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About Drake

Drake is an active performer, teacher, and director, engaging audiences and students across the United States

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Singer
 

Drake Dantzler is a frequent performer of Opera, Oratorio and song. Mr. Dantzler was hailed in Opera News as “a real find: he has a voice of molten silver, immaculate musicianship and an expressive stage persona.” Drake has performed leading roles across the United States, with particular experience in Operetta. Drake regularly appears with symphonies, performing a wide variety of repertoire. As as recitalist, Drake tours recitals of 21st Century Art Song across colleges and stages around the United States with college Victoria Shively.

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Teacher

​Drake is a passionate teacher, drawing technique elements from the teachings of Jonathan Retzlaff, Mark Oswald, Brian Gill, and Stephen Smith. His students are frequently accepted into elite graduate schools, and they have won numerous national and regional competitions including multiple winners of the NATS National Student Auditions and encouragement awards at MONC. Drake teaches at Oakland University in Rochester, MI, and privately.

Drake is also passionate about voice science. Recently completed research investigated Flowball Interventions in Collegiate Aged Singers, and Drake's research has been presented at Voice Foundation Symposiums, NATS National Conferences, and MSVMA Summer Conferences.  Drake has also presented at conferences in Europe and Asia.

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Director
 

Drake is Director of Opera Studies at Oakland University. At Oakland Drake coordinates a vibrant training program that focuses on the student performer. Opera Workshop classes intensely focus on training students in performance and movement skills. Oakland produces one fully staged, costumed opera each year with full orchestra. Productions have included Cosí fan tutti, Gianni Schicchi/ Suor Angelica, Die Fledermaus, Pirates of Penzance, Martha, L'incoronazione di Poppea, The Magic Flute, Street Scene, Dialogues of the Carmelites, Patience, and Acis and Galatea. Students have been accepted at numerous major graduate schools, and have participated in training programs with Chicago Lyric and the Merola program amongst others.

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