Gahanna opera singer Christopher Humbert Jr. participating in prestigious emerging artists program
From an early age, Christopher Humbert Jr.'s life has revolved around his musical gifts.
Starting out playing the piano at age 4, Humbert soon began participating in school marching bands, choirs and musicals in his native Akron, where he honed his abilities as a vocalist and recognized his love for musical theater.
"I don't think I found opera, I think opera found me," Humbert, 23, said. "I feel like I've always been involved in music and it's always been something that's defined what I am. It's just been in my blood since I've been young. But opera was the one thing that was given to me."
Humbert, a 2019 graduate of Capital University in Bexley, credits several faculty members for shaping his career, particularly Joshua Borths, director of Opera and Musical Theatre at the university. It was Borths who placed Humbert in his first leading role in his first opera, "Dido and Aeneas."
At Capital, Humbert also performed in Gilbert and Sullivan’s “The Mikado,” Cole Porter’s musical “Kiss Me, Kate" and Stephen Sondheim’s “Into the Woods” and “A Little Night Music.” But beyond Humbert's transcendent talent, Borths said the singer is backed by a great personality and an undying curiosity of the world around him.
"Based on all those factors, I think the sky's the limit," Borths said. "I think (Humbert) is in a phenomenal position where he can really have the career he wants."
With the guidance of Borths and others, the bass-baritone singer plans to pursue an international career.
Now at the Boston Conservatory at Berklee earning a masters in opera, the Gahanna resident recently was accepted into the Benenson Young Artist Program of Palm Beach Opera in Florida.
As part of the five-month residency at Benenson, singers who have completed a bachelor's or graduate degree are selected from among hundreds of applicants to learn from experienced instructors, cover (be an understudy) for world-renowned opera singers and gain experience in professional productions.
Jim Barbato, 39, director of artistic administration for the Palm Beach Opera, said the goal is to mold each singer into becoming a star on international opera stages.
Last year, the opera house received more than 600 applications, and Humbert was one of 12 selected for the program. But Humbert's placement into the residency was an unorthodox one, Humbert said, as he never auditioned for his spot.
Barbato said most applicants audition nearly a year ahead of the program's start in January, but after taking note of Humbert's abilities last year, he and others sought out the vocalist.
Barbato said he notified Humbert of the offer in late November, as the organization was focused on landing "the best singer to handle these important and challenging assignments."
Since Humbert started the program in January (because of COVID, the residency was shortened this year), Barbato said his "enriched and astounding quality of voice" has stood out.
"(Humbert) is a major talent and we are thrilled he joined us this year," Barbato said. "I think he's got a big career ahead of him."
The young artist said the most exciting part about the program is covering for international opera singers Ryan Speedo Green and Morris Robinson.
"When I knew I'd have a chance to sing under them and work with them, I was really ecstatic about it," Humbert said. "I had a really hard time realizing this was happening, but despite the disbelief, I had another part of me saying, 'Oh, am I ready for this?'"
Humbert will cover Green in Palm Beach Opera’s production of "La Boheme," and will cover both Green and Robinson in the company's production of "Die Zauberflote." He also will perform in the Young Artist production of Bellini's "I Capuleti e i Montecchi."
Johnathon Pape, a professor of opera at the Boston Conservatory, said the program could be a life-changer for Humbert. With him rubbing shoulders with respected professionals in the industry, Pape is confident the experience will help jumpstart his young career.
"He has a world-class voice," Pape said. "There are lots of people with good voices, but this is a voice that will work on the biggest stages (in) the world like the (Metropolitan Opera), the La Scala in Milan and the Paris Opera. He's young and he needs some seasoning still, but in terms of career potential, it's great."
While Humbert has continued to receive acknowledgment and support for his musical abilities, he said his mother, Karen Montgomery, has continued to keep him centered.
"She's always been a great home base for me, and she helps really ground me," he said. "A lot of these opportunities seem to be happening so fast in my career right now, and it's like everything is pushing me to the next level. I'm reminded that I'm still a person outside of my art form, and that's been a great balance to have."
With Humbert being raised in a single-parent household, Montgomery said there were times when she had to work two jobs to support her son's lofty aspirations. But as he has traveled across the country and garnered acclaim for his abilities, she said it's important he embraces each of these moments.
"I want him to live life to the fullest; grab every opportunity and know that I am behind him 100%," she said. "I am his biggest fan and I will always be there to support him."
After completing the Young Artist program on April 11, Humbert will return to Gahanna to finish out his semester at the Boston Conservatory and work with Opera Columbus for the production of "Don Giovanni" from April 30 to May 2.
Julia Noulin-Merat, CEO and general director of Opera Columbus said she is thrilled to have Humbert on board for the upcoming production. She said the singer has become a "company favorite" due to his immense talent and dedication to the craft.
"He has such an amazing and unique voice and is such a hardworking artist, which I think people will appreciate," she said. "He's an absolute pleasure to collaborate with and we're excited to have him."
And as he continues to make progressive steps in his budding career, Humbert said he wants to inspire other young, Black artists to explore their musical gifts.
Luckily, Humbert said he was surrounded by other musicians of color during his time at Akron's Firestone Community Learning Center in high school. Unlike other career interests, musical theater is not voiced as a potential option for many people of color, he said.
Humbert said that until last year he wasn't aware of Black opera singers, such as Marian Anderson, who have played at the Metropolitan Opera. The young artist said he plans to start a nonprofit organization that travels to area schools to teach and mentor students who want to learn more about music.
"So often, I think we're told we only have these options; we only have these methods to make a living (and) express ourselves as Black people in America," Humbert said.
"If I can do this and come from my background, I can show people that there is another way. This is an art form that's so beautiful and representative of so many things we have going on in our lives, so why not pursue it and express it?"