Classical Voice
About Me
Keanon Kyles, praised by CNN for his “beautiful technique” was raised in Chicago where he
received his degree in music from Chicago’s Columbia College. He made his opera debut as
Colline in Puccini's “La Boheme” in North Chicago. Conducted by Metropolitan Opera’s
Maestro David Jackson, he made his Italy debut in Trento as Betto in Gianni Schicchi and Peter
in Hansel and Gretel. After making his U.K. debut as Colline in La Boheme he returned to
Scotland to perform the title-role in Rigoletto in a Scottish Opera's production.
He made his Chicago Opera Theater debut as Daggoo in their production of Jake Heggie’s
“Moby Dick”. Shortly after, he made his South America debut as Noye in Noye’s Fludde. Kyles
then returned to Chicago to make his Lyric Opera debut by way of their Lyric Unlimited
program in their production of “Earth to Kenzie”. He had the great pleasure of following that
successful production with being invited to perform a selection of arias at Carnegie Hall in 2019.
Kyles recently has been a part of several world premieres throughout Chicago, some being,
“Freedom Ride” by Dan Shore, “Taking Up Serpents” by Kamala Sankaram and “Quamino’s
Map” by Errolyn Wallen. Chicago Opera Theater commissioned new art song pieces specifically
for Kyles by living composers Stacy Garrop, Wang Lu, Matthew Recio. He most recently
performed, “Two Black Churches” by friend and colleague, Shawn Okpebholo. He’s been
invited back by the Lyric Opera to be part of productions, “The Scorpion Sting” and completely
sold out run of “The Factotum”. Kyles is a former Young Artist with Chicago Opera Theater and
graduated from the post-grad Opera Performance program through Chicago College of
Performing Arts.
Aside from operatic performances, Kyles has performed a plethora of concert work with
Chicago Symphony Orchestra through their Negaunee Music Institute. He has been featured on
the front page of the Chicago Sun-Times and his music career has been highlighted on Good
Morning America, CNN, BBC News, NPR amongst other major media outlets. Kyles was
recently one of Portland Opera's four Resident Artists and performed in their season opener,
"Carmen", as Morales. Outside of performing he is a voice teacher—leading private and group
classes through Lyriq Music School and is on the classical voice faculty at Roosevelt
University’s Chicago College of Performing Arts. He also sits on the board of LATTE Theater
based out of La Grange, Il and non-profit all women ensemble, C21 as their Director of
Development and Brand Consultant. He is a two-time Reva and David Logan Foundation award
recipient, 2023 B2B Illinois Arts Grant recipient, 2023 “Outstanding Achievement in Arts and
Humanities” award recipient from the State of Illinois, 2022 grant recipient of the “Illinois Arts
Council Agency” award and former resident artist and affiliate of the private artist club, The
Cliff Dwellers”. You can see Kyles next at the Goodman Theatre where he will be performing
the role of Sarastro in their production titled, “The Matchbox Magic Flute” directed by world
renown, Mary Zimmerman.