African American bass-baritone Davóne Tines is noted for considerable success on the operatic scene in both Europe and the U.S. and for a strong commitment to a wide variety of contemporary music in which he finds personal significance. By his early 30s, Tines had roles written specifically for him in several new operas by major composers.
Tines was born in 1986 and grew up in the tiny town of Orlean in Virginia's horse country west of Washington, D.C. He attended Fauquier High School in nearby Warrenton. Tines began violin studies at seven, but he became interested in singin...