Stephen Lancaster
Assistant Professional Specialist
B.M. Moody Bible Institute
M.M. University of Notre Dame
D.M.A. University of Michigan
Office: 217 Crowley Hall
Telephone: (574) 631-7832
Email: slancast@nd.edu
Website: www.stephenlancaster.net
Baritone Stephen Lancaster is a versatile vocal artist appearing frequently in opera, concert, and recital. On the operatic stage, highlights include Dancairo in Carmen with Eugene Opera, the Count in Le Nozze di Figaro with Opera Notre Dame, and Schaunard in La Bohème, Dr. Falke in Die Fledermaus, and Morales/Dancairo in Carmen with Arbor Opera Theater. In 2010 he debuted in Carnegie Hall, as guest artist with the Notre Dame Concert Band, and in Chiang-Kai Shek Memorial Recital Hall in Taipei, during a recital tour of Taiwan. Concert credits include an upcoming performance of Carmina Burana with the Warren Symphony, Haydn’s Nelsonmesse and Fauré’s Requiem with the South Bend Symphony, performances of Vaughan Williams’ Dona nobis pacem, Fantasia on Christmas Carols, and Five Mystical Songs, and the Duruflé Requiem, recently performed with the Macalester College Choirs at the historic House of Hope Presbyterian Church in St. Paul, Minnesota. In 2011, he added Brahms' Requiem to his repertoire, performing with a mass choir at St. Mark’s Cathedral in Seattle, Washington.
A passionate recitalist, he has made guest appearances in the United States, Canada, Taiwan, and France and has collaborated with celebrated pianist Martin Katz. He recently added Winterreise to his repertoire, appearing with fortepianist James Janssen at Haydn-by-the-Lake in Evanston, Illinois, and at the University of Notre Dame. A specialist in French mélodie, he was a finalist in the “Grand Concours de Chant: Tribute to Gerard Souzay” in 2009 and has commissioned and premiered French songs by Canadian composer J. Scott Brubacher. In 2012, he received an award to work in Paris with coach Antoine Palloc and was the winner of the Central Region Herald Stark award in the National Association of Teachers of Singing Artist Awards competition. He has also been featured as a Stern Fellow at SongFest, singing in the west-coast premiere of John Musto’s “Book of Uncommon Prayer.” A lover of new music, for two seasons he appeared in numerous recital, chamber music, and opera performances as an Artist Fellow in the Atlantic Music Festival, singing new works by young American composers.
Born and raised in Ontario, Canada, Mr. Lancaster began his musical studies at an early age, earning certificates in piano and voice from the Royal Conservatory of Music in Toronto. After moving to the United States with his family during high school, he studied sacred music at the Moody Bible Institute in Chicago, and earned graduate degrees in vocal performance from the University of Notre Dame (M.M.) and the University of Michigan (A.Mus.D.) His teachers have included Judith Haddon, Caroline Helton, and George Shirley. A committed and active pedagogue, he was a member of the voice faculty of the Franco-American Vocal Academy in Périgord, France in 2009 and since 2007, he has taught at the University of Notre Dame, where he is currently Assistant Professional Specialist of Voice. He is also active in sacred music as a singer, organist, and choral conductor, having served in various churches, performed sacred concerts, and conducted workshops in the United States and France. Currently he teaches in the Master of Sacred Music at the University of Notre Dame and serves as Choir Director and Associate Organist at St. David of Wales Episcopal Church in Elkhart, Indiana.
