Jeff Ray

Jeff Ray, Second Priest

 

 

 

 

 

 

Baritone Jeffrey Ray has performed in operatic and concert halls throughout the United States and Europe.  Highlights from his operatic career have included numerous performances with Lyric Opera of Chicago and Berlin’s Deutche Oper.   He has been heard frequently in the roles of Don Giovanni, Figaro in Il Barbiere di Siviglia, Sharpless in Madama Butterfly, Marcello in La Boheme, Valentin in Faust, Lescaut in Manon, and as the Father in Hansel und Gretel. Baritone Jeffrey is an alum of Lyric Opera of Chicago’s Patrick G. and Shirley W. Ryan Opera Center. He did his Master’s studies at Manhattan School of Music and received his Bachelor’s degree from DePaul University.

Jeffrey has been heard often on the concert stage as well, singing Handel’s Messiah, the works of Bach, Mendelssohn and Rossini, Vaughan Williams’ A Sea Symphony, Beethoven’s 9th Symphony, as well as Mozart, Brahms and Verdi’s Requiems.  He has sung with the Berlin Rundfunks Orchester, the Munich Bach Festival, and has been featured at the Ravinia Festival where he is also an alum of the Steans Institute.

Jeffrey is passionate about song repertoire and in constant demand as a recitalist and clinician. He has been heard Live from the Levin Studio on WFMT, and in recital from Atlanta’s Spivey Hall to The Schubert Festival, to Jimmy Stewart’s hometown of Indiana, Pennsylvania.  In addition to singing recitals and concerts he enjoys working with students in master classes as well as in the studio. Mr. Ray has an extensive voice studio which includes teaching at DePaul University where he received the Excellence in Teaching Award in 2022, as well as The University of Chicago where he was named to the prestigious New Music Ensemble along with the acclaimed Spektral Quartet.

Jeffrey enjoys having the opportunity to perform with Chicago area orchestras.  Over the years he has been heard singing Broadway classics, operatic hits and oratorio favorites with the Park Ridge Symphony, The University of Chicago Symphony, DuPage Symphony, DuPage Opera Theater, West Suburban Symphony, Joliet Symphony and the Elgin Symphony.

Mr. Ray can often be heard singing the National Anthem for our Chicago Blackhawks, Bears, Bulls and Cubs.