Welcome to the official website of
KIRK DOUGHERTY, tenor

ABOUT

With a sound combining clarity, strength, and integrity, Kirk Dougherty is one of the most exciting voices in opera today. His expressivity and commitment to both musical and dramatic interpretation has earned him continuous appearances as a leading tenor since he began a serious foray into the repertoire just six years ago. Of his performance in Tosca, the San José Mercury News exclaimed, “Kirk Dougherty shined…The unique timbre and expression of his handsome voice, coupled with refined, satisfying phrasing, provided noteworthy, heartfelt performances of ‘Recondita armonia’ and ‘E lucevan le stelle,’ two of the treasured arias of the repertoire.​
This season, Mr. Dougherty performs as Leicester in Maria Stuarda with Piedmont Opera, as Alfredo in La traviata with Opera Southwest, and as the title role in Les contes d’Hoffmann with Opera Delaware where he will also appear as a soloist in their Winter Opera Jukebox concert. Last season, Mr. Dougherty performed the role of Rodolfo in La bohème with Salt Marsh Opera; Lionetto in Gloria with Teatro Grattacielo; Mr. Cannelloni in The Impresario and Rinuccio in Gianni Schicchi with Knoxville Opera; Almaviva in Il barbiere di Siviglia with Raylynmor Opera; and Cavaradossi in a concert production of Tosca with Helena Symphony and in full production with NJ Festival Orchestra. He also performed the tenor solo in Verdi’s Requiem with Allentown Symphony, performed as a soloist in concert with Opera Delaware, sang the role of Cavaradossi/Rodolfo in “Puccini at the Pendry” concert with Maryland Opera, and Handel’s Messiah with National Chorale.​
Other recent engagements include the role of Duke of Mantua in Rigoletto with Opera Las Vegas, Edgardo in Lucia di Lammermoor with Bob Jones University, Tamino in Die Zauberflöte with Glacier Symphony as part of their Festival Amadeus, Mozart’s Solemn Vespers for MidAmerica Productions at Carnegie Hall, Rinuccio in Gianni Schicci/Buoso’s Ghost with Opera Delaware, Pinkerton in Madama Butterfly and the tenor solo in Stabat Mater with Wichita Grand Opera, Nikolaus Sprink in Silent Night with Piedmont Opera, and both Count Almaviva in Il barbiere di Siviglia and Albert in The Secret Garden with the Utah Festival Opera and Musical Theatre. Other recent appearances included a return to Anchorage Opera as Don José in Carmen and Verdi’s Requiem with the New Jersey Choral Society.​
Mr. Dougherty made his Opera San José début as the Duke in Rigoletto, and later returned to the house as Tamino in Die Zauberflöte, Philip in the world première of Where Angels Fear to Tread by Mark Weiser, his role début of Cavaradossi in Tosca, and the roles of Don José in Carmen and Mitch in A Streetcar Named Desire.  Additionally, Kirk performed the role of Pinkerton in Madama Butterfly for Anchorage Opera, where he previously sang the roles of Arturo in Lucia di Lammermoor and Joseph Treate in the world première of Victoria Bond’s Mrs. President.
Previous seasons include his company débuts with Sarasota Opera in the role of Manrico in Il trovatore, the American Symphony Orchestra portraying Aaron in Bruch’s oratorio Moses at Carnegie Hall, the Glacier Symphony performing Mahler’s Das Lied von der Erde, Salt Marsh Opera as Ernesto in Don Pasquale, and the title role in Faust for Opera Louisiane.