MICHAEL PISTORIO is a lyric baritone whose mission is to bring modern finesse to classical singing by blending his commanding voice with intimate drama. His recent role debut as Joseph De Rocher in OperaAACC’s production of Dead Man Walking by Jake Heggie was hailed as “vocally and dramatically stirring” and “fully encapsulating the character”; DCTheaterArts noted “a defiance and fear” in his portrayal. Additional opera repertoire includes Jim Young The Gift of the Magi (Whitacre), Titular & Masetto Don Giovanni (Mozart), Coppèlius Les Contes d’Hoffmann (Offenbach), Marcello La Bohéme (Puccini), Titular Giulio Cesare (Händel), Melchior Amahl & the Night Visitors (Menotti), Dancaïre Carmen (Bizet), Papageno Die Zauberflöte (Mozart), and Angelotti Tosca (Puccini).  This season, Michael is a Guest Artist with The Heritage Signature Chorale in Washington, DC, an Emerging Artist with Bach in Baltimore, and has made numerous company and role debuts with organizations across the DMV area.