Michael Belnap, originally from Valier, Montana, is a Professor of Music and Voice and director of the Concert Choir at Brigham Young University Hawaii.
He received both his B.M. and M.M. degrees from Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah, and pursued Doctoral studies at Indiana University and the European Opera Center in Belgium where he toured with the Royal Opera de Wallonie in Germany, Belgium, the Netherlands, and France.
Belnap was awarded the Eliza R. Snow Award for the Performing Arts from Ricks College (now BYU-Idaho) in Rexburg, and in 1999 was named as one of five vocalists on a list of the top 100 musicians in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Before coming to Hawaii, Belnap taught music and voice at Indiana University in Bloomington for 13 years and was associated with Astral Artistic Services from 1994 to 1999.
Belnap studied privately with Luciano Pavarotti in Pesaro, Italy during the summer of 1994 and was a finalist in the 1995 Pavarotti International Vocal Competition in Philadelphia. He also studied with Giorgio Tozzi at Indiana University, and has worked with Ray Arbizu (Arizona), Costanza Cuccaro (Indiana), Peter Lockwood (Belgium), Noelle Barker (London), Elio Bataglia (Italy), Loh-Siew Tuan (London), Joan Dornemann (Metropolitan Opera) and Neal Goren (New York).
Belnap is highly regarded for his "robust tenor sound that fills the hall on every note." His sense of "technique and musical ability delight audiences with a unique combination of vocal and dramatic skills." His versatility as a performer has led to a variety of performances in musical genres and media ranging from art song to musical theater and opera.
Belnap has received critical acclaim for his performances as Peter Grimes, McTeague and Rodolfo in La Bohéme. He sang the role of Herod in Salome under the direction of Maestro Julius Rudel. Other roles include Bachus in Ariadne, Calaf in Turandot, the Duke in Rigoletto, Hoffman in The Tales of Hoffmann, Cavaradossi in Tosca, Canio in Pagliacci, Pinkerton in Madam Butterfly, Don José in Carmen and Edgardo in Lucia.
In addition to his operative appearance, Belnap is an active recitalist and has appeared with symphony orchestras across the United States. He made his Carnegie Hall debut as the tenor soloist in the New York premiere of Handel's Messiah with Eugene Goosen’s orchestration. Belnap is also frequently heard in Verdi's Requiem and Handel's Messiah and has premiered and recorded a series of sacred works for tenor and orchestra: The Passion and Promise of Our Lord Jesus Christ by Daniel Gawthrop, Song of Nephi by Robert Cundick and Behold He Cometh by Darwin Wolford.
Belnap was featured in a recording of operatic arias with the Nashville Mandolin Ensemble and recorded the Verdi Requiem for PBS with the Anderson Symphony and Chorus of Indiana. Additional oratorio roles include Bruckner's Te Deum, Hora Novissima of Horatio Parker, Elijah and Beethoven's Symphony No. 9.
He has students singing with opera houses in Europe and in the United States, and musical theater students singing in New York and theaters across the United States as well as aboard Norwegian Cruise Lines and Cunard Ships. Former students have sung in national and international tours of Phantom of the Opera, Miss Saigon, Seusical, Cats, Cinderella, The Jungle Book, Grease and Les Misérables.
In addition to his vocal performances and teaching, Belnap is highly regarded for his choral ensembles and musical theater productions. He is frequently sought after as a clinician for choral festivals and workshops. His choirs have been invited to perform for government officials, dedications, festivals and most recently to perform Mozart’s Requiem at Carnegie Hall in New York City.