Brendon Rapushaj

Baritone Brendon Rapushaj is an aspiring young opera singer with goals to perform across the United States and internationally. He has performed with various choirs, orchestras, musical groups and esteemed artists in various venues and concert halls throughout New York City. Some of which include the Young People's Chorus of New York City, The Classical Lyric Arts Foundation/Program and Kaufman Music Center. He is an accomplished young artist and former student of Laquita Mitchell, Mary Nessinger,Menorah Winston and Ruth Golden. He is currently a student at the Manhattan School of Music and is pursuing his undergraduate degree there where he studies with voice teacher Dimitri Pittas and Coach LeAnn Overton. This past summer he sang with the Taos Opera Institute in New Mexico and performed in several venues and regions there. He is passionate about his support of new music and premiering new works with fellow students and artists outside of MSM. His versatility and dedication to the art form of classical music and opera has allowed him to take part of numerous performances in multiple programs along esteemed concert masters and professional Opera singers.

Neidorff-Karpati Hall, November 23 2021, Performed with The MSM Symphonic Orchestra and Symphonic Chorus. Performed Mozart's Requiem and Nunes Garcia Stabat Mater.

Upcoming:

Manhattan School of Music Undergraduate Opera Theatre Scenes, Act 2 Finale from Le Nozze di Figaro, (playing Figaro)-December 5,6 2024

Don Quixote Ravel Cycle Performance in Rahm hall in Manhattan School of Music-December 8th. 

Previous: 

Act 2 performance of Le Nozze di Figaro (Played Count Almaviva) November 24,2024 in Greenfield Hall-Manhattan School of Music

Le Nozze di Figaro role study program presented by Curtis Serafin, (Learned role of Figaro and Count) Oct 19-November 23, Opera America 

Premiered "Motherless Child" by J. Mark Stambaugh Oct 17,2024 in Greenfield Hall-Manhattan School of Music

Performed 15 concerts in Taos New Mexico with Taos Opera Institute presenting arias: "Ah per sempre"," Mein Sehnen", Don Quixote cycle by Ravel, and "It is enough". Performed scenes from Le Nozze di Figaro, Candide, La Cenerentola, Cosi fan tutte, Phantom of the Opera, and Silent Night by Kevin Puts. Premiered "Shenandoah" by Reg Huston and Micheal Ching

The Fairy Queen by Purcell May 2nd and 3rd at Riverside Theater( Drunken Poet Cover ) 2024

Manhattan School of Music Voice Recital February 18/ Selections from Mortal Storm/ Winterreise and Tosti/ Donaudy 2024 

 Manhattan School of Music Undergraduate Opera Theatre presents Mozart by the Dozen, Performed all of Act 4 finale as Figaro from Le Nozze di Figaro, November 2023, Ades Performance Space. 

CLA Berkshires 2022/2023 summer program July 2-16

Manhattan School of Music Composer Concert Premiere, May 12,2023, Sam Friedman Silence of the Lambs Scene” After your fathers murder”

Cavalleria Rusticana (chorus member) perfromed at The Church of the Village in NYC April 29th.

Manhattan School of Music Opera Scenes Concert April 18 in Greenfield Concert  Hall- “Bei Männern” and “ Susanna or via Sortite”

Manhattan School of Music Studio Class Performance/ Act 1 of Le Nozze di Figaro(played Figaro) March 2023

Opera America Voice Recital March 18,2023 with selections from Schubert, Mozart and Tosti. 

Manhattan School of Music Shahar Regev Composer Concert in Ades Performance Space. “ Power of the People Debut”

Manhattan School of Music Symphonic Ensemble Performance- Faure Requiem

Manhattan School of Music Graduate Opera Theatre L’fant Chorus Member

Manhattan School of Music Sophomore Vocal Recital

Take o take those lips away by Quilter

None but the lonely heart by Tchaikovsky

Albanian Culture TV 25th Anniversary Performance

Manhattan School of Music Freshman Performance Seminar

Greenfield hall

Performed O del mio amato ben by Donaudy

Non più andrai by Mozart

Manhattan School of Music Symphonic Ensemble Performance

Special Music School High School: Vocal Concert

Merkin Hall, May 2021, Performed Non Piu Andrai by Mozart

Special Music School High School: 2019 Cabaret February, 2019

Performed: My Funny Valentine

Special Music School High School: 2020 Cabaret February, 2020

Performed: O Sole Mio

Young People's Chorus of NYC

THE SECOND ANNUAL YPC BIG SING with Special Guests: a cappella quartet Midtown and musical renegade Nick Demeris.

October 19, 2019/Gerald W. Lynch Theater

Young People's Chorus of NYC

NYC Saks Fifth Avenue and Disney Frozen 2 Themed Holiday Show/Windows Performance by Idina Menzel accompanied by YPC Chorus November 25,2019

Special Music School High School: Down in the Valley

Performed with: SMSHS Men’s Choir

May 23, 2019/Merkin Hall at Kaufman Music Center

Special Music School High School: Britten’s Choral Dances from Gloriana, Op. 53

Performed with: SMSHS Advanced Men’s Choir

May 23, 2019/Merkin Hall at Kaufman Music Center

Special Music School High School: Quatre Petite Prières de Saint François Assise

Performed with: SMSHS Advanced Men’s Choir

May 23, 2019/Merkin Hall at Kaufman Music Center

Special Music School High School 2019 Kaufman Music Center Benefit Gala

Performed with: Special Music School HS Advanced Men Choir and Special Guests Caroline Shaw and Attacca Quartet

November 2019, Gustavinoś, NYC

Young People's Chorus of NYC

January 2019 - December 2019

Chorale Choir

Conductors: Francisco J. Nunez; Elizabeth Nunez, Sonny Willis

Young People's Chorus of NYC

SONG/PLAY CONCERT AT CARNEGIE HALL - June 24, 2018 Carnegie Hall’s Stern Auditorium / Perelman Stage

DCINY World Premiere Compositions: Liminality, Forever is My Song, Naturaleza, and Es Tu Tiempo.

Conductor: Francisco J. Nunez

Young People's Chorus of NYC

ANNUAL GALA CELEBRATION CONCERT with Special Guests Broadway star, Ashley Brown and Baritone,  Ford.

March 12, 2019/Jazz at Lincoln Center’s Frederick P. Rose Hall

Young People's Chorus of NYC

YPC PERFORMS IN LEONARD COHEN: A CRACK IN EVERYTHING Conductors: Francisco J. Nunez

July 11, 2019, The Jewish Museum

Young People's Chorus of NYC

SPRING CELEBRATION CONCERT  Saturday, June 1, 2019/United Palace

Master Classes:

Master Class with Jane Marsh 2019

Master Class with Jeffrey Gall 2021

Master Class with Mary Jane Johnson at Taos Opera Institute 2024

• Classical Lyric Arts Foundation
• Taos Opera Institute
• Young Peoples Chorus
• Kaufman Music Center

• Taos Opera Institute Scholarship for 2500$ from patrons/ doner
• Classical Lyric Arts scholarship two years in a row from Glenn Morton/John Viscardi
• Manhattan School of Music Scholarship
• Algebra Spotlight Award, 2017/2018, For Academic growth and success
• Biology Spotlight Award, 2017/2018, For Academic growth and success
• NYCDOE Award, 2017/2018, For excellence in Vocal Studies and Performance
• Hackett Award, 2017/2018, For Initiative and Activism for a better school environment
• Kaufman Music Center Award, 2017/2018, For Achievement and Recognition of Vocal performance and mastery

• Dimitri Pittas, Voice teacher and Mentor, 2024-
• Eugene Kohn, Vocal Coach and Mentor, 2022-
• LeAnn Overton, Vocal Coach, Manhattan School of Music/John J. Cali School of Music at Montclair State University, 2020-
• Ruth Golden, Vocal Teacher, Manhattan School of Music, 2021-2024
• Laquita Mitchell, Vocal Teacher/Faculty, Manhattan School of Music, PreCollege, 2020-2021
• Mary Nessinger, Vocal Coach, Vassar College and Special Music School, 2017-2021
• Menorah Winston, Vocal Coach/Summer Workshop, 2018-
• Hermira Gjoni, Pianist, Piano Teacher, 2015-

• Debate Club, 10/01/19 - 01/01/20
• Unanswered Questions Club, 11/01/18 - 06/01/19
• Audition Helper/Open House Performer, 02/01/18 - 02/01/20
• Tutor/Volunteer for StudySafe.Me, Dedicated to tutoring young musicians/students, 5 years