Jimi James (Giuseppe www.JimiJamesBaritone.com) is a performer of unusual versatility.  In barely five professional seasons, the artist has performed 18 roles: Dr. Bartolo (Il barbiere di Siviglia), Figaro (The Marriage of Figaro), Papageno (NB this production was staged with giant puppets, pre-Taymor.  Jimi performed the role on 4 foot stilts!  He will appear in the same production in with Syracuse Opera in October 2008.), Schaunard, Gianni Schicchi, Giuseppe (The Gondoliers), Thomas Garret (She Never Lost a Passenger), Masetto, Enrico Ashton, Mustafa, Rigoletto, Germont, Plunkett, Billy Bigelow, Monterone, Emile (South Pacific), Escamillo and Tonio.  Born in Hawaii, raised on Cape Cod, and settled in Syracuse, Jimi’s repertoire is as varied as his travels.  The baritone is nearly as busy on the concert stage, with credits including Carmina Burana, the requiem settings of Brahms, Fauré, Mozart and Verdi, Bach cantatas 211, 145, 78 and 68, Songs of Love and War (Moravec), Mefistofele in Boito’s prelude and conclusion, Elijah, Schubert Mass in G, Messiah, Polar Express, Pizarro (Fidelio) and The Wolf in Peter vs. the Wolf.  The artist’s performance venues include Syracuse Opera, Opera Memphis, Opera Vivente, West Virginia Symphony, Annapolis Opera, Finger Lakes Choral Festival, Annapolis Chorale, Tri-Cities Opera, Connecticut Concert Opera, Granite State Opera, Syracuse Symphony Orchestra and Roanoke Symphony Orchestra.  Jimi is particularly fond of his outreach performances for younger audiences, in which he plays Peter (Hansel and Gretel), Don Giovanni Pig (The Three Little Pigs), The Wolf (The Return of Little Red Riding Hood and Little Red’s Most Unusual Day), The Giant (Jack and the Beanstalk), Ben (The Telephone) and Dinty (Never Tickle a Mule).  The baritone was a finalist in the Chester Ludgin American Verdi Baritone Competition, winner of the Joyce Dutka Arts Foundation Vocal Competition and recipient of the Manfred Meyer Artist of the Year award.  Along with Papageno, Jimi’s upcoming performances include Dr. Bartolo, Germont, Messiah, and Verdi’s Requiem.