ABOUT
VOX is a classically-trained vocal ensemble specializing in opera, musical theatre, and crossover music. VOX had their first public performance in 2015 on NBC's hit TV show America's Got Talent. The group met in college while studying music and soon realized that combining their voices produced a uniquely powerful sound. Whether singing the soaring arias of opera's greatest composers, performing the heart-wrenching melodies of musical theatre's greatest shows, or putting their signature twist on the chart-topping hits of today, VOX offers something truly special for every audience.
MEMBERS
VOX features tenor Arnold Geis and baritones Kevin Blickfeldt and DeMar Neal.
Kevin Blickfeldt, baritone
Kevin Blickfeldt performs regularly in opera, musical theatre, oratorio, recital, and concert works around the globe. Recent performance credits include El General (La Curandera), Maximilian (Candide), Dr. Malatesta (Don Pasquale), and the baritone soloist in Carmina Burana with the Riverside Master Chorale. He possesses degrees in voice from both Florida State University and the University of Southern California.
Arnold Geis, tenor
Arnold Livingston Geis is a Los Angeles based performer. A member of the Los Angeles Opera chorus since 2013, Geis has appeared on the Dorothy Chandler stage in favorites such as Carmen, La Traviata, and Billy Budd. Geis also sings with the Los Angeles Master Chorale, and has soloed at the Walt Disney Concert Hall in Handel’s Messiah, Bach’s St. Matthew Passion, and Beethoven’s Missa Solemnis. Geis’ recent stage credits include Cavaliere Belfiore (Il viaggio a Reims), Chevalier (Dialogues of the Carmelites), Laurie Lawrence (Little Women), and Ferrando (Cosi fan tutte). He is honored to have worked under the esteemed conductors Gustavo Dudamel, Michael Tilson Thomas, James Conlon, and Grant Gershon. Film score credits include Maze Runner, Godzilla, The Rise of the Planet of the Apes, and 50 Shades of Grey, among others. Geis holds a MM in vocal arts from The University of Southern California. SAG-AFTRA, AGMA
DeMar Neal, baritone
DeMar Austin Neal, IV is a critically-acclaimed performer, educator, researcher, arranger, stage director, and conductor currently based in Raleigh, North Carolina. He enjoys a diverse performance career, with regular engagements in opera, operetta, music theater, concert, and choral organizations across the United States and abroad. He has performed as a soloist with the North Carolina Opera, Greenville Light Opera Works, the Prizery, the Raleigh Symphony Orchestra, and the Tiber Sinfonia Festival among others and his favorite roles include Papageno, Junius, Ko-Ko, the Modern Major General, and King Herod. DeMar holds degrees in vocal performance from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, the Boston Conservatory, and the Florida State University.
ASSOCIATED ARTISTS
JJ Lopez, tenor
Mr. Lopez has performed as a soloist at the Walt Disney Concert in Handel’s Messiah as well as in Bruckner's Great Mass with the Los Angeles Master Chorale. He is a principal artist with the L.A. Opera Education program and had his L.A. Opera main stage debut in El gato montés starring Plácido Domingo. JJ is a member of the L.A. Opera Chorus and the L.A. Master Chorale where he performs regularly at Disney Concert Hall and the Hollywood Bowl with the L.A. Philharmonic. JJ was a District Winner and a Regional Finalist in the Metropolitan Opera National Competition. He also won First Place in the Center Stage Opera Competition along with being awarded Audience Favorite and the L.A. Opera Encouragement Award. He has been a finalist in the Palm Springs Opera Guild Competition, Zachary Society Vocal Competition and The Pasadena Opera Guild Vocal Competition.
Benjamin Lee, tenor
Benjamin Lee, described as a "tenore di grazia with effortless high notes and flawless fioriture," (http://seenandheard-international.com) is a first year Artist Diploma student at the Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Musicunder the instruction of Tom Baresel. In 2015, he received the John Alexander Award at the Conservatory's annual Corbett Opera Competition. He recently made his debut as a Gaddes Festival Artist in Opera Theatre of St. Louis's production of Strauss' Ariadne auf Naxos as Brighella under the baton of maestro Rory Macdonald and director Sean Curran. Benjamin is looking forward to the 2017 summer season with Cincinnati Opera in their production of Frida, and with CCM Opera as #5 in Transformations and Arbace in Idomeneo.
Mario Rojas, tenor
Mexican tenor Mario Rojas, studies at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music, under the tutelage of César Ulloa. Mr. Rojas is the recipient of the Placido Domingo scholarship from SIVAM, Mexico's most prominent young artist program and one of the youngest singers to receive this scholarship. Winner of the Marta Eggerth Kiepura Award in Licia Albanese Puccini Foundation International Vocal Completion 2015, also a winner of the 3rd place in Palm Springs Opera Guild Competitions 2015, the Special Encouragement Award from the Metropolitan Opera Western District Auditions 2015, and 2nd place in the East Bay Opera League 2016.
David Castillo, baritone
David Castillo is a New Orleans-native performing artist and producer who delivers "impassioned," (LA Times) "beautifully sung and confidently acted" (Opera News) performances in the US and Europe. Castillo collaborates on and creates many cutting edge projects in music and theatre. He graduated with Honors both from the University of Southern California and from Loyola University New Orleans.