At home on the stage and in the recital hall, J. Taylor Hightower, baritone, enjoys a wide variety of literature. Recent stage performances include Lt. Brannigan in Guys and Dolls, the Father (Peter) in Hansel and Gretel, and Michele in Il Tabarro (Mobile Opera). Dr. Hightower has also sung with Mississippi Opera on numerous occasions, including Dr. Grenvil in La Traviata, the Sergeant of Police in The Pirates of Penzance, the title role in The Mikado, Monterone in Rigoletto, Alfio in Cavalleria Rusticana, andZuniga in Carmen.
Recent concert and oratorio performances include Mahler’s Lieder eines fahrenden Gesellen with the USM orchestra and the baritone solos in the Dubois Seven Last Words of Christ (Galloway UMC), Brahms’ Ein deutsches Requiem (the Meistersingers), Fauré’s Requiem (Meridian Symphony), and Locklair’s Requiem (Parkway Heights UMC).
J. Taylor Hightower is an Associate Professor of Voice at the University of Southern Mississippi.