American Bass-Baritone Darren K. Stokes is a young artist of exceptional vocal ability and promise. He possesses a voice of extraordinary richness with a broad vocal range, and he sings with a singular ease. Mr. Stokes has added 41 roles to his repertoire since embarking on a singing career in 2002 and he has been in very high demand since having completed two seasons with the distinguished Ryan Opera Center of the Lyric Opera of Chicago. Most recent and upcoming projects since leaving the Ryan Opera Center include debut performances in Rachmaninoff's The Bells, Opus 35 (Baritone Solo) with the Grant Park Music Festival, Calkas (Troilus and Cressida) for Opera Theater of St. Louis, Ferrando (Il Trovatore) for Indianapolis Opera, Commendatore (Don Giovanni) for Eugene Opera, and a return to the Lyric Opera of Chicago stage as a guest artist in Porgy and Bess. Mr. Stokes looks forward to his debut with the Washington National Opera in the 2009-2010 season singing the role of Jake (Porgy and Bess) in addition to his Nashville Symphony debut in a reprise of Rachmaninoff's The Bells. Additional assignments in the 2008-2009 season comprise debut performances for Opera Memphis as Mèphistophélès in Faust and Parson Alltalk and Producer #2 in Treemonisha. Mainstage performances in recent seasons include Neptune in Monteverdi's The Return of Ulysses for Chicago Opera Theater, the Imperial Commissioner (Madama Butterfly) for the Ravinia Festival and the Father (La Forza del Destino) in a debut performances with Cincinnati May Festival under the direction of Mo. James Conlon.

A highlight in Mr. Stokes's 2nd season at the Ryan Opera Center was his Lyric Opera main stage debut in the lead role of General Groves which he performed as replacement for an indisposed principal. Highlights in his first season with the company included Iphigénie en Tauride, Dialogues des Carmélites, and Salome with covers of Ferrando (Il Trovatore), the Duke of Verona (Roméo et Juliette), Mandarin (Turandot), and the Marquis (Dialogues des Carmélites). In addition to the replacement performance of General Groves, 2007-2008 season roles include Basilio (Il Barbiere di Siviglia) on the main stage for a Student Matinee, with Zaretsky (