Tenor Christian Ketter, made his Carnegie Hall debut in 2014, featured in the Washington Post, as part of “The Song Continues” with American Mezzo-Soprano Marilyn Horne. The 2013 winner of the Friedrich Schorr American Prize in Voice, Mr. Ketter has appeared as the tenor soloist with the Chicago Bar Symphony Orchestra & Chorus- in Bruckner’s Te Deum, making his Symphony Center debut with the orchestra again in 2015 at Chicago’s Orchestra Hall. In early 2017, he performed under conductor and Chicago Symphony Principal-Trombonist Jay Friedman with the Symphony of Oak Park & River Forest as Tristan in their performance of Wagner’s Tristan und Isolde Act II, as well as the tenor soloist in Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9 under Friedman performing it again with the Kishwaukee Symphony in May of 2017. In 2018, Mr. Ketter returned to Oak Park for the 9th Symphony, and portrayed Andrew Lloyd Webber’s The Phantom of the Opera at the Creston Opera House. In 2019, he sang Dvořák’s Svatební Košile in California with the Berkeley Community Chorus & Orchestra.
A frequent recitalist, Mr. Ketter gave a 2016 solo-recital on behalf of the Wagner Society of America; The Lyric Opera of Chicago Chapter Recitals; as well as a guest-lecture and recital at Northwestern State University of Louisiana. The 2013 Chicago Oratorio Winner, he sang Mozart’s Missa Brevis in 2017 with the Chicago Bar Symphony Orchestra & Chorus, his past solo performances include: DuBois’ Les sept paroles du Christ, Händel’s Messiah, Nielsen’s Symphony No. 2, Saint-Saëns’ Oratorio de Noël.
Mr. Ketter was privileged to be musically coached and staged by composer Carlisle Floyd in a 2011 concert celebrating his operatic works. Other stage performances include: “Rodger’s & Hammerstein II’s Something Wonderful” at Chicago’s Symphony Center with the CBASymphony, Northwest Indiana Symphony Orchestra's 2014 Holiday Concert; “Che” in Evita with the Southwest Michigan Symphony Orchestra; Cavaradossi in scenes from Tosca with the Calumet City Chamber Ensemble; Radamés in scenes from Verdi’s Aida with Music by the Lake; Willy Loman in Rizzer’s adaptation of Death of a Salesman; a televised concert marking the Chicago-Premiere of Herrmann’s Wuthering Heights, singing the role of Edgar Linton; Gaylord Ravenal in ShowBoat.
He served as the host of the “International Tour for World Golden Memories,” an orchestral concert tour with Star Gate Music Productions for which he has appeared as a recording artist. At Ravinia in 2010, Mr. Ketter gave a benefit recital on behalf of the Misericordia Foundation. In 2007, he performed at Walt Disney World on behalf of Sherrill Milnes’ VOICExperience. Past television appearances include WGN; ABC’s 190 North; and ESPN as an opening ceremony soloist for The UIC Flames and Northwestern Wildcats. In 2008, he performed for the International Center on Deafness and the Arts with Academy Award Winner Marlee Matlin and Dancing with the Stars’ Fabian Sanchez.
2013 International Finalist in the Kurt Weill Foundation’s Lotte Lenya Competition, 2015 American Prize Winner in Art Song; 2nd National Winner- Hal Leonard Art Song Competition, 2nd National Winner HalLeonard Musical Theatre Competition. 2012: National Winner of the Friedrich Schorr American Prize in Opera; National Grand Prize Winner of the Shirley Rabb Winston Scholarships in Voice; American Prize Winner in Art Song; National Finalist in the Shreveport Opera Competition; Harold Haugh finalist-young artist award. Mr. Ketter has both studied under and sung in masterclasses with renowned artists: Tito Capobianco; Nathan Gunn; Fabrizio Melano; Marilyn Horne; Maestro Enrique Patrón de Rueda; Joan Dornemann; Brian Zeger; Diana Soviero; David Friedman; Rebecca Luker; Sherrill Milnes and Carl Lawrenz.
In addition to teaching voice and piano in the Chicagoland area, as a composer and arranger: he co-wrote a musical stage adaptation of "The Great Gatsby" book, music & lyrics with Paul W. Thompson, and is a featured orchestrator on Canadian-tenor, Riccardo Iannello’s 2015 recording. Mr. Ketter’s upcoming music video of Cole Porter’s “I’ve Got You Under My Skin”- with violinist, Cara Schlecker and pianist, Cole Anderson- will be released in Fall 2018. His debut classical recording “Beloved” is available online at iTunes & Amazon.