Robert Mellon

Internationally acclaimed American baritone Robert Mellon (Instructor of Voice) has been praised not only for his "glorious voice that burst[s] out brimming with life and vigor," but also for having "immense skill as an actor."

He has performed leading roles and secondary roles with Opera Philadelphia, Detroit Opera, Opera Theatre of Saint Louis, Florida Grand Opera, New York City Opera, Opera Tampa, Lyric Opera of Kansas City, San Diego Opera, Tulsa Opera, Opera de Oviedo (Spain),Syracuse Opera, Shreveport Opera, Livermore Valley Opera, Pensacola Opera, and Opera Maine.

Repertoire includes, Falstaff (Falstaff), Figaro (Le nozze di Figaro/Il barbiere di Siviglia), Leporello (Don Giovanni), Dandini (La Cenerentola), Tonio (Pagliacci), Taddeo (L’Italiana in Algeri), George (Of Mice and Men), Escamillo (Carmen), Sharpless (Madama Butterfly), Don Alfonso (Così fan tutte), Iago (Otello), Malatesta (Don Pasquale), Marcello and Schaunard (La bohème), Gianni Schicchi (Gianni Schicchi), and Papageno (Die Zauberflöte). Concert work includes the Mozart Requiem, Duruflé Requiem, Mussorgsky’s Songs and Dances of Death, the Dvorak Te Deum and the Rossini Petite messe solennelle.

Mr. Mellon was a 2016 winner of the Sullivan Foundation career grant. In 2022, he received a St Louis Theater Circle Award for Outstanding Achievement in Opera for his performance of the title role in Verdi’s Falstaff.

Mr. Mellon has been a professor of voice at the University of Missouri-St. Louis since 2021 and a professor of voice at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville since 2024.

What do you love about teaching?

I love seeing a young singer experience that moment when the lightbulb goes off and the idea clicks. Every lightbulb is one step closer to achieving any goal we want!

What is your favorite music to sing and what is something you love about singing?

I am a huge fan of opera. I listen to singers of the distant past. Early 20th century masters. It inspires both my teaching and my performing. I also enjoy Ska music.

What is a skill you've learned as a musician that you use in your everyday life?

Patience and work ethic. It translates to all forms of life. It helps with setting realistic goals and expectations.

Education

Bachelor of Music in Music Education and Bachelor of Music in Music Performance from the State University of New York College at Potsdam

Master of Music in Classical Voice from Manhattan School of Music.

Performance Links

The Prologue from Leoncavallo’s Pagliacci

All'idea di quel metallo, from Rossini's Il barbiere di Siviglia