Biography

biographyImage1 British born Biraj Barkakaty is fast gaining a reputation as one of the rising generation of up and coming Countertenors. The Harborough Mail quotes 'Biraj Barkakaty invested the role of Oberon with stately majesty' (Opera Minima 2005).

Recent engagements include the B Minor Mass and St John Passion with Bach in Baltimore in 2010 and 2011, and Polinesso in Handel’s Ariodante for the Hub Opera Ensemble in November 2010. Opera credits include Tolomeo with Bel Cantanti Opera (2009), Oberon with the International Vocal Arts Insititute in Tel Aviv (2009) and Opera Minima in the UK (2005), Joachim in Handel's Susanna with the Manhattan School of Music (2008), the title in role in the US premiere of Handel's Silla at the Bay Area Opera Institute (2007), Athamas with British Youth Opera (2004), Ottone with Trinity College of Music (2002) and Peaseblossom with the Aix - en – Provence Festival in 1991 and 1992.

Over the last few years Biraj has been a regular member of some of the most prestig-ious professional choirs on the East Coast including Musica Sacra, the Sacred Music in a Sacred Space Concert Series at St Ignatius Loyola, The New York Virtuoso Singers and the Bard Music Festival Chorus in 2008 and 2009. He is currently a member of the Cathedral Choir at St John the Divine and was also a staff singer at Mar-ble Collegiate Church from 2007 to 2009.

He has collaborated with many notable early music specialists in Masterclasses and performances including Daniel Taylor, Drew Minter, Julianne Baird, James Bowman, and Stephen Stubbs at the Seattle Academy of Baroque Opera in 2008. He was also a member of the noted Early Music Ensemble ARTEK during their 2008-09 season.

A native of London, Biraj holds a Bachelor's Degree in History from the University of Manchester (UK), a Postgraduate Certificate (Distinction) and Postgraduate Advanced Diploma (Distinction) from Trinity College of Music in London. He graduated Magna cum Laude from the Manhattan School of Music in 2008 with a Master of Music Degree in Vocal Performance.

Future engagements include Cantata 134 with Bach in Baltimore in May, Oberon with the Aspen Opera Theatre under the baton of Jane Glover in July 2011 and Volpino in Haydn’s Lo Speziale with the Baltimore Vocal Arts Foundation in June 2012.

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