Jonathan Estabrooks

Jonathan Estabrooks (born 1983) is a Canadian baritone, record producer, executive producer and graduate of the Juilliard School. He is active in the Canadian and American Opera, Concert and Musical Theatre worlds and on YouTube. He was executive producer and creator of Artists for the Arts, a charity single and music video in support of Americans for the Arts in their efforts to save the National Endowment for the Arts [1]

Jonathan Estabrooks
Background information
Birth nameJonathan Matthew Estabrooks
Born(1983-07-15)July 15, 1983
Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
GenresOpera, Classical-Crossover musical theatre
Occupation(s)Singer, Executive Producer, Director, Musician, Actor.
InstrumentsBaritone
Years active1990 - Present
Websitewww.jonathanestabrooks.com

Music career

Born in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, Estabrooks began his musical training as a member of the Opera Lyra Ottawa Boys Choir and Opera Lyra Chorus.[2] He first sang with orchestra in 1994 as the Shepherd Boy in Tosca by Puccini.[3] In 1993 he joined the Company of Musical Theatre, appearing is such productions as Annie, Oliver! as 'Oliver Twist', the Will Rogers Follies and West Side Story.[4]

In October 1999, he sang as part of a vocal quartet for the opening of a new US Embassy in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada for then President Bill Clinton, and Prime Minister of Canada, Jean Chrétien.[5]

He earned his Bachelor of Music degree from the University of Toronto in 2006 and his Masters of Music degree from the Juilliard School in 2009, where he was a student of Marlena Malas. He is a graduate of Ashbury College. He has also coached with Brian Zeger, Joan Dornemann, Craig Rutenberg, Margo Garrett, Nico Castel, Joan Dornemann and Denise Masse.

Estabrooks sang with the Juilliard Orchestra for the New York Premiere of Siarra a work for baritone and orchestra as part of the 2009 Juilliard Focus Festival.[6] Estabrooks was a finalist in the 2007 Bryan Law Opera Competition[7] and the 2009 Lyndon Woodside Solo Competition[8] performed at Carnegie Hall.

He made his National Arts Centre Orchestra debut in 2007,[9] with Pinchas Zukerman conducting and his National Arts Centre recital debut in 2009.[2][10][11]

Estabrooks was the baritone soloist in Brahms' Eine Deutsches Requiem with Coro Vivo Ottawa in 2008[12] and has also performed with the Kennett Symphony of Chester County[13] and the Aldeburgh Connection[14] recital series. He was also a 2009 finalist in the Brian Law Opera Scholarship in Ottawa sponsored by the National Capital Opera Society.[15] He appeared with pianist Joel Harder at the Caramoor Festival, presenting three concerts for the Holiday Musicale series at the Rosen House.[16]

On June 19, 2009 in Ottawa, he made his National Arts Centre Recital debut with soprano Meghan McPhee as participants in the NAC Summer Music Institute.[17] Other recent credits include performances with the Israeli Chamber Orchestra, and a 20-city tour in L’Elisir d’Amore with Jeunesses Musicales. In April, at New York's Weill Recital Hall, Estabrooks won the top prize in a competition presented by the Oratorio Society of New York.[18]

Estabrooks made his Opera Lyra Ottawa main-stage debut in the role of Silvio in September 2011 at the National Arts Centre.[18][19] He debuted with the Greenwich Choral Society singing the baritone solo for In Terra Pax and a world premiere by composer Rob Mathes.[20][21]

He made his Toronto Symphony Orchestra debut on October 9 and 10, 2012 with conductor Steven Reineke in a program entitled "Some Enchanted Evening: The Music of Rodgers & Hammerstein" with Broadway stars Ashley Brown and Aaron Lazar.[22] He returned to Roy Thomson Hall with the Toronto Symphony Orchestra on May 20 and 21, 2014 to perform in Classical Broadway: Lerner and Loewe.[23]

On March 5, 2013, Estabrooks made his Carnegie Hall-Stern Auditorium Debut with conductor Kent Tritle and the Oratorio Society of New York in the New York premiere of Paul Moravec's 'Blizzard Voices'.[24]

He appeared as the Baron in the Opera Lyra Ottawa production of La Traviata on March 21 and 23, 2013 with the National Arts Centre Orchestra alongside Corrine Winters, Eric Magiore, Marion Newman, Gregory Dahl and conductor Tyrone Paterson.[25]

On July 15, 2013, Estabrooks successfully raised US$25,730 on the funding website Kickstarter for the recording of his debut album with orchestra.[26] Entitled "These Miles" it was released on April 8, 2014 fusing elements of classical, pop and classic musical theatre with the lushness of the Macedonia Radio Orchestra. Collaborations include tenor Jonathan Antoine, formerly of the duo Jonathan and Charlotte and New Age classical pianist and composer Jennifer Thomas (pianist). It was produced by Dave Reitzas, Oran Eldor and himself and was recorded with the help of over 50 musicians from around the world.[26]

