Jeffrey Grant Kitto,
tenor, makes his Rimrock Opera main stage
debut as Nemorino in Elixir of Love.
Jeffrey was most recently seen performing on
Wyoming Public Television singing R. Vaughn
Williams Hodie and before that sang
for the Spokane Opera in their “Hot August
Night” concert series. In previous
engagements, Jeffrey played Rodolfo in La
Bohème for the Rose Opera in Portland as
well as the Helena Symphony for which he
received great acclaim. Emily Donahoe of the
Independent Record is quoted as saying, “he
has a really wonderful presence and a
rawness that comes through in his vocal
delivery, as well as his acting - something
that really can't be taught.” Some of Mr.
Kitto’s more recent roles also include
Rinnuccio in Opera Theater of Oregon’s
production of Gianni Schicchi,
covering Tamino in the Intermountain Opera
Association’s production of The Magic
Flute, Pirelli in Sweeney Todd,
El Remendado in Carmen, and Normanno
in Lucia di Lammermoor.
A native of Montana,
Jeffrey completed his bachelor’s degree in
music from Montana State University where he
performed roles in Amahl and the Night
Visitors, H.M.S. Pinafore, The
Old Maid and the Thief, Le Nozze di
Figaro, L’Orfeo, Così fan
tutte, La Bohème, Miss Saigon,
and Rent among others. A multiple
recipient of The Metropolitan Opera
Auditions National Council Awards as well as
a past winner of the National Association of
Teachers of Singing Artist Award, Mr. Kitto
was a five-year scholarship recipient of the
Intermountain Opera Association while
studying with well-known clinicians Lowell
Hickman and Dr. David Cody.
Jeffrey’s concert
experience includes engagements with the
Northwest Symphony, Billings Symphony,
Glacier Symphony, Spokane/Coeur d’ Alene
Opera, Helena Symphony, Sweet Pea Summer
Festival, Rimrock Opera, Montana State
University Chamber Orchestra, Edgefest in
Phoenix, Billings Summer Fest, and Pullman
Summer Fest among others. His most recent
work includes Carmina Burana, J.S.
Bach’s Actus Tragicus, Ralph Vaughn
Williams Hodie, Sondheim’s
Follies, as well as Les Miserables
and Phantom of the Opera for the
Billings Symphony. In 2005, Mr. Kitto was
the musical director and performed in
Montana State University’s production of
Batboy, The Musical. He was also a
featured studio artist on CDs for
Singers’ 2005 release of Italian
Songs & Arias. Jeffrey was a founding
member of national recording artists, The
Clintons, with whom he performed,
toured, and helped release two albums
including their 2002 release of the album
“Who Invited Roger” which was met with
independent acclaim throughout the
northwest. He sang on two Clinton CD’s.
