Damien Geter
Damien Geter is an acclaimed American composer who infuses classical music with various styles from the Black diaspora to create music that furthers the cause for social justice. His rapidly growing and “invigoratingly fresh” (Opera Today) body of work includes chamber, vocal, orchestral, and full operatic works, with his compositions praised for their “skillful vocal writing” (Wall Street Journal). He is also a celebrated bass-baritone – “amazing to listen to. Possessed of a rolling, resonant voice even at the lowest register” (Northwest Reverb) – whose varied credits include performances from the operatic stage to the television screen. Called “superb” by The News Tribune, DC Theater Arts praises his “commanding presence and voice full of bass-baritone gravitas”. He serves as Richmond Symphony’s Composer-in-Residence through 2026 and Interim Music Director & Artistic Advisor at Portland Opera.
Composer
Conductor
Bass-Baritone
Upcoming Events
COMPOSITION
Amanirenas
Aspen Music Festival
August 7, 2024
Gentle lady, do not sing
Chamber Music by James Joyce, Volume I (Signum Classics)
September 20, 2024
Amanirenas
Friends of Chamber Music Denver
October 2, 2024
Amanirenas
Music Academy of the West Mariposa Concert Series
October 5, 2024
Delta King’s Blues (Workshop)
IN Series
January 25, 2025
Amanirenas
Washington Performing Arts
March 9, 2025
Amanirenas
92nd Street Y, New York
March 11, 2025
Amanirenas
Nashville Symphony
March 16, 2025
Loving v. Virginia (World Premiere)
Virginia Opera & Richmond Symphony
April 25 to May 11, 2025
PERFORMANCE
Opening Night: Beethoven Gala Celebration
with special guests from the Indianapolis Opera
Carmel Symphony Orchestra
October 5, 2024
America the Beautiful
Carmel Symphony Orchestra
November 16, 2024
The Shining
Portland Opera
March 15 to 23, 2025
Recordings
Chamber Music by James Joyce, Volume 1
Choral Scholars University College Dublin
September 2024, Signum Classics
Includes Gentle lady, do not sing
Elevate: All Classical Radio’s RII, Vol. 2
Recording Inclusivity Initiative
May 2024, Navona Records
Includes String Quartet No. 1 “Neo-Soul”
“Lullaby” from Loving v. Virginia
String Quartet No. 1, Neo-Soul
Sinfonia Americana
"This is My Body" from American Apollo
Cantata for a More Hopeful Tomorrow
“Geter’s sound palette is very much his own distinct voice, and invigoratingly fresh”
—Opera Today
“Skillful vocal writing”
—Wall Street Journal
“If I had but one word to sum up composer and bass-baritone Damien Geter… I’ll go with ‘major.’”
—Washington Post
