Recognized for his rich tone and commanding voice, Kevin Starnes has performed a variety of styles in a career spanning over twenty years. Mr. Starnes is a bass-baritone based in Detroit, Michigan.

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Opera credits include the role of Jose Tripaldi in Osvaldo Golijov's "Ainadamar," the Duke in Gounod’s “Romeo et Juliette,” Theseus in Britten’s “A Midsummer Night's Dream,” Max Kane in William Bolcom’s “Dinner at Eight,” and Bartolo in Mozart’s “Le Nozze di Figaro.” He has had the wonderful opportunity to work with Martin Katz, Kathleen Kelly, George Shirley, and Caroline Helton while at the University of Michigan.

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No stranger to the theatrical stage, Mr. Starnes has performed a variety of roles. He delighted audiences as Danny Zuko in “Grease” in 2001. More recently, Mr. Starnes gave audiences the old razzle dazzle as Billy Flynn in “Chicago”. He was credited as “a true highlight” as Herod in “Jesus Christ Superstar,” with his signature number being hailed as full of “panache and style”.

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Mr. Starnes has been a soloist for major works on numerous occasions. He has performed Handel’s Messiah multiple times. Most recently, he tackled Mozart’s Requiem, as well as Mozart’s Coronation Mass. In the past, he has performed Faure’s Requiem, Schubert’s Mass in G, as well as Twine’s “Changed My Name” under the direction of Mary Alice Stollak.

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A seasoned choral artist, Mr. Starnes is a professional chorister with the Choral Artists of Michigan in Lake Orion. Previously, he has sung with the Flint Festival Chorus, and with the Living Christmas Card during the holiday season.

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Mr. Starnes graduated from the University of Michigan School of Music, Theatre, and Dance with a Master of Music in voice performance in 2018, and completed his Bachelor of Arts in Music at the Flint campus of the University of Michigan in 2002. In the interim between his music degrees, Mr. Starnes completed a Master of Arts in arts administration at The University of Michigan-Flint, helping to develop a community outreach program centered around opera education. He currently resides in Warren, Michigan, with his lovely wife Jennifer and four amazing sons.