On November 21 & 22, 2014, Estabrooks made his Vancouver Symphony Orchestra debut in a program of Lerner and Loewe alongside Steven Reineke, tenor David Curry, and soprano Amy Wallis.[27]

In March 2015 he made his Seattle Symphony debut with conductor Steven Reineke in a program entitled "Some Enchanted Evening: A Rodgers & Hammerstein Celebration" with Broadway stars Ashley Brown and Aaron Lazar.[28]

On September 24, 2015, with only 2-weeks notice, he stepped in for an ailing baritone to play the lead role of Bum Phillips in Bum Phillips All American Opera, telling the story of the head coach of the Houston Oilers. The performance marked the opera's Houston premiere at the Stafford Township Arts Center and a benefit for the Dan Pastorini charity.[29]

On March 7, 2017, executive producer Estabrooks, producer Michael J. Moritz Jr., Broadway orchestrator Charlie Rosen, and producer Van Dean of Broadway Records helped gather a galaxy of stars at Avatar Studios in New York and Los Angeles gathered a galaxy of voices and performers for an all-star single and video to benefit Americans For The Arts. Their gospel-tinged cover of The Beatles' "With a Little Help From My Friends" was released on March 23, 2017, just a week after the National Endowment for the Arts and other arts organizations came under fire in President Trump's proposed budget. Participating artists included television star Annie Golden, Chris Mann and Peter Hollens; Broadway stars Telly Leung, Lexi Lawson, Liz Callaway, Ektor Rivera, Bryan Terrell Clark (Hamilton), Lillias White (Fela!, The Life), Aaron Lazar (The Last Ship, The Light In the Piazza), Ashley Brown, Carmen Cusack, Cass Dillon, Lauren Jelencovich (Yanni Vocalist), Noah Stewart; spoken word artists Taylor Mali, Trace DePass, Shanelle Gabriel; cabaret stars Natalie Douglas and KT Sullivan, and a pop chorus of 50 accompanied by full orchestra.

100% of net proceeds from the single went to support Americans For The Arts and their efforts in Arts Advocacy, funding and education in order to protect the National Endowment for the Arts.[30]

In October 2019, Estabrooks created the role of Mat Burke in the world premiere production of Anna Christie, a new music drama based on the Eugene O'Neill play. It was composed by Edward Thomas with libretto by Joseph Masteroff and was be produced by Encompass New Opera Theatre at Baruch College Performing Arts Centre. A recording with the original cast, produced by Thomas Z. Shepard and conducted by Julian Wachner, with the orchestra NOVUS New York, was released by Broadway Records on August 16, 2019. It was a collaboration of Trinity Church and Encompass New Opera Theatre and debuted at #6 on the Billboard classical album chart.[31]

Mr. Estabrooks is currently directing and co-producing BLACK OPERA, A documentary film celebrating the breakout careers of the first generation of African-American opera superstars. It will feature Leontyne Price, Simon Estes, Grace Bumbry, Martina Arroyo, George Shirley and Jessye Norman.[32]

Awards, honors and distinctions

Discography

These Miles
Independent (CD: April 8, 2014, ASIN: B00IT4YEFQ) [33]

  1. Play Me — 3:54
  2. Kathy's Song — 3:36
  3. Time After Time — 4:51
  4. Le Cose Che Tu Sei— 4:39
  5. Calling You — 5:12
  6. She — 4:29
  7. Por Una Cabeza — 3:44
  8. Always On My Mind — 3:28
  9. Away From the Roll of the Sea — 4:09
  10. Any Place I Hang My Hat is Home — 4:46
  11. All the Things You Are/Hymne a L'amour — 4:46
  12. Fly Away — 3:36

With A Little Help From My Friends - Single
Broadway Records (Single: March 2017, ASIN: B06XQ7GHYC) [34]

  1. With A Little Help From My Friends — 4:43

Anna Christie: World Premiere Recording
Broadway Records (CD: August 16, 2019, ASIN: B07TNVX4RT) [35]

Disc: 1

  1. Act 1, Scene 1: Prelude
  2. Act 1, Scene 1: Inside Larry's Bar, Chris and Larry
  3. Act 1, Scene 1: Marthy Enters
  4. Act 1, Scene 1: Anna Enters
  5. Act 1, Scene 1: Chris Re-Awakens
  6. Act 1, Scene 1: Anna and Chris Meet
  7. Act 1, Scene 1: Orchestral Interlude
  8. Act 1, Scene 2: Anna and Chris on His Barge
  9. Act 1, Scene 2: Orchestral Interlude
  10. Act 1, Scene 2: Mat Enters
  11. Act 1, Scene 2: Anna and Mat Alone
  12. Act 1, Scene 2: Chris Re-Enters

Disc: 2

  1. Act 2, Scene 1: The Cabin on Chris's Barge; Chris and Anna
  2. Act 2, Scene 1: Mat and Chris
  3. Act 2, Scene 1: Anna Enters
  4. Act 2, Scene 1: Orchestral Interlude
  5. Act 2, Scene 2: On the Deck of the Barge, Anna and Chris
  6. Act 2, Scene 2: Mat Returns

References
  1. "Broadway Stars Come Together For All-Star Single 'With a Little Help From My Friends' to Support the Arts". Billboard. March 23, 2017. Retrieved August 8, 2017.
  2. smazey (June 17, 2009). "McPhee and Estabrooks in recital; Nicole Cabell in NAC debut - Classical Ottawa". Communities.canada.com. Archived from the original on January 18, 2013. Retrieved August 12, 2009.
  3. "Production History | Opera Lyra". Operalyra.ca. Archived from the original on June 14, 2009. Retrieved August 12, 2009.
  4. "The Company of Musical Theatre". Ottawatheatre.ca. Archived from the original on August 27, 2009. Retrieved August 12, 2009.
  5. "NAC Orchestra's 2009 Debut Series of recitals and "Exploration of the Concerto" concludes on June 19 with soprano Maghan McPhee, National Arts Centre". Nac-cna.ca. June 16, 2009. Archived from the original on July 24, 2009. Retrieved August 12, 2009.
  6. Tommasini, Anthony (January 26, 2009). "Pricking Up the Ears to Listen for Echoes of California". The New York Times. Retrieved May 7, 2010.
  7. "National Capital Opera Society". Ncos.ca. Archived from the original on June 14, 2008. Retrieved August 12, 2009.
  8. "Oratorio Society of New York - Solo Competition Finals". Oratoriosocietyofny.org. April 4, 2009. Archived from the original on April 24, 2009. Retrieved August 12, 2009.
  9. "Celebrate Canada at the National Arts Centre". Nac-cna.ca. June 27, 2007. Archived from the original on July 6, 2011. Retrieved August 12, 2009.
  10. "National Arts Centre - Centre national des Arts". 29056.vws.magma.ca. June 16, 2009. Retrieved August 12, 2009.
  11. "LSM Newswire: NAC Feb. 12: Debut Series with Shanshan Yao". Scena.org. February 3, 2009. Retrieved August 12, 2009.
  12. Ottawa, The (March 29, 2008). "Going Out". Canada.com. Archived from the original on November 6, 2012. Retrieved August 12, 2009.
  13. "Kennett Symphony of Chester County - June, 2008 Concert". Kennettsymphony.org. June 27, 2009. Archived from the original on August 3, 2012. Retrieved August 12, 2009.
  14. "Past Concerts". Aldeburgh Connection. Archived from the original on June 16, 2009. Retrieved August 12, 2009.
  15. "Communities; Ottawa". The Ottawa Citizen. November 23, 2009. Retrieved March 24, 2011.
  16. "CALENDAR; Westchester". The New York Times. December 13, 2009. Retrieved May 7, 2010.
  17. "NACO, June 19: Debut Series features soprano Maghan McPhee; Ottawa". Ottawa Start. June 16, 2009. Archived from the original on July 28, 2011. Retrieved March 24, 2011.
  18. "Jonathan Estabrooks returns to stage where he fell in love with Opera". Retrieved March 30, 2011.
  19. "Opera Lyra flying high; Ottawa". The Ottawa Citizen. March 22, 2011. Retrieved March 30, 2011.
  20. "Choral Society Christmas Concert hits emotional high note". Retrieved December 22, 2011.
  21. "Concerts". Archived from the original on February 18, 2012. Retrieved December 22, 2011.
  22. "Some Enchanted Evening: the music of Rodger and Hammerstein". Archived from the original on October 27, 2012. Retrieved October 12, 2012.
  23. "Classic Broadway: Lerner and Loewe". Archived from the original on August 8, 2014. Retrieved July 31, 2014.
  24. "Carnegie Hall Calendar: American Voices". Retrieved January 21, 2013.
  25. "Opera Lyra Ottawa 2012/13 Season". Archived from the original on February 16, 2013. Retrieved March 7, 2013.
  26. "Jonathan Estabrooks: Many miles on this album's road". Retrieved July 31, 2014.
  27. "Tickets Tonight". Retrieved March 19, 2015.
  28. "Some Enchanted Evening: Rodgers & Hammerstein Celebration". Retrieved March 19, 2015.
  29. "Bum Phillips Opera". Archived from the original on February 24, 2016. Retrieved February 17, 2016.
  30. "Broadway Stars Come Together For All-Star Single 'With a Little Help From My Friends' to Support the Arts". Retrieved April 3, 2017.
  31. "Anna Christie Opera". AnnaChristieOpera.com. July 23, 2019. Retrieved July 23, 2019.
  32. "BLACK OPERA". IMDB.com. February 9, 2020. Retrieved February 9, 2020.
  33. These Miles by Jonathan Estabrooks AllMusicGuide, viewed and archived July 31, 2014.
  34. With A Little Help From My Friends by Artists For The Arts Amazon, viewed and archived April 3, 2017.
  35. Anna Christie: World Premiere Recording Amazon, viewed and archived July 25, 2019.
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