Baritone Michael Miersma (SAG-AFTRA, AGMA) is an accomplished opera singer, soloist and chorister. Originally from Portland, Oregon, he graduated from Portland State University after winning the Ruth Dobson Award for operatic excellence and starring in such productions as La Boheme, Cosi Fan Tutti, Falstaff and The Merry Widow, all under the direction of acclaimed director Tito Capobianco. After garnering rave reviews for his acting and singing from such publications as the Oregonian, Michael won a spot on the roster of young artists for Opera Tampa under the tutelage of opera legend Sherrill Milnes.
Choral music has been a major part of Michael’s life since high school, and he has had the opportunity to perform with some of the best the west coast has to offer including Capella Romana in Portland and the Los Robles Master Chorale in Los Angeles. With the Los Robles Master Chorale, Michael has been the baritone soloist for many pieces ranging from the Mozart Requiem to contemporary works by local composers. In Portland, Michael got his first break in studio work recording for the Oregon Catholic Press and in Los Angeles continues his passion for session singing. For the second season in a row, Michael is an auxiliary member of the Los Angeles Master Chorale and in 2019 made his debut with group for their annual gala concert. In 2019, Michael joined the LA Choral Lab as a Bass and is excited to be a part of their realization of new music and performance practices. LA Choral Lab will record their debut album in September of 2019 called Sonic Visions.
2018 marked Michael’s commercial debut as the voice of the Heisman call for Nissan’s “Heisman House” campaign. It’s also his feature film debut as he can be heard as a vocalist on such films as “The Predator”, “Ralph Breaks the Internet”, “Bumblebee” and most recently “The Lion King” (2019). Michael is repped by AB2 Talent for Voice Over.
A student of comedy, Michael studies sketch and improv at the Pack Theater in Hollywood and wrote, produced and starred in videos for an independent sketch project called Grapevine Comedy.
UPCOMING PERFORMANCES
May 4th, 2pm @ Walt Disney Concert Hall singing with the LA Master Chorale for their season finale Great Opera & Film Choruses. Tickets here.
May 4th, 7:30pm @ Kavli Theater Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza singing with the Los Robles Master Chorale and New West Symphony for Prokofiev’s Alexander Nevsky. Tickets here.
May 5th, 7pm @ Walt Disney Concert Hall singing with the LA Master Chorale for the second performance of Great Opera & Film Choruses. Tickets here.
June 6th, 7:30pm @ Libbey Bowl in Ojai, CA singing with the Los Robles Master Chorale for Stravinsky’s The Rake’s Progress. Tickets here.
NEWS
(May, 2018) Michael is pleased to announce he has been selected to be an auxiliary member of the Los Angeles Master Chorale for the second year in a row
(October, 2018) Michael joined SAG-AFTRA
(December, 2018) Michael performed with the Los Robles Master Chorale for the televised PBS SoCal Holiday Celebration live at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion
(January, 2019) Michael was accepted to sing Bass as the newest member of the LA Choral Lab
(March, 2019) Michael made his debut with the LA Master Chorale
(May, 2019) Michael was announced as the newest core member of the social-justice inspired group Tonality
(July, 2019) You can hear Michael throughout the entire new Lion King as a member of the choir contracted for the soundtrack
Some nice words
“He was great fun to watch; he brought with him the boldness and brash confidence that have marked his past roles”
NW Reverb
“Michael Miersma cut a dashing Schaunard, the musician, singing, dancing, mock fighting, and doing whatever was asked with the utmost panache. Miersma's baritone had lots of volume and a burnished quality”
NW Reverb
“Miersma’s resonant baritone and bon vivant demeanor gave the Count an intriguing mixture of a playboy and a man with real feelings”
Oregon Music News
“In his jealousy scene, Michael Miersma's Ford turned from henpecked husband into a real man determined to maintain his dignity. He sang nobly, alert to nuance, letting the notes pour out of him”
The Oregonian
“Lyric baritone Michael Miersma brought charisma and a confident, easy delivery to the role of the musician Schaunard; he and Tannous were the best actors in the show.”
The Oregonian