Jason Duika

Verdi Baritone Jason Duika sang the title role in Verdi’s “Nabucco”, in October of 2019 with West Bay Opera, in California, where the reviews said, “Baritone Jason Duika triumphed in the role, with a range from vengeful and commanding to pitifully weakened after his blasphemy to moving and reverent after he turns again to God. Both singing and acting were top-notch.” Then, in the June before, he sang the Baritone solos in Vaughan Williams “Dona Nobis Pacem” with Mid America Productions at Carnegie Hall’s 3,000 seat Isaac Stern Auditorium. In Spring of 2019’s portrayal of “Herode” in Massenet’s Herodiade, with New Amsterdam Opera, John Yohalem of Parterre Box noted, “Jason Duika has a sizable and remarkably lofty baritone, which should serve him well for Verdi roles - he topped “Vision Fugitive” with an A-flat. And yet his delivery seemed effortless, lyric, a melting, manly sound.” Also, in February 2019, Jason sang his first Verdi title role, ‘Francesco Foscari’ in “I Due Foscari” with West Bay Opera. He also sang “Marcello” in ‘La Boheme’, in October of 2018 there, where the reviews said, “Jason Duika sang with glorious round tone, and unimpeachable legato.” In February of 2018, Jason was asked to return to his Alma Mater, the Indiana University Jacobs School of Music and sing the lead Baritone role of Enrico, Lucia’s brother in Donizetti’s ‘Lucia di Lammermoor’. In his portrayal of “Enrico”, the critics said, “...A beautiful instrument, manly, generous and assured in timbre. Not only some, but many really stunning, thrilling notes in his delivery. Clearly an ideal role for him. Bravo! Onwards and upwards.” And, “Jacobs School alum and baritone Jason Duika returned to sing Enrico, Lucia’s brother. His villainous role was deftly offered, both musically and theatrically.” Peter Jacobi, The Herald Times. Also being praised by Oregon music news for having a, “big, warm voice” and, “spot-on comic timing...” in Die Lustige Witwe, by Franz Lehar. Last October 2022, Jason returned to West Bay Opera, to sing his first Father Germont in Verdi’s La Traviata, where once again, the reviews said, "Giorgio, who is portrayed as sympathetically as possible by baritone Jason Duika. He brings great earnestness to the part, and his singing is smooth and mellow, if slightly cloaked. He also handles quick patter and his duet with Alfredo ably. And he delivers his signature aria ‘Di Provenza il mar il suol, with great mellifluous intensity.” Since then, Jason debuted Dr. Falke in Opera Mississippi’s 2023 spring production of Die Fledermaus, and will be debuting Lord Capulet in Romeo and Juliet, by Gounod, with Toledo Opera, his home house this coming January, 2024. After which, he travels to New Jersey, to sing his first Escamillo in Carmen in March, with Boheme Opera of New Jersey. Jason makes his home in Sylvania, Ohio. He is under Randsman artist management with Peter Randsman in New York City, where he studies with Andrea DelGiudice. He is also a graduate of Alma College, where he received a Bachelor of Arts in Music, in 2006. Portland State University, where he received a Masters in Voice performance in 2010, and the Jacobs School of music, where he received a Performer Diploma in Voice in 2012. Jason was also in the young artist programs of Utah Festival Opera (2012), Wichita Grand Opera (2013), and sang and covered nine roles with Palm Beach Opera, as the Baritone young artist in the Benenson program from 2014-2016, and just at the beginning of Nov.23, he was a recipient of the Action for Artists Grant, where he sang a gala in New York City.