"Enjoy Your Journey Because You Have Your Own Story to Tell." - Chatting w/ Darell Haynes!

It is my honor to introduce you to Darell Haynes. Darell recently performed in Fire Shut Up in My Bones at The Metropolitan Opera and will be returning to the historic Opera at The Lyric Opera of Chicago where he'll be playing the role of Nash. Known for his warmth and nuance, Darell made his European debut in 2013 at Orvieto Música in Orvieto, Italy performing Samuel Barber’s Dover Beach with a string quartet. He made his tenor opera debut as Bill in Barber’s Hand of Bridge with the Chicago Opera Initiative. In 2014, he was a national semi-finalist for the National Association of Teachers of Singing Artist Award competition receiving the William Vennard Award. He has also performed in Berlin with the Shoestring Opera Melbourne, Dramatic Voices Program, Berlin Wagner Gruppe, Berlin Opera Academy, Delphi Theatre, and Berlin Opera Academy. In the states, he has performed with the Cedar Rapids Opera Theatre and in Chicago at the Northeastern Illinois Opera.

Darell is truly a wonderful artist who is leaving his mark on this industry in such a positive and inspiring way. If you see his name on the marquee, make sure you run to get tickets. I am so happy to have the chance to feature him!

How old were you when you knew you wanted to be Opera Singer?

It was around 24 years old when I realized I wanted to pursue a career as an opera singer. Before that, I played the euphonium and wanted to get a doctorate and teach low brass at a small college/university.

Where did you study? Are there any mentors who stick out that helped make you the wonderful Artist you are today?

Well, as I was saying, I played the euphonium and several other instruments. So, I have a Bachelor and Master of Music degree in Instrumental Performance from Southeastern Louisiana University, a Master of Music degree in Vocal Performance from the Chicago College of Performing Arts at Roosevelt University as well as some coursework (and where I transitioned to tenor) at Northeastern Illinois University. I’m so grateful for everyone that has come into my musical life, but I’m especially thankful for: Claudia D’Aquin, she is my foundation. She’s the reason why I sight-read the way I do.Dr. Steven Rushing, my first voice teacher who never gave up on me and the first to tell me I would be a tenor.

Dr. Alyssa Rowe, my first college choir teacher taught me the importance of listening to my surroundings and not assuming I’m always right. Casie Forbes, my Euphonium instructor in undergrad. She had no problem telling me I sounded like crap, but she always reinforced ways to be better. Just as hard as she was on me when I got it wrong, she was that much supportive when I got it right. She kicked my butt and effortlessly showed me how to be a musician. If these people hadn’t come into my life, I know I wouldn’t be who I am and where I am.

Congratulations on Fire Shut Up in My Bones at The Lyric Opera of Chicago. How does it feel to be returning to such a historic Opera after performing in it at The Metropolitan Opera?

I’m so excited to be doing Fire Shut up in my Bones at Lyric Opera of Chicago after an amazing run at The Metropolitan Opera. It was such a huge success in New York and I’m glad the production has come to Chicago. Chicago is my second home and Lyric is the first place I got to see a professional opera. So, it’s nice to come full circle to where I started taking singing seriously.

Are there any shows, moments of performances in your career that stick out and will always be near and dear to your heart?

There are so many moments of performances, on and offstage, that will stick with me forever.Offstage.- I went to see Lohengrin at Lyric Opera of Chicago with Johan Botha in the title role. It was the first Wagner opera I got to see. While listening to Johan sing, I became infatuated with the music. I later told my first voice teacher who said I’d be a tenor, “I think I could do this. I feel and understand everything he’s doing and my heart tells me this could be my path…if I become a tenor.”

Two years later I transitioned to tenor and I’m currently working on Lohengrin eleven years after hearing it for the first time.-I first heard Issachah Savage sing Wagner. It changed my life. I had never seen or heard another Black tenor sing Wagner. Seeing him showed me that it’s possible to do this. #RepresentationMattersOn stage-Honestly, performing Fire at The Metropolitan Opera and being able to watch it on HD is a moment in my career I will never forget. I don’t think I’ve ever cried that much watching an opera. To watch the opera and perform the opera knowing everyone in the cast and how deserving we all were to be in that moment together. So, rewarding. In one of her arias, Latonia Moore said “You gotta lay it down and leave it on the road.” At that moment, I felt like she was talking to me. I took those words and I’ve applied them to my life. There are so many messages in that opera, but this one touched my heart. It became a mental and emotional breakthrough.

What advice would you give any aspiring artist who wants a career in the performing arts?

The biggest advice I wish someone had given me when I first started is:

-Just because you aren’t the top dog at your university, doesn’t mean you aren’t destined for greatness. Your university doesn’t define who you are as an artist. You do!

-Never compare your career to someone else’s. Enjoy your journey because you have your own story to tell.

-It’s not that hard to be a good colleague. You ain’t gotta like them, but they should be respected.

-Asking for help does not make you weak.-Take some business and accounting classes. Understand how taxes work as an independent contractor. You are your brand and you need to know how to successfully handle your business.

-Lastly, while you are your worst critic, make sure you’re also your biggest fan. If you don’t believe yourself, how in the world are you going to expect other people to believe in you.

Fire Shut Up in My Bones opens at The Lyric Opera of Chicago on March 24th and runs until April 8th. For more information, please visit - https://www.lyricopera.org; And to learn more about Darell, make sure you visit his official website at - https://www.darellhaynes.com