Branch Fields

Branch Fields, described by Opera America as “a bass of resonant richness,” is a versatile performer engaged throughout North America and beyond in opera, musical theater, and concert. He has sung with Santa Fe Opera, New York City Opera, Boston Lyric Opera, Edmonton Opera, Michigan Opera Theatre, Utah Opera, Opera San Jose, and many other regional companies throughout the U.S. and Canada. In concert, Branch has performed with the Munich Philharmonic, National Symphony Orchestra, Santa Fe Symphony, MDR Leipzig, and the American Symphony Orchestra. Branch’s versatility as a singing actor led to his Broadway debut in South Pacific, understudying the role of Emile de Becque in the 2008 Lincoln Center Theater production, which won seven Tony Awards. He has since been Emile in 7 productions of South Pacific throughout the U.S. and Canada, and was nominated for “Best Actor in a Musical” by theater critic circles in Boston, Massachusetts, and Richmond, Virginia.

Branch was Oliver Warbucks this summer at American Gothic Performing Arts Festival in Iowa, a role and company debut. He was recently Captain Von Trapp for Charlottesville Opera, Montana TheaterWorks, and The Ghostlight Theater. Gulf Coast Symphony brought him back as King Arthur in Camelot, and he was Robert Kincaid in Bridges of Madison County in Benton Harbor, MI. On the operatic stage, Branch was Il Commendatore for Opera in Williamsburg and Leporello in Greensboro Opera’s Don Giovanni. He was Osmin in Abduction from the Seraglio at Geneva Light Opera, Prince Gremin in Evgeny Onegin at Intermountain Opera Bozeman, and Count Des Grieux in Manon at Opera Idaho.

In concert, Branch was the bass soloist in Beethoven’s 9th Symphony with the Sarasota Orchestra, and Mozart’s Requiem with the Gulf Coast Symphony. He performed Handel’s Messiah with the Williamsburg United Methodist Church, Bach’s Christ lag in Todes Banden at Bruton Parish, Haydn’s Nelson Mass at CNU, and was one of the guest artists in a gala concert for the Williamsburg Symphony Guild. He sang a concert of operetta arias with the Eastern Music Festival and Greensboro Opera, and performed 3 favorite opera arias for the William and Mary Symphony Orchestra as their guest artist this Spring to close their 2024-25 season.

During the pandemic, Branch was busy recording a solo album of favorite hymns called Be Thou My Vision with friend and arranger Paul S. Jones on piano, now streaming on all music streaming platforms. He also recorded bass tracks for Kitty Brazelton’s avant garde vocal work “Earthquakes”, sang bass for Bruton Capella’s album O Sing Unto the Lord a New Song (available for purchase at the Bruton Parish Book and Gift Store), performed outdoor concerts with the Charlottesville Opera, made a role debut, Leporello in Don Giovanni with Indianapolis Opera, and was a member of the Musical Director Search
Committee for the Williamsburg Symphony Orchestra. Branch and professional dancer Marilen Crump were named the 2022 Dancing with the Williamsburg Stars Champions, a charity event which benefits Literacy for Life and Big Brothers/Big Sisters. On the contemporary opera scene, Branch just recorded the role of Joe for an opera based on the famous Dick Van Dyke Show episode, “The Life and Love of Joe Coogan” by composer Paul Salerni.

Mr. Fields has recently joined The Virginia Chorale as one of their basses and was the bass soloist for their performance of Rossini’s Petite messe solennelle. He is also a regular guest artist for Colonial Williamsburg’s Independence Day and Grand Illumination events.

Branch Fields is a native of Texas, born at Lackland Air Force Base. He spent his childhood in Little Rock, Arkansas, and his adolescent years in Williamsburg, Virginia. His talent for singing was discovered at Virginia Tech while doing undergraduate work in chemistry. He was accepted into the Master of Music program at Indiana University Jacobs School of Music, a recipient of the Cole and Kate Porter Memorial Scholarship, and began voice lessons with the great Metropolitan Opera bass, Giorgio Tozzi.

Branch was a member of The Singing Hoosiers, through which he garnered the attention of Maestro Erich Kunzel during the Singing Hoosier’s concerts and recordings with the Cincinnati Pops. He can be heard on the Cincinnati Pop’s album Puttin’ On the Ritz (TELARC). He was later granted a coveted spot at the Academy of Vocal Arts in Philadelphia, a full scholarship institution, where he studied with Met baritone Louis Quilico, and participated in summer opera programs in Chiari, Lucca, and Rome, Italy. In New York City, he was placed in the studio of bass specialist Armen Boyajian, voice teacher of Samuel Ramey, Paul Plishka, and Eric Owens. He soon won 1st prize in the Bel Canto Vocal Scholarship Competition, 2nd in the NJAPA Vocal Competition, and was a prize winner in the Liederkranz Foundation Competition. Branch did apprenticeships with Utah Festival Opera, Opera Theater of St. Louis, and the Santa Fe Opera. After living in Philadelphia for his vocal studies, and performing in New York City for several years, Branch returned to his hometown of Williamsburg, Virginia, where he still currently
resides.