Christopher Briggs RodriguezVisiting Assistant Professor of Voice
Christopher Briggs Rodriguez, baritone and poet, is a performer and teacher whose work spans opera, oratorio, and art song, with a particular emphasis on contemporary vocal music. Praised for his rich tone and compelling interpretations, he has appeared in a wide range of operatic roles including Figaro (Il barbiere di Siviglia), Don Giovanni, Papageno (Die Zauberflöte), Pandolfe (Cendrillon), Dr. Falke (Die Fledermaus), Dancaïre (Carmen), and Inspector Lestrade in the professional world premiere of Sherlock Holmes and the Case of the Fallen Giant, among others. He is also a committed interpreter of new works, having created roles in State of Jefferson (Froelich), Lucinda y las flores de la Nochebuena (Mack), and New York Stories (Paterson).
As a soloist, Christopher has performed a wide range of major choral-orchestral and concert repertoire, including Brahms’ Ein deutsches Requiem; the Requiems of Fauré, Duruflé, and Howells; Bach’s Easter Oratorio and St. John Passion; Orff’s Carmina Burana; Schubert’s Mass in G major; and Ligeti’s Aventures. His recent and ongoing collaborations include appearances with Harmonium of Texas, the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, the San Antonio Philharmonic, Trinity Symphony Orchestra, Sonido Barroco, and Ensemble Fantasmi.
Highlights of the 2026–2027 season will include the title roles in Rossini's Il barbiere di Siviglia and Mozart's Don Giovanni, appearances as baritone soloist in Orff's Carmina Burana, and a return as bass soloist and Pontius Pilate in Bach's St. John Passion, with engagements throughout Texas, Louisiana, and Georgia.
During the 2025–2026 season, Christopher appeared in operatic, orchestral, and recital engagements across the United States. Operatic highlights included the title role in Don Giovanni with StageWorks (Georgia). In concert, he made his solo debut with the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra under the direction of Yoel Levi, singing the baritone solos in Schubert's Mass in G major. During the summer of 2026, he joined the roster of Professional Artists at SongFest in Greenville, South Carolina, where he performed in recital, opera, and masterclass programs alongside internationally recognized artists. The season also continued a multi-year recital project with pianist Zachary Ridgway devoted to Franz Schubert's major song cycles, which began with Die schöne Müllerin in May 2025 and continued with performances of Winterreise (January 2026) and Schwanengesang (May 2026), presented at Trinity University and regional venues. Additional appearances included Baroque repertoire with Early Birds Baroque Ensemble and invited guest artist recitals throughout Texas and Georgia.
Christopher earned the Doctor of Musical Arts in Vocal Performance and Vocal Coaching from the University of North Texas, where he studied with bass-baritone Stephen Morscheck and coaches Elvia Puccinelli and Stephen Dubberly.
His poetry has been featured in Mag Pie magazine and Cathexis Northwest Press, with several original octavos and song texts forthcoming in collaboration with composers, including the song cycle Celestial Householdswith music by Juliana Hall. He has studied poetic craft and lyric writing with Tony Silvestri.
Christopher is currently based in Atlanta, Georgia where he lives with his cats Opal and Oli. He continues to perform, teach, and present creative work throughout the United States and abroad.
