Biography

Fernando Grimaldo is a Bass-Baritone and a native Houstonian from 2nd Ward. He received his B.A. in Applied Music at Pepperdine University, and his M.M. in Voice Performance from the University of Michigan where he studied under Stanford Olsen. This is his third season with Opera to Go. Currently he is covering the baritone roles in Mo Willems’ Bit-Sized Operas, Slopera! and Don’t Let the Pigeon Stay Up Late. Additionally, he is presenting his own recital series, Boleros y Arias, which exemplifies Spanish and Latin American music and culture.

He recently had his role debut of Colline in La bohème at the Bay View Music Festival. Previous credits include Leporello (Don Giovanni), Pirate King (Pirates of Penzance), Melisso (Alcina), Maximillian (Candide) and Benoit & Alcindoro (La Boheme), Schanaurd (La Boheme), John Brooke (Little Women), Dr. Falke (Die Fledermaus), Pandolfe (Cendrillon), and Papageno (The Magic Flute). In addition to his operatic roles, he has been featured in both concert and musical theater roles like Pontious Pilate in St. John’s Passion and Bernardo in The West Side Story Suite as well as South Pacific and Big Fish in Malibu, California. He also received the Friends of Opera Scholarship in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Some other areas of interest include the study and exposure of classical music in traditionally underrepresented communities, and the impact of Mexican and Spanish folk music to opera and art song.