David Adams

David Adams is Professor Emeritus at the College-Conservatory of Music, University of Cincinnati, joining the faculty there in 1980. Prior to the start of his teaching career, he sang in German and Austrian theatres. Now retired from singing, he sang extensively as a concert singer, particularly the evangelist roles in the two passions of J.S. Bach. Contemporary music has also figured in his performing career, including several premieres. He has sung works of Elliott Carter, John Corigliano, and Sir Michael Tippett in their presence. As a recitalist, Mr. Adams has sung a wide variety of repertoire, but has particularly focused on Czech art song. He recorded a CD of songs of Smetana and Dvořák.

Mr. Adams has also been administrative head of the Performance Studies Division at the College-Conservatory of Music since 1988. In addition, he was artistic director of CCM’s Italian summer program Opera Theatre and Music Festival of Lucca, and its successor CCM/Spoleto from 2004 to 2011. He is the author of two books: A Handbook of Diction for Singers published by Oxford University Press, and The Song and Duet Texts of AntonínDvořák, published by Leyerle Publications. Former students of his are singing and teaching nationally and internationally, and include finalists in the Metropolitan Opera auditions on four occasions.

He has degrees from Indiana University and the University of New Mexico. He was a Fulbright scholar to the Accademia di Santa Cecilia, Rome, Italy.