T.J. Callahan
Bass-baritone
Bass-baritone T.J. Callahan is inspired by the collaborative power of the voice and specializes in creating compelling performances of ensemble music from all eras. Currently based in Baltimore, Maryland, he has recently been active both in England and the United States. He made his operatic debut in 2023, performing as Adonis in John Blow’s Venus and Adonis with Peabody Opera Theatre. While in England he was actively engaged as an ensemble singer, appearing with Contact Polyphony, as a soloist in The 24, and with the Lacock Scholars in the London Festival of Contemporary Church Music. An early music specialist, he sang with the Rameau Project in the UK premiere of the original 1737 version of Castor et Pollux at both the Sheldonian Theatre and as a solo chorister at Stour Music.
Equally comfortable in liturgical and concert settings, T.J. currently sings with the fully professional choir of Emmanuel Episcopal Church, Baltimore. Previously, he served as a Deputy Vicar Choral in the York Minster Choir and for five years he was a soloist at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, Seattle. He has performed with members of the Tallis Scholars and appeared in Seattle and Portland with the Byrd Ensemble and Sound City Singers, performing repertoire ranging from Renaissance masses to commissioned arrangements of popular music. In 2019, he helped found Radiance, a professional ensemble specializing in early and contemporary American repertoire, alongside Artistic Director Markdavin Obenza. He sang alongside Radiance on the Library of Congress’s Homegrown Concert Series performing Shaker music in 2020.
T.J. is lucky to enjoy frequent engagements as a studio artist with vocal ensembles. He can be heard on the world premiere recording of Nico Muhly’s Small Raine with the Tudor Choir, and has done studio work for Vox16, the Byrd Ensemble, and electronic music duo ODESZA.
In addition to his performing career, T.J. is passionate about arts access and worked for Seattle Opera for four years, supporting community engagement projects including school touring operas, youth programs, and collaborative partnerships. He also wrote and edited enrichment content for mainstage performances including Charlie Parker’s Yardbird. He holds a Bachelor’s in Computer Science from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and completed his Master’s in Solo Voice Ensemble singing with distinction in 2022, studying under Robert Hollingworth at the University of York. In 2024, he earned his Master’s in Historical Performance Voice at Peabody Conservatory, where he featured regularly as a soloist and chamber vocal performer in NEXT Ensemble and the Peabody Renaissance Ensemble.
More at tjcbass.com.
T.J. Callahan is a 2024 Charlotte Bach Festival Vocal Fellow.
Funding for the 2024 Vocal Fellows Program is generously provided by the Maurer Family Foundation