Damien Geter

Damien Geter is an acclaimed American composer whose rapidly growing body of work includes chamber, vocal, orchestral, and full operatic works. Praised by The New Yorker for writing “beautifully for voices and elegantly for orchestra,” his “emotionally driven” (Opera) compositions are widely hailed 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. Geter is Richmond Symphony’s Composer-in-Residence through 2026, and Composer-in-Residence for Fall 2025 at both Indiana State University’s Contemporary Music Festival and Ear Taxi Festival. He serves as Music Director for Portland Opera.

Composer

Conductor

 Upcoming Events

American Apollo
West Edge Opera
August 8, 13 & 16, 2026

String Quartet No. 2, Reconstruction
World Premiere
The Belvedere Series
September 20, 2026

Declaration
New York Premiere
Carnegie Hall
October 16, 2026

Declaration
Anna H. Wang Concert Series
October 24, 2026

COTTON
Kentucky Opera
November 20-22, 2026

COTTON
Charleston Gaillard Center
January 15, 2027

I Said What I Said
Justice Symphony
Santa Monica Symphony
January 16, 2026

Amanirenas
Nashville Symphony
March 4 & 5, 2027

Piano Concerto No. 1, Nina
Oakland Symphony
March 19, 2027

Amanirenas
West Coast Premiere
Pacific Symphony
June 10-12, 2027

John Lewis: Good Trouble
Cincinnati Opera
June 18 & 20, 2027
Assistant Conductor, Chorus Master

 Podcast

The purpose of ARTillery is to discuss how artists have used their work to fight against, or respond to, oppressive regimes or systems that plagued their countries, their culture, and/or our universal global society. Each episode will revolve around a musician, painter, poet, visual artist, an actor, or a movement, who was fearless enough to stand up to those in charge.

 Recordings