A former professional poker player and organist, Canadian tenor Edward Atkinson has found his home as an interpreter of a wide variety of styles and genres. His most recent operatic roles include turns as George Bailey in It’s A Wonderful Life, Bob Boles in Peter Grimes, Father Grenville in Jake Heggie’s Dead Man Walking, Rodolfo in La Bohème, Ruggero in La Rondine, Prince Kodanda in Menotti’s The Last Savage, L’amante in Menotti’s Amelia al ballo, Tamino in Die Zauberflöte, and Belmonte in Die Entführung aus dem Serail.

In the orchestral arena, Edward was heard last season with the Carmel Symphony Orchestra as the tenor soloist for Verdi’s Requiem, alongside Jane Dutton and Timothy Noble. His latest events have included performances as the tenor soloist for Rossini’s Petite Messe Solennelle, Mozart’s Requiem Mass, Handel’s Messiah, Britten’s Canticle II: Abraham & Isaac, Britten’s Serenade for Tenor, Horn, & Strings, and Debussy’s Trois chansons de Charles d’Orleans. In the last year, Edward was awarded First Place and Grand Prize from the Matinee Musicale Competition and the Donald Felton Memorial Award from the National Society of Arts and Letters. 

In addition to his operatic and concert engagements, Edward serves as the Director of Sacred Music at Annunciation Church, Director of Sacred Music at St. Paul the Apostle Church, and as the Music Director of the Saint Ambrose Schola Cantorum. Edward completed his Master’s and Performer’s Diploma in Vocal Performance from the Indiana University Jacobs School, in the studio of Patricia Havranek. When not making music, Edward loves to cook with his wife.