Hailed by Opera News for the “richness and pliability of his [voice],” American countertenor Tai Oney has been a prizewinner in several competitions, including claiming a prestigious Sullivan Foundation Award.  He is a Ruth West Scholar supported by a Pidem Award, The Josephine Baker Trust Foundation, and a Fulbright alumnus.  Tai is a member of the Royal College of Music International Opera School studying under the tutelage of Russell Smythe.  A Finalist in the Cesti Singing Competition, Semi-Finalist in the Palm Beach Opera Competition, and a Regional Finalist in the Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions, Tai made his professional opera debut with Opera Boston in collaboration with Boston Baroque performing the role of Athamas in Handel’s Semele.

Among his many solo appearances, Tai has performed in Handel’s Messiah, Haydn’s Paukenmesse, Bach’s St. John’s Passion, Bernstein’s Chichester Psalms, Honegger’s King David, to name a few.  Tai has been seen as Piero della Francesca in Seven Angels, Ottone inL'Incoronazione di Poppea, Tirinto in the London Handel Festival's production of Imeneo, and Oberon in a scenes production of Britten's A Midsummer Night's Dream with original opera director, John Copley CBE.  He also performed as Liscione in an English translated adaptation of La Dirindina and the role of Spirit in Dido and Aeneas with the Bath International Music Festival.  

Tai recently covered the roles of Ottone (The Coronation of Poppea), Nero and Narciso (Agrippina) in addition to being a soloist in the Handel Vespers concert with the English Touring Opera.  Future engagements this season include the role of Teseo in Handel's opera seria Arianna in Creta with the London Handel Festival; alto soloist for St. John Passion, BWV 245 at Cadogan Hall with Barts Choir; Ishmael in Antonio Caldara's oratorio Le Gelosie d'un Amore with Ballo Baroque Ensemble; and Daliso in Handel's secular cantata Il Duello Amoroso with the Innsbruck Festival of Early Music (Austria).

Tai has been a member of the Central City Opera and a guest artist for the Palm Beach Opera young artist program. He holds degrees from Stetson University, Boston University and the New England Conservatory of Music. 

© Tai Oney