Cory J. Renbarger

Assistant Professor of Voice

E-mail: cory.renbarger@houghton.edu

Cory J. Renbarger began his training at Concordia College, in Moorhead, MN, where he studied under David Hamilton. After completing a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology, he went on to receive both a Master’s Degree in Voice and an Artist Diploma in Opera at the Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music. There, he studied under Barbara Honn, performing roles such as Figaro in Le nozze di Figaro, The Gamekeeper in Rusalka, Barney in The Ballad of Baby Doe, and Peter in Hansel and Gretel.

Mr. Renbarger apprenticed with Florida Grand Opera, where he performed Sid in La fanciulla del West, El Dancaïro in Carmen, and Marullo in Rigoletto. Other apprenticeships include Lyric Opera Cleveland and Dayton Opera, where he performed Antonio in Le nozze di Figaro, Sciarrone in Tosca, and Mr. Dashwood in Little Women. Cory made his international debut as Gianni Schicchi in Gianni Schicchi with the Opera Theatre-Music Festival of Lucca, Italy. Other roles include Guglielmo in Così fan tutte and Cascada in The Merry Widow with Fargo-Moorhead Opera as well as Sharpless in Madame Butterfly with Ashlawn Opera and Angelotti in Tosca with Sorg Opera. Mr. Renbarger’s credits also include many performances of Handel’s Messiah, including a national broadcast on NPR with The Dayton Philharmonic Orchestra, Mozart’s Requiem, and multiple performances of Vaughan Williams Fantasia on Christmas Carols.

In the Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions, Cory was a national semifinalist in 2008 as well as twice receiving honorable mentions prior. Mr. Renbarger recently performed Tarquinius in The Rape of Lucretia and The Emperor in Le Rossignol at the University of Minnesota, where he taught for two years during his assistantship and is finishing his Doctor of Musical Arts. Other recent engagements include El Dancaïro in Carmen with Fargo Moorhead Opera, Perotti in a workshop of the new opera The Garden of the Finzi-Continis with Minnesota Opera and Fauré’s Requiem with Maternity of Mary Catholic Church in St. Paul, MN.

Cory currently resides in Houghton, with his wife Amanda and daughter Bella.

Courses: Studio Voice, Director of Lyric Theater, Lyric Theater Techniques