Tenor Jonny Kaufman possesses a voice of entrancing power, beauty, and finesse, which he employs with considerable technique and musicianship. In their review of Kaufman’s portrayal of Pinkerton in Madama Butterfly, BroadwayWorld makes it clear why Kaufman is quickly ascending the ranks as one of the great tenors of his generation: “…Kaufman, as Pinkerton, has a voice so grand — even heroic — that there are many times when, lost in the glory of that voice, we quite forget what a cad the Lieutenant is. Superb!”

Last season, Mr. Kaufman brought his lauded Don José to Carmen productions with San Diego Opera and Charleston Opera Theater. He sang the title role in Faust with Opera Western Reserve, made returns to St. Petersburg Opera to reprise Rodolfo in La bohème and Opera Wilmington as Turiddu in Cavalleria Rusticana, and joined Union Avenue Opera again to reprise the titular role in Samson et Dalila. He also joined the Firelands Symphony in concert.

This season, Kaufman makes his highly anticipated role and house debut as Prince Calaf in North Carolina Opera’s historic company premiere of Turandot. Notably, other company debuts include Opera in the Heights returning to the role of Cavaradossi in Tosca, Glacier Symphony Orchestra as the soloist in Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony, and the Philadelphia Youth Orchestra as the soloist in Verdi’s Requiem. Kaufman will also reprise Canio in Pagliacci and Don José in Carmen in returns to Opera Western Reserve and Opera Grand Rapids, respectively.

Previous seasons saw Kaufman’s role debut as Samson in Samson et Dalila with St. Petersburg Opera, which he also covered for New Orleans Opera. He returned to Opera Carolina to sing Don José in Carmen, and he joined Fort Worth Symphony to sing the Steersman and cover Erik in Der fliegende Holländer. He also sang Canio in Pagliacci with Union Avenue Opera and joined North Carolina Opera to cover the title role in Ernani. In concert, he sang Obadiah in Elijah with Charlotte Symphony Orchestra and Master Chorale, and he joined The Choral Arts Society of Washington for Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony.

Recently, Kaufman returned to Opera Carolina for their productions of Cavalleria Rusticana and Madama Butterfly as Turiddu and Pinkerton, respectively, and he sang Don José in Opera Western Reserve’s Carmen, following his house debut as Rodolfo in La bohème. He also sang Rodolfo with Opera Grand Rapids and the Northern Lights Music Festival, as well as Cavaradossi in Tosca with Opera Wilmington. Kaufman made his house debut at New Orleans Opera as Pinkerton in Madama Butterfly, and he returned to Winter Opera St. Louis to sing Macduff in Macbeth. He also joined the Cleveland Pops and Western Piedmont Symphony for concerts of lighter fare and Western Piedmont Symphony and Aiken Symphony Orchestra for festive holiday concerts.

Kaufman returned to Opera Wilmington for Viva Italia! as part of their summer concert series Under the Stars; he joined the company of Douglas Tappin’s I Dream in a new co-production between Opera Carolina and Charlottesville Opera; and he returned to Opera Carolina for their Bella Notte and Opera Hits concerts. He made debuts with Winter Opera St. Louis in both their fall gala and as Pinkerton in Madama Butterfly; with the Aiken Symphony Orchestra in their romantic concert Amore! Famous Love Songs from the World of Opera, in concert with River City Opera, Traverse City Opera, and with Charlotte Symphony Orchestra as part of their Opera Masterpieces concert.

Previous engagements included debuts with Opera Delaware in their Fall Jukebox concert and with Toledo Opera and Opera Carolina as Malcolm in Macbeth. Additionally, Kaufman made appearances and performed with Opera Experience Southeast as Pinkerton in Madama Butterfly; as Rodolfo in La bohème with Opera Wilmington, Central Piedmont Opera Theater, and Little Opera Company of Charlotte; Alfred in Die Fledermaus with Little Opera Company of Charlotte; Turiddu in Cavalleria Rusticana with Repertory Opera Theater of Washington D.C.; as Tamino in Die Zauberflöte with State Opera Varna, marking his international debut; and as Rinuccio in Gianni Schicchi with Opera Lancaster.

Kaufman is a recipient of the prestigious Olga Forrai Foundation grant. He was a finalist in both the Giulio Gari and The Jensen Foundation competitions, as well as being named the Winner of the Jennifer White Memorial Award in Shreveport Opera’s Mary Jacobs Smith Singer of the Year competition, winner of the Second-Place prize in the SAS Performing Arts Company Vocal competition, winner in NYIOP’s first-ever Anonymous Audition Project, and a finalist in the NOA Carolyn Bailey and Dominick Argento Vocal Competition.