Biographical info

  • Born in Bessemer, Michigan, on April 18, 1991

  • Graduated from Interlochen Arts Academy in 2009

  • Artist Diploma in Opera Studies; BM and MM in Vocal Performance at the Juilliard School

  • Received additional training from the Marlboro Music School, Franz-Schubert-Institut, and young artist programs at Wolf Trap Opera and Opera Theatre of St. Louis

  • Is based wherever the suitcase lands!

Season Highlights

  • Starring as Ejlert Løvborg in the world premiere of Hedda Gabler at Dutch National Opera

  • Role debut as Belmonte in Die Entführung aus dem Serail at Ravinia Festival

  • Returning to London’s Royal Opera & Ballet as Tamino in Die Zauberflöte

  • Concerts in Colorado Springs and San Francisco

Career Highlights

  • Singing “Marry Me a Little” for Stephen Sondheim

  • Debuting at London’s Royal Opera House alongside Bryn Terfel as The Flying Dutchman

  • Appearing on Renée Fleming’s “American Voices” in a Sutton Foster masterclass on PBS

  • Singing the title role of Candide at Tanglewood on Leonard Bernstein’s Centennial

  • Making cabaret debut at the legendary Joe’s Pub

  • Winning the Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions

  • Performing “Happy Days Are Here Again” for Gretchen Whitmer’s reelection campaign announcement

  • Singing lead tenor role in the American premiere of Kaija Saariaho’s Innocence at San Francisco Opera

  • Founding the Emberlight Festival in 2021

Critical Acclaim

“The pick of the cast is Miles Mykkanen, whose flexible tenor lends lyricism and strength to Sam. He’s heartbreaking.”
The Times

“Mykkanen was most memorable, with a jovial brightness that transformed into shattering fragility, disquieting and sweet.”
The New York Times

“Mykkanen displayed a lovely lyric voice with an appealing honeyed sweetness in the timbre, which he employed with intelligence and humor.”
Opera News

“In his HGO debut, Mykkanen sang with a sweet and focused sound that was equally affecting whether expressing devastation or demonstrating his facility.”
Houston Chronicle

“Mykkanen managed to turn the Steersman into a principal character, so striking and brilliant were his forthright timbre and clear diction.”
Opera Magazine

“How satisfying it is to attend an opera and find a ‘discovery’ in the cast. Here, it was Miles Mykkanen, a singer of vast power and lyricism who convinced us that the Steersman is really a vital cog in the machine…whose dramatic abilities match his fine vocal apparatus.”
Opera Today

Anecdotes

  • While a student at Juilliard, served as a backstage handler for Liza Minnelli, Aretha Franklin, Barbra Streisand, and Donna Murphy – living out so many childhood dreams

  • Is an obsessive musical theater fan, having seen the Mamma Mia! stage production over 40 times

  • Loves reading autobiographies and memoirs

  • Also a big fan of The West Wing and other political dramas

  • His operatic debut was actually as a dancer – he appeared as a bearded ballerina in Smetana’s The Bartered Bride and landed on the front page of the New York Times!

  • The child of two high school band directors, he was the Michigan State euphonium soloist in his sophomore year of high school

  • Musical theater dream roles include Bobby in Company, Tateh in Ragtime, and Tony in West Side Story…and maybe a show that hasn’t yet been written!

  • Dream collaborators include Patti LuPone, Lady Gaga, Elton John, Renée Fleming, Barbra Streisand, Celine Dion, Cynthia Erivo, Dianne Reeves, Audra McDonald, Alex Newell, and Chappell Roan

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