Mexican-American lyric tenor Genaro Méndez has a versatile and wide-ranging career as a leading operatic tenor, chamber and solo recitalist, and voice professor. This spring, Genaro will make his Lyric Opera of Kansas City debut as Emperor Altoum in Turandot. Previous operatic performances include Nadir in Les pêcheurs de perles, Tybalt in Roméo et Juliette, Tamino in Die Zauberflöte, Ramiro in La Cenerentola, Alfredo in La traviata, Quint in Turn of the Screw, Rinuccio in Gianni Schicchi, and Ferrando in Così fan tutte.
A Nevada native, Genaro is the oldest son of immigrant parents and was a first-generation college student. Genaro began his formal music studies at the University of Nevada, Reno where he studied under the late master teacher of voice and Nevada Opera founder Ted Puffer. Under Maestro Puffer’s mentorship, Genaro completed his undergraduate degree and performed in over thirty Nevada Opera productions as a chorus member, in comprimario roles, and as a leading tenor. He continued his musical studies at the University of Illinois, performing with world-renowned vocal coach John Wustman on a United States tour of the complete songs of Schubert. He earned his Doctor of Musical Arts degree from the University of Oregon, studying under Milagro Vargas.
As a University of Kansas Professor of Voice, Genaro is a dedicated teacher of vocal technique, diction, and repertoire. His students have enjoyed numerous accolades, including placing in regional and national voice competitions, earning opera apprenticeships, and performing in leading roles with opera companies across the country.
