Originally from Springfield, Oregon, tenor Nicholas Larson received a bachelor of music in vocal performance from the Eastman School of Music in 1997, where he studied with tenor John Maloy. He also holds a master of music in vocal arts from the University of Southern California and a doctorate of musical arts degree from the University of Missouri-Kansas City. While at USC, Larson studied voice with bass Frank Curtis, who was vocal coach of the Hamburg cast of Phantom of the Opera for eight seasons before returning to the U.S. to teach. Upon graduation, he sang with The Pacific Chorale, Los Angeles Master Chorale, Crystal Cathedral, and Los Angeles Opera Chorus. He also worked as a young artist with the Lyric Opera of Kansas City from 2000-03. His opera apprenticeship included three years of tuition-free education at the University of Missouri-Kansas City, where he completed his doctorate in 2007. Continuing studies with Frank Curtis at the university, Larson worked with well known opera directors Matthew Lata and Daniel Helfgot, singing the lead tenor roles in full productions of La Traviata, Massenet's Manon, Cosi fan tutte, La Rondine, Hindemith's Hin und Zurück, and Scaramuccio in Ariadne auf Naxos. He has also worked with the Grant Park Symphony Chorus, Milwaukee Opera Threatre and the Des Moines Metro Opera, and Pensacola Opera. Since relocating back to his native Oregon in 2006, Larson has continued to sing various roles with concert opera companies in the Northwest. In addition to teaching at the Shedd, Nicholas is also on the voice faculty of the OSU School of Music.