Kevin Deas has gained international renown as one of America’s leading bass-baritones. He is perhaps most acclaimed for his signature portrayal of the title role in Porgy and Bess, having performed it with the New York Philharmonic, Philadelphia Orchestra, National Symphony, St. Paul Chamber Orchestra, Pacific Symphony, as well as the most illustrious orchestras on the North American continent, and at the Ravinia, Vail and Saratoga festivals. ‍ ‍

Recent highlights include performances of Handel’s Messiah with the New York Philharmonic, Seattle Symphony, and New Jersey Symphony, Mozart’s Requiem with Apollo’s Fir and Les Violons du Roy.   Other notable performances include an appearance as Dick Halloran in The Shining with Nashville Opera. ‍‍ ‍

A proponent of contemporary music, Kevin Deas has performed Menotti's Amahl and the Night Visitors at Italy’s Spoleto Festival, Derek Bermel’s The Good Life with the Pittsburgh Symphony, and Hannibal Lokumbe’s Dear Mrs. Parks with the Detroit Symphony. He also enjoyed a twenty-year collaboration with the late jazz legend Dave Brubeck.‍‍ ‍

Kevin Deas has recorded Wagner’s Die Meistersinger (Decca/London)with the Chicago Symphony under Sir Georg Solti and Varèse's Ecuatorial with the ASKO Ensemble under Riccardo Chailly. Other releases include Bach's Mass in B Minor and Handel's Acis and Galatea (Vox Classics); Dave Brubeck's To Hope! with the Cathedral Choral Society (Telarc); Haydn's Die Schöpfung with the Virginia Symphony and Boston Baroque (Linn Records); and Dvorák in America (Naxos).‍

09/2026 - PLEASE DESTROY ANY PREVIOUSLY DATED MATERIALS.

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Internationally acclaimed bass-baritone Kevin Deas is recognized as one of America’s leading vocal artists. He is especially celebrated for his signature portrayal of the title role in Porgy and Bess, which he has performed with many of North America’s foremost orchestras, including the New York Philharmonic, Philadelphia Orchestra, National Symphony Orchestra, St. Paul Chamber Orchestra, and Pacific Symphony, as well as at the Ravinia, Vail, and Saratoga festivals.

Highlights of Mr. Deas’ 2026–2027 season include performances of Candy in Carlisle Floyd’s Of Mice and Men with Des Moines Opera; Mozart’s Mass in C Minor with ProMusica Columbus; Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9 with the West Virginia Symphony and Omaha Symphony; Handel’s Messiah with the Washington National Cathedral Choir and Baroque Orchestra; Mozart’s Requiem with Deutsches Symphonie-Orchester Berlin; Verdi’s Requiem with Virgina Symphony, Bach’s St. Matthew Passion with the Bach Festival Society of Winter Park and Orchestra Iowa; and Bach’s Mass in B Minor with the Oratorio Society of New York.

Recent seasons have showcased Mr. Deas as one of the most sought-after bass-baritones in the concert repertoire. He has appeared in Mozart’s Requiem with the Toronto Symphony Orchestra, Apollo’s Fire, Les Violons du Roy, Orchestra Iowa, Vermont Symphony, Mobile Symphony, Eugene Symphony, Louisiana Philharmonic, and National Philharmonic & Chorale; Handel’s Messiah with the New York Philharmonic, New Jersey Symphony, Seattle Symphony, and Washington National Cathedral; Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9 with Pacific Symphony, Oregon Symphony, and the Bach Festival Society of Winter Park; and Haydn’s The Creation with the Minnesota Orchestra and Baton Rouge Symphony.

Additional recent engagements include Stravinsky’s Pulcinella with The Florida Orchestra; Saint-Saëns’ Henry VIII with Odyssey Opera; Verdi’s Requiem with Orquesta Sinfónica de Minería and the Rhode Island Philharmonic; Walton’s Façade at the Virginia Arts Festival; and Mozart’s Grand Mass in C Minor with Voices of Ascension. He also performed Dick Hallorann in Paul Moravec’s acclaimed opera The Shining with Nashville Opera, appeared in programs featuring music of Gershwin, Les Misérables, Show Boat, and Ragtime, and was featured in “The Spiritual in White America” at The Phillips Collection.

Throughout his distinguished career, Mr. Deas has performed with many of North America’s leading orchestras and presenters. Notable appearances include Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9 with the Buffalo Philharmonic and Orquesta Sinfónica de Minería; Elgar’s The Dream of Gerontius with the National Symphony Orchestra of Mexico; Bach’s St. Matthew Passion with the Oratorio Society of New York and Grand Rapids Symphony; Bach’s St. John Passion with the Bach Festival Society of Winter Park, Louisiana Philharmonic, and Orquesta Sinfónica Nacional de México; Mozart’s Requiem with Boston Baroque and numerous American orchestras; and Handel’s Messiah with ensembles including the Cleveland Orchestra, Boston Baroque, Kansas City Symphony, Seattle Symphony, and the Warsaw Easter Festival.

A frequent interpreter of Porgy and Bess, Mr. Deas has sung the title role with the Duisburger Philharmoniker, Pacific Symphony on tour in Asia, and in Porgy and Bess: A Symphonic Picture with the Reading Symphony Orchestra. Other notable collaborations include Bernstein’s Wonderful Town with the Seattle Symphony, Joe Horowitz’s Dvořák in America project with the Las Vegas Philharmonic, and appearances as soloist with the Delaware Symphony, El Paso Symphony, and PostClassical Ensemble, where he served as Artist-in-Residence.

A dedicated advocate for contemporary music, Mr. Deas appeared at Italy’s Spoleto Festival in a new production of Menotti’s Amahl and the Night Visitors, created in honor of the composer’s eighty-fifth birthday and released internationally on video. He also premiered Derek Bermel’s The Good Life with the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra and Hannibal Lokumbe’s Dear Mrs. Parks with the Detroit Symphony Orchestra.

Mr. Deas enjoyed a twenty-year artistic collaboration with jazz legend Dave Brubeck, performing To Hope! in Salzburg, Vienna, and Moscow, and appearing in a gala performance of Brubeck’s Gates of Justice in New York.

His extensive discography includes Wagner’s Die Meistersinger with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra under Sir Georg Solti (Decca/London); Varèse’s Ecuatorial with the ASKO Ensemble conducted by Riccardo Chailly; Bach’s Mass in B Minor and Handel’s Acis and Galatea (Vox Classics); Brubeck’s To Hope! with the Cathedral Choral Society (Telarc); Haydn’s Die Schöpfung with the Virginia Symphony and Boston Baroque (Linn Records); and Dvořák in America (Naxos), featuring the world-premiere recording of Dvořák’s Hiawatha Melodrama and the composer’s own arrangement of “Goin’ Home” with the PostClassical Ensemble.

9/2026 - PLEASE DESTROY ALL PREVIOUSLY DATED MATERIALS.