Studio Faculty - Voice

Biography

Alvin Brightbill holds a Bachelor of Music Degree from Chapman University and a Master of Fine Arts Degree in Voice and Conducting from California Institute of the Arts. As a professional Tenor Soloist, Mr. Brightbill has sung extensively throughout the West Western United States in appearances with the Carmel, Oregon and Los Angeles Bach Festivals, the San Luis Obispo Mozart Festival, the William Hall Chorale, the Roger Wagner Chorale, the Los Angeles Master Chorale, Cuesta Chorale and the San Diego Master Chorale. He has also appeared in roles with the Portland Opera, Long Beach Opera, Western Opera Theater and the Guild and Euterpe Opera companies of Los Angeles. Appearances with orchestras include the La Jolla, Santa Monica, Irvine, Long Beach, Aliso Viejo and Bakersfield Symphonies. He has appeared as soloist with Robert Shaw, Roger Wagner, Helmuth Rilling, Sir David Wilcocks and recently appeared with jazz legend, Dave Brubeck and his quartet in the role of the Cantor in a performance of Mr. Brubreck’s oratorio “Gates of Justice”.

Mr. Brightbill has recorded as a soloist with the Roger Wagner Chorale on a recording of sacred Latin American choral music and was also the voice of Carmine in an operatic spoof on an episode of “Laverne and Shirley” and provided the operatic voice for Rodney Dangerfield in his last film “The 4th Tenor”. Recent performances have taken him to Austin Texas for performance with the Austin Civic Chorus and members of the Austin Symphony and was soloist for the West Coast Premiere of Jonathan Willcocks’ “A Great and Glorious Victory” with the composer conducting. Regarding his singing, the LA Times wrote “..He sang with clarion sounds and thrilling exigency”. Of his conducting, the Times wrote. “A well motivated, serious and probing performance” (Beethoven Missa Solemnis) and the OC Register wrote…”The Chorale’s powerful sound never becomes strident, the mark of a craftsman” ( Bach b minor Mass). He served as Chairman of the Music Department and Director of Choral and Vocal Studies at Saddleback College for 30 years until his retirement in May of 2005. He continues to teach as an adjunct Professor of Voice at California State University, Fullerton and Concordia University, and is in constant demand as a vocal and choral clinician, soloist and choral and vocal adjudicator.