Biraj Barkakaty
Performance highlights include Oberon with the Aspen Music Festival, 3rd Israelite with Music of the Baroque in Chicago, the title role in the world premiere of Cavalli’s Xerse with Ensemble OrQuesta, and Kenny Stiller in the world premiere of Keeper’s of the Light at the Nahant Music Festival in Boston. Recent engagements include Cantata 12 with Bach Around the Clock in Virginia, Fidele in ‘Diary of a Madman’ with Seattle’s LowBrow Opera Collective, and the Open Gates Project C3: with the Gotham Early Music Scene in NYC in February.
Biraj was an Alto Lay Clerk at St.George’s Chapel, Windsor Castle for 4 years where he performed in many tours, recordings and royal events, including the wedding of HM Majesty King Charles III and The Queen Consort, and was a staff Alto at Washington National Cathedral from 2016-21. He also performed with the London based Siglo de Oro Vocal Ensemble at the Tager Alte Musik in Regensburg in 2021.Other recent projects include Adnan in the world premiere of A Silver Spoon at the Beaumaris Festival in Wales in July with Keynote Opera, Ottone in The Coronation of Poppea with Capitol Opera Richmond in July, The Messiah with the St. Thomas Choir of Men and Boys in NYC, and Christmas Concerts with The Breath Collective Ensemble in Cincinnati. He was a featured artist with Faces of Early Music America in February and is was a Young Artist on the joint opera mentorship/ observorship program with Glyndebourne and Pegasus Opera. Upcoming engagements include his musical theatre debut as Fakir in The Secret Garden with Theatre Lab Dayton next month, the role of Vasu in the opera Ganga at the National Opera Studio in London in June and the role of Cavalera in the UK premiere of Frida with the Norther Opera Group in Leeds in September.
Get To Know Our Artists
Where did you do your musical training?
Trinity Laban Conservatoire in London and the Manhattan School of Music
When did you first start performing with the TFC?
Feb 2023
What is your all-time favorite choral work?
Bring Us O Lord God, William Harris
Where do you live now? And where do you call “home”?
Greater DC area, but home is South London
What is your favorite hobby outside of music?
Playing Cricket or Snooker
Who is your favorite singer?
Sia
Who is your favorite actor?
Edward Norton
Favorite movie or play?
Gladiator
What is your favorite meal?
Pizza
Who is your favorite sports team?
Crystal Palace ( The Pride of South London!)
Do you have a favorite TFC or “singing with Rob” anecdote?
Yes, going to Edmunds Oast Brewery with everyone after the final concert in Feb, only to find out it was an Arsenal pub! - much to Rob’s dismay!
