Jason Duika Voice Masterclass

Verdi Baritone Jason Duika is quickly making a name for himself in the classical music world. Before the pandemic, he sang the title role in Verdi’s Nabucco to great acclaim in October of 2019 with West Bay Opera in California and the June before, sang the Baritone solos in Vaughan Williams' Dona Nobis Pacem with Mid America Productions at Carnegie Hall’s 3,000-seat Isaac Stern Auditorium.

In Spring of 2019’s portrayal of “Herode” in Massenet’s Herodiade with New Amsterdam Opera, John Yohalem of Parterre Box noted, “Jason Duika has a sizable and remarkably lofty baritone, which should serve him well for Verdi roles - he topped “Vision Fugitive” with an A-flat. And yet his delivery seemed effortless, lyric, a melting, manly sound.” Also, in February 2019, Jason sang his first Verdi title role, “Francesco Foscari” in I Due Foscari with West Bay Opera. He also sang “Marcello” in La Boheme there, in October of 2018, where the reviews said, “Jason Duika sang with glorious round tone, and unimpeachable legato.”

In February of 2018, Jason was asked to return to his alma mater, the Indiana University Jacobs School of Music, and sing the lead Baritone role of Enrico, Lucia’s brother in Donizetti’s Lucia di Lammermoor. In his portrayal of “Enrico,” the critics said, “…a beautiful instrument, manly, generous and assured in timbre. Not only some, but many really stunning, thrilling notes in his delivery. Clearly an ideal role for him. Bravo! Onwards and upwards” (Martin Snell), and, “Jacobs School alum and baritone Jason Duika returned to sing Enrico, Lucia’s brother. His villainous role was deftly offered, both musically and theatrically” (Peter Jacobi, The Herald Times). Being praised by Oregon Music News for having a “big, warm voice” and “spot-on comic timing.”

This coming October 2022, Jason returns to West Bay Opera in Palo Alto to sing his first Germont in Verdi’s La Traviata. Jason makes his home in South Lyon, Michigan, and he is under Randsman Artist Management with Peter Randsman in New York City, where he studies with Andrea DelGiudice. He is a graduate of Alma College where he received a Bachelor of Arts in Music with emphasis on Voice in 2006, Portland State University where he received a Master of Music in Voice performance in 2010, and the Indiana University Jacobs School of music where he received a Performer Diploma in Voice Performance in 2012. Jason was also in the Young Artist programs of the Utah Festival Opera (2012), Wichita Grand Opera (2013), and sang and covered nine roles with Palm Beach Opera, as the Baritone young artist in the Benenson program from 2014-2016.