VaShawn McIlwain-Lightfoot

• 2007 Metropolitan Opera Regional Finalist, NATS Regional Finalist, Omega Psi Phi first place winner and is a former award recipient of the National Endowment for the Arts.

V. SAVOY MCILWAIN, Bass-Baritone, is a native Washingtonian graduate of the famed Duke Ellington School of the Arts and the creator of 'The Savoy Series Emerging Artist Project.' Savoy holds a BM in Performance from the University of Northern Iowa and also holds a MM in Opera from the University of Maryland at College Park where he graduated from the Maryland Opera Studio. Savoy is truly a treasure of unmatched talent! A Singing Actor who's Artistry speaks directly to the love of Mankind.

Savoy is a 2007 Metropolitan Opera Regional Finalist, NATS Regional Finalist, Omega Psi Phi first place winner and is a former award recipient of the National Endowment for the Arts.2007 Metropolitan Opera Regional Finalist, NATS Regional Finalist, Omega Psi Phi first place winner and is a former award recipient of the National Endowment for the Arts.

Equally comfortable in the concert hall and theater; his national credits include Marcello in Puccini’s La Boheme, Morales in Bizet’s Carmen, Leporello in Mozart’s Don Giovanni, Chief Cameahwait and Sergeant Floyd in Mager’s Dream of the Pacific. International credits include Jake and Jim in Gershwin’s Porgy and Bess, Guglielmo in Cosí fan tutte and the European premiere of H. Leslie Adam's 'Drums of Tragedy'. His concert works include Handel’s Messiah, Rossini’s Stabat Mater, Saint-Saëns Christmas Oratorio and Ralph Vaughan Williams’ Serenade to Music. Savoy has also made his musical theatre debut as Mayor in Strega Nona and Joe in Hammerstein and Kern’s Show Boat.

In recent performances Mr. McIlwain played the role of Spencer Coyle in Britten's Owen Wingrave presented by the Maryland Opera Studio and the National Orchestral Institute and Festival. Most recently debuting at Annapolis Opera as Officer Jones in Nailah Nombeko's Sunder.