Multitalented and multifaceted, Roger Cantrell has worn many hats in his fascinating career - artistic director, conductor, stage director, music director, music advisor and vocal coach. Equally at home privately coaching a promising singer, crafting an elegant performance of a Puccini or Verdi masterpiece from the podium, or tickling the ivories, interjecting a bit of Wagnerian humor in the midst of Puccini pathos, Cantrell always serves his master, the composer. As a conductor, his baton has guided the orchestras of Seattle, Los Angeles, Houston, San Francisco, Miami, Dallas, Orlando, San Diego, and Louisville opera companies and the Warsaw and Los Angeles Philharmonic orchestras. As Associate Conductor for Houston Grand Opera’s touring production of Porgy and Bess, Cantrell's baton caught the eye (and avoided the sharp pen) of then LA Times Music Critic Martin Bernheimer. Bernheimer reported that the launch of the San Francisco Opera iteration of the 13 city tour was problematic. "Before the fourth performance, into the breech flew Roger Cantrell.... Clearly, he knew this territory and he knew these singers. He molded the score with a sensitive, stylish hand."
Cantrell began his operatic career as the protégé of the renowned pianist, composer, and conductor Dr. Isaac Van Grove. After four seasons as Associate Musical Director for Seattle Opera, Cantrell made his Lincoln Center Debut conducting Peter Brook's controversial production of Bizet's Le Tragédie de Carmen. Noted voice teacher Marlena Malas invited Cantrell to serve as Head Vocal Coach for the Chautauqua Institution vocal school. There, his performances of Kurt Weill's Three Penny Opera caught the attention of Houston Grand Opera’s music director, John DeMain. This led to the position of Associate Music Director for Houston Grand Opera’s 10th Anniversary Tour of their award winning Porgy and Bess production. After performances with Los Angeles Opera, San Diego Opera, Miami Opera, Louisville Opera, Dallas Opera and San Francisco Opera, the tour culminated in performances at the Panatenee Pompeiane Music festival in Pompei, Italy, amidst the volcanic ruins of its 2000 year old Amphitheatre with the Warsaw Philharmonic Orchestra. He also shared the podium with Zubin Mehta and the Los Angeles Philharmonic for a nationally televised concert in honor of the 25th Anniversary of the Los Angeles Music Center.
Not limited to opera, Cantrell was Music Director, First National Company, Les Misérables in Boston, Philadelphia, and Washington D.C. (During the Kennedy Center run of Les Misérables, he conducted a special birthday performance for President Ronald Reagan and First Lady Nancy Reagan.) Cantrell was also Music Director for the hugely successful run of Andrew Lloyd Webber's The Phantom of the Opera with Michael Crawford at the Music Center in Los Angeles, (and was named Best Musical Director by the Beverly Hills/Hollywood 4th Annual NAACP Theatre Awards). Cantrell led the LIV-ENTERTAINMENT Tour of The Phantom of the Opera to Hong Kong, Singapore, and Honolulu, Hawaii. He was also Musical Director for Hal Prince's Toni award-winning production of Jerome Kern’s Show Boat in Chicago, Vancouver, and Los Angeles.
After an early long association with Inspiration Point Fine Arts Colony and a long absence, Cantrell has returned to serve as Artistic Director for Opera in the Ozarks at Inspiration Point.
