Thomas Wazelle

Tommy returns to the International Vocal Arts Institute in Tel Aviv-Yafo to sing the title role of Alexander Zemlinsky’s tragic one act opera, Der Zwerg under the baton of Maestro Paul Nadler and the direction of David Drisin.

Tommy performed classics from The Guys and Dolls of Broadway with the Westfield Symphony Orchestra conducted by Maestro David Wroe.

Tommy sang with Sandi Patty and Maestro Jack Everly in Sandi Patty on Broadway with the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra.

Tommy performed in the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra’s Yuletide Celebration with Santa Claus and Maestro Jack Everly.

Tommy performed with Tulsa Opera in the new opera The Little Prince singing the roles of the Lamplighter, the Drunkard, and a Baobab under the baton of Maestra Carol I. Crawford. The opera, written in 2004, is by Rachel Portman. You might have heard her music in such films as The Lake House and Cider House Rules.

Tommy performed the role of Reverend Samuel Parris in the Isreali premiere of Robert Ward’s opera The Crucible at the International Vocal Arts Institute in Tel Aviv-Yafo. The opera is based on Arthur Miller’s play about the Salem Witch Trials of 1692, and the production was conducted by Stephen Byess and directed by David Drisin.

He sang the role of Don Basilio in Mozart’s Le Nozze di Figaro with Tulsa Opera, conducted by Kostis Protopapas and directed by Joshua Major.

Thomas Wazelle has a beautiful, rich tenor voice and a passion for music ranging from opera and classical music to pop, jazz and musical theatre. His sound musicianship and imaginative stagework are gaining him recognition as a fine singing actor. Also a trumpeter, composer and songwriter, he holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Trumpet Performance and Music Composition as well as a Master’s in Vocal Performance.

Tommy’s dynamic voice and vibrant personality are a hit with audiences everywhere. As a featured artist on the Italian cruise ship Costa Atlantica, the increasing demand for his thrilling vocal abilities prompted the cruse line to invite him to develop additional shows featuring his rarely diverse talents in Broadway, pop, jazz and opera. Summer of 2005 featured his debut singing Martin in Copland’s Tenderland at the prestigious International Vocal Arts Institute in Israel. While in Tel Aviv, he was also featured in several concerts including the Orchestra at the Pisga Park in Jaffa and in the final Gala Concert singing the famous duet from Les Pêcheurs de Perles with the New Israeli Chamber Orchestra, under the baton of Paul Nadler. He was also featured in a concert of American musical theatre where he delivered a show-stopping rendition of “Gethsemene” from Jesus Christ Superstar.

This summer, Tommy returns to Israel to sing the tilte role of Alexander von Zemlinsky’s tragic one act opera Der Zwerg, under the baton of Maestro Nadler and the direction of internationally acclaimed opera director David Drisin. Tommy recently performed in The Guys and Dolls of Broadway with the Westfield Symphony Orchestra under the baton of David Wroe, and he also performed in the successful run of a new Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra production entitled Sandi Patty on Broadway, with Maestro Jack Everly, director David Levy, and of course the lovely Sandi Patty. Tommy finished out the 2006 year with ISO’s famous Yuletide Celebration after performing the roles of the Lamplighter and Drunkard in Rachel Portman’s new opera The Little Prince with Maestra Carol Crawford at Tulsa Opera.

Last summer, Tommy was invited to Israel to sing the role of Reverend Parris in the Israeli premiere of The Crucible, as well as perform excerpts from L’amico Fritz (Mascagni), Don Giovanni and Die Zauberflöte (Mozart), and Les Pêcheurs de Perles (Bizet) in several concerts with Maestro Nadler. He also performed the world premiere of Three Rounds on the Hill of Winter by John Turner, the first of a cycle of songs set to the poetry of Native American writer Duane Niatum. The conflict with Hizbollah began a few days after his arrival, but no rockets fell in Tel Aviv, making it possible for him and the many talented artists there to continue their work of bringing beautiful music to the public.

Thomas had a busy 2005-06 season. He made his debut as Frederic in The Pirates of Penzance (Sullivan) at Nevada Opera as well as Alfred in Die Fledermaus (J. Strauss) with Opera in the Heights. He performed in a holiday concert at the Donnell Library in New York City and performed the Evangelist and several arias in the Bach Christmas Oratorio with the New York Choral Symphony Society under the baton of Maestro David Labovitz at St. Stephen’s Church in Manhattan. He also returned to Tulsa Opera for their fall performances of Gounod’s Faust, and sang the roles of the Officer in Ariadne Auf Naxos (R. Strauss) and Don Basilio in Le Nozze di Figaro (Mozart) in the Spring.

In January 2005, Mr. Wazelle made his operatic debut with the Tulsa Opera as Ernesto in Don Pasquale (Donizetti) as a member of their studio artist program, and he covered the role of Beppe in I Pagliacci (Leoncavallo). In the Spring of 2005 he joined the Young Artist program at Des Moines Metro Opera, where he covered the role of the Earl of Essex in Britten’s Gloriana.

Musically sound, he enjoys exploring the contemporary music repertoire, and has performed works such as Britten’s Serenade for Tenor, Horn and Strings, Villa-Lobos’ Suite for Voice and Violin, Stravinsky’s Mass, Blacher’s Abstrakt Oper No. 1, Bernstein’s Trouble in Tahiti, Barber’s A Hand of Bridge, and Argento’s Postcards from Morocco.

This young tenor’s talent has been singled out by the Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions where he was named a regional finalist, and he was a state and region winner of the National Association of Teachers of Singing Vocal Competition.

Musical theatre credits include the Balladeer in Assassins (Sondheim), Tommy in Tommy, Tom in Babes in Toyland, Nathan Rothschild in The Rothschild’s, John Astor in Titanic (Yeston), the Professor in South Pacific, and Joseph Buquet in Yeston’s Phantom at Gateway Playhouse.