Justin Berkowitz
Justin Berkowitz, Tenor is thrilled to make his debut with the Rockford Symphony Orchestra and Nielson Chorale for Carmina Burana.
Known for his "exacting and animating performances", Chicago-based Tenor Justin Berkowitz’ 2022-23 season began with Haymarket Opera’s L’incornazione di Poppea where he sang the roles of Arnalta Nutrice and Familigiare 1. The season also saw returns to Chicago Opera Theater as Mayor Upfold in Albert Herring and in the world-premiere of Justine Chen’s The Life and Death(s) of Alan Turing, where he sang the roles of Steve Todd and Arnold Murray with the same company, as well as several performances of Handel’s Messiah throughout the region in December. In 2021 he returned to Chicago Opera Theater for the midwest premiere of Mark Adamo's Becoming Santa Claus.
During their 2020-21 virtual season, Berkowitz appeared in Chicago Opera Theater's virtual productions of Taking up Serpents and debuted the role of Gil in Matthew Recio's new work, The Puppy Episode.
The 2019-2020 season brought debut performances of Carmina Burana with the Champaign-Urbana Symphony Orchestra, Brazos Valley Symphony in Texas, among others. His 2018-19 season featured his international debut at the Tyroll Hall in Innsbruck, where he performed his noteworthy interpretation of Orff's Tenor Soloist in Carmina Burana, which were followed by performances of the same piece with the Mobile Symphony Orchestra and Chippewa Valley Symphony Orchestra. In 2018, Berkowitz made his debut with the Naples Philharmonic Orchestra as the tenor soloist for their performances of The Messiah, and sang the role of Nantucket Sailor in Chicago Opera Theater's 2019 performances of Jake Heggie's Moby Dick.
In recent season's Berkowitz' operatic performances have included productions with Central City Opera, Haymarket Opera, Opera Naples, Opera on the James, DuPage Opera Theater and St. Petersburg Opera, among others. He has appeared onstage with the Chicago Philharmonic, Apollo Chorus of Chicago, Annapolis Symphony Orchestra, Detroit Medical Symphony, Northwestern Indiana Symphony, Osh-Kosh Symphony, and more. Upcoming performances include appearances with Grant Park Music Festival, Haymarket Opera and Chicago Opera Theater, among others. A native of Minneapolis, Berkowitz earned his Bachelor's degree from Lawrence University and Conservatory and received a Master’s degree from The University of Michigan.