Evan Thomas Jones, baritone, Assistant Professor of Voice, has sung a wide variety of roles in opera, most notably both Mozart and Rossini’s Figaro, Papageno in Die Zauberflöte, Raimbaud in Le Comte Ory and Sam in Trouble in Tahiti. In addition to an active opera career, Mr. Jones has portrayed a number of roles in musical theater and operetta. Highlights include the roles of Voltaire and Pangloss in Candide, Dr. Falke in Die Fledermaus, Danilo Danilovich in The Merry Widow, and Fredrik Egerman in A Little Night Music. In concert he has been featured as the baritone soloist in Fauré’s Requiem, Beethoven’s Missa Solemnis, Bach's Magnificat and John Rutter’s Mass for the Children. He is particularly in demand as an interpreter of the concert repertoire of Ralph Vaughn Williams’ having performed the Five Mystical Songs, Serenade to Music, Dona Nobis Pacem and Fantasia On Christmas Carols. Mr. Jones has sung with the Berkshire Opera Company, Compañía Lírica Nacional de Costa Rica, Eastman Opera Theater, Mercury Opera, Florida State Opera, Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra, Finger Lakes Choral Festival and the Augusta Choral Society.

Mr. Jones is also active in the performance of new works. In 2009, the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra and Chorus released the world premiere recording of Randol Bass’ Passage Into Spirit on which Mr. Jones was the featured soloist. In the fall of 2010, Mr. Jones created the role of Roger Clinton in the world premiere performance of a new opera entitled Billy Blythe in Little Rock Arkansas. He will be reprising the role in the premiere recording  which will be released in the spring 2012.

The 2011-2012 season will feature debuts with Opera Memphis as Frank in Die Fledermaus and with the Memphis Masterworks Chorale as the Bass Soloist in Haydn's Creation. Additionally, Mr. Jones will be returning to Helena, Montana to perform with the Helena Symphony as the Baritone Soloist in Orff's Carmina Burana.

Mr. Jones joined the faculty at the University of Memphis in the fall of 2010 having previously served as the Director of Vocal Activities at the University of North Alabama. Mr. Jones received his Bachelor and Master’s in Vocal Performance from Florida State University and is currently finishing his Doctorate in Vocal Performance and Literature at the Eastman School of Music.  While at Eastman he was rewarded for excellence in both performing and teaching by winning first place in the Friends of Eastman Opera Competition and by becoming the first recipient of the William McIver Memorial Award in teaching.