of the Salzburg Mozarteum
during the 2018 Salzburger Festspiele.
Dr. Pitters graduated Magna Cum Laude from the University of Miami Frost School of Music with a
Bachelor of Music (BM) degree in Vocal Performance and a minor in Music Business and Entertainment Industries, where he trained in the studio of Robynne Redmon on the
prestigious full-tuition Presidential Music Scholarship.
Additionally, Dr. Pitters received the
Outstanding Undergraduate Student Award as Departmental Honors from the
Frost Dept. of Vocal Performance.
In 2022, the University of Miami Office of Admission deemed Dr. Pitters a Distinguished Alumni, and has been invited on several occasions to speak as a panelist for admitted student events.