During the 2025-26 season at HGO, Butler Studio alumnus Nicholas Newton performs as the bass-baritone soloist in Messiah. Previously at HGO, Newton performed the roles of Henry in the world premiere of Intelligence (2023); Sacristan in Tosca and Second Soldier in Salome (2023); Friar Laurence in Romeo and Juliet (2022); Daddy/Tim in the world premiere of The Snowy Day (2021); Billy King in performances of Marian’s Song in the opera’s world premiere (2020) and at Miller Outdoor Theatre (2021); and Monterone in Rigoletto (2019). Elsewhere this season, he performs Messiah with the Handel and Haydn Society in Boston and sings multiple roles in Philadelphia Opera’s world premiere of Complications in Sue, Alessio in a new production of La Sonnambula in his debut at the Metropolitan Opera, and Friar Laurence in Romeo and Juliet with Opera Theatre of Saint Louis. During the 2024-25 season, Newton performed at the Opéra national de Paris in Castor et Pollux in a new production directed by Peter Sellars under the baton of Teodor Currentzis; at Lyric Opera of Chicago in The Marriage of Figaro; and in a new production of Don Giovanni at Opera Philadelphia. Newton’s engagements in past seasons include a debut at The Salzburg Festival in Purcell's The Indian Queen; Alidoro in Cinderella at Lyric Opera of Chicago; a new production of John Adams’s El Niño at the Metropolitan Opera; and Leporello in a new production of Don Giovanni at Santa Fe Opera. Newton is an avid concert performer and recitalist and a co-founder of the in-progress Black Opera Database. A 2021 Sullivan Award winner, he earned his Bachelor of Music degree in Vocal Performance from San Diego State University and his Master of Music degree in Vocal Performance from Rice University. He is an alumnus of HGO’s Young Artist Vocal Academy.