In 2025, tenor Lawrence Barasa will make his Annapolis Opera debut as Alfredo in La traviata, as well as joining Eugene Opera for a recital. He was also a recent Apprentice Artist with the Santa Fe Opera, and appeared at Carnegie Hall for the Joyce DiDonato Masterclass. 

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On the opera stage, he has performed Spoletta with Eugene Opera’s production of Tosca, as well as Don Basilio and Don Curzio in Le nozze di Figaro with the Astoria Music Festival.  In addition, he has performed Rodolfo in La bohème and Don Ottavio in Don Giovanni with the Maryland Opera Studio and the title role in Les contes d’Hoffmann and Don José in La Tragedie de Carmen at the University of Oregon School of Music and Dance.   

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Mr. Barasa was honored with 1st prizes in the Jensen Foundation Vocal competition, Premier Opera Foundation International Competition, the James Toland Vocal Competition, Shreveport Opera’s Mary Jacobs Singer of the Year Voice Competition, the Annapolis Opera Competition and the Sullivan Study Grant Award. He was also the recipient of an encouragement award at the Laffont Competition, 2nd Prize in the Eugene Opera Emerging Artist Division, and 1st  Prize in the National Opera Association Carolyn Bailey and Dominick Argento Vocal Competition. 

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Mr. Barasa has received training from the Savannah VOICE Festival, Santa Fe Opera, and the Astoria Music Festival. Mr. Barasa holds a Bachelor of Music in Vocal Performance from the University of Oregon and a Master of Music in Vocal Performance from the Maryland Opera Studio at the University of Maryland. Mr. Barasa began his musical training as a member The Kenyan Boys Choir where he performed with artists including The Tenors, Jonas Brothers, Nelly Furtado, Ellie Goulding, Ciara and Demi Lovato, among others. Mr. Barasa was also named an ambassador of WE and Free the Children.