Orson Van Gay II
Orson Van Gay II has captivated audiences in classical and contemporary opera and concert performances with his charisma and “fine heroic tenor” (San Francisco Classical Voice). Van Gay has garnered acclaim for roles in his home of Southern California and across the United States, with Broadway World declaring, “his sound was fluent and his high notes golden,” and Voix des Arts stating, “The vitality of his work was gratifyingly unflappable.” In November of 2023, Van Gay self-released his first solo album, Colors of a Lyric with pianist Lenny Hayes.
In the 2024-25 season, Van Gay makes his debut in the title role of Faust with Heartbeat Opera in New York City, performs the role of Rennucio in Gianni Schicchi with Opera Idaho, and makes his Jazz at Lincoln Center debut with MasterVoices under the baton of Ted Sperling in Blind Injustice, reprising the role of Laurese Glover. The new work about people who were wrongfully convicted of crimes and later freed received great acclaim, with New York Classical Review calling Van Gay’s aria “show-stopping.” He performed in Blind Injustice previously at PEAK Performances at Montclair State University. This season, Van Gay joins the Virginia Symphony as the tenor soloist in Handel’s Messiah, and the San Bernardino Symphony as the tenor soloist in a program of Carmen and Daughter of the Regiment excerpts in concert. Both engagements are conducted by Anthony Parnther.
Van Gay’s 2023-24 concert season included solo appearances with the Muse/ique Symphony, Redlands Symphony Orchestra, performances of Mozart’s Requiem with the Modesto Symphony, and a workshop of Mozart’s Fidelio with the Los Angeles Philharmonic. He also voices the role of Tamino in Pocket Opera’s animated/live-action film version of A Pocket Magic Flute, to be shown in schools and educational programs in conjunction with the San Francisco Opera Guild.
Van Gay’s recent operatic roles have included Danilo in The Merry Widow, for which he earned Pocket Opera’s inaugural Hurst Artist of the Year Award in 2022; Nemorino in L’elisir d’amore with the Phoenicia International Festival of the Voice; Alfredo in La Traviata with Piedmont Opera; the title role of Candide with Angels Vocal Art; Orlando in The Industry’s acclaimed site-specific production of Hopscotch; and both The Athlete in I Can’t Breathe and Rodolfo in La Bohème with Pacific Opera Project. A frequent performer with Long Beach Opera, Van Gay has been seen as Vitaliano in Handel’s Giustino, Gérard in Les Enfants Terribles, and Raymond Santana in Anthony Davis’ Pulitzer Prize winning opera, The Central Park Five, a role Van Gay premiered with the same company in 2019. Of his portrayal of The Young Man in The Last Romance with Kansas New Theater, Broadway World wrote, “Van Gay II is one of the finest operatic tenors I have had the pleasure of hearing in a very long time.”
Van Gay often performs with the Los Angeles Opera, most recently as The Messenger in Il Trovatore and as Ramerrez in The Prospector. He debuted the role of Bernard Curson (aka “Cherubino”) in the world premiere of Figaro 90210!, and has sung in the company’s “Connects,” “City of Hope,” and “I AM LA” series.
Van Gay has presented recitals with the Portsmouth Community Concerts in Virginia, at Rio Hondo College, and performed with Wang Wei at Carnegie Hall. He was also selected to perform in Mandarin at SINO US’s Chinese New Year’s Concert in Los Angeles and Phoenix. Other concert highlights have included singing as a soloist in Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9 with the California Philharmonic Orchestra; Handel’s Messiah with the Alabama Baptist Symphony; premiering Golden, Nathan Wang’s composition based on the life of Ignacy Jan Paderewski; and singing the role of Prince in the world premiere of Ricky Ian Gordon’s Morning Star.
In addition to his operatic résumé, Van Gay has enjoyed success as an actor in several nationally recognized television series. He has been featured in major television commercials and starred on a variety of shows for Netflix; including foreign film and television. In 2020 he co-starred on the Disney series Coop & Cami Ask the World.
Van Gay holds a bachelor’s degree in science and vocal performance from Old Dominion University in Norfolk, Virginia.
Current & Upcoming Performances
Past Performances
Richards’ Blind Injustice – MasterVoices: Jazz at Lincoln Center
“In a show-stopping aria by tenor Orson Van Gay II as the imprisoned Glover—to hip-hop, and from silky romance to jagged protest, all of it expertly paced and characterized” – David Wright, New York Classical Review
“Tenor Orson Van Gay II as Laurese Glover, the nominal leader of the East Cleveland Three, was outstanding with sulky and silky grievance, as well as humiliating resignation to his absurd fate.” – Kevin T MacEneaney, The Millbrook Independent
“‘The Hole’ in which Van Gay II described repeated periods of solitary confinement in a cramped space with blistering emotion and a searing voice.” – Rick Perdian, Seen and Heard International
“Perhaps the musical and dramatic highlight of the evening was the searing aria sung by tenor Orson Van Gay II—a cry that rises desperately to the heavens from the wrongfully accused character’s soul in the depths of his despair.” – Adrian Dimanlig, Interludes
“As one of a trio of prisoners known collectively as the East Cleveland Three, Orson Van Gay II’s piercing tenor stood out for its clarity and passion.” – Ron Fassler, Theater Pizzazz
“Tenor Orson Van Gay II as Laurese Glover soared with shimmering brilliance as he expressed and sustained a visceral emotional intensity in the stratosphere of his voice, earning immediate extended applause.” – Edward Kliszus, Front Row Center
Händel’s Giustino – Long Beach Opera
“Orson Van Gay displayed a fine heroic tenor for Vitaliano.” – San Francisco Classical Voice
Lehar’s The Merry Widow – Pocket Opera
Orson Van Gay II (Danilo’s) voice is clean, clear, beautiful and magnetic, with a wide sound range. It’s just perfect for a playboy who tries to avoid the responsibility of marriage and is only concerned with pleasure-seeking. He is impressive in this role as he makes his debut in the Bay Area. – Splash Magazine
Rodolfo in La bohème – Pacific Opera Project
Orson Van Gay II’s top notes were thrilling… – Gordon Williams, Operawire
Alfredo in La Traviata – Piedmont Opera
“In Van Gay’s performance, Alfredo’s aria ‘De’ miei bollenti spiriti’ was a potent statement of personal conviction, the zealous lover proclaiming his total immersion. Van Gay was a romantic Alfredo. The vitality of his work was gratifyingly unflappable.” – Voix de Arts
“Bringing to his performance of Verdi’s music for the lovelorn Alfredo a flickering vibrato reminiscent of Miguel Fleta, tenor Orson Van Gay II sang and acted ardently, his body language in the opening scene of Act One communicating the character’s devotion to Violetta before his first word was sung. Launhcing the celebrated Brindisi, Van Gay voiced ‘Libiamo, libiamo ne’ lieti calici’ ebulliently. His traversal of ‘Un dì, felice, eterea’ was properly amorous…” - Voix de Arts
“Tenor Orson Van Gay, II has a charming warm tone, very even in all registers, with an intense vibrato, well-suited to his role of earnest young lover hoping to woo La Violetta away from her coterie of admirers and imitators.” – Cultural Voice of North Carolina
The Young Man – The Last Romance / New Theatre Kansas
…Van Gay II is one of the finest operatic tenors I have had the pleasure of hearing in very long time. He is a device used to connect scenes and to step seamlessly back into Ralph’s imagination. With a singer as skilled as Van Gay II, the device works wonderfully. – Alan Portner, Broadway World
Alfredo – La traviata / Pacific Opera Project
Orson Van Gay was an ardent Alfredo…his sound was fluent and his high notes golden. -Broadway World
Cherubino – ¡Figaro! (90210) / Los Angeles Opera (world premiere)
“Cherubino, renamed Li’L B-Man and sung by the very appealing Orson Van Gay II, was an embodiment of with-it hip-hop” – Opera News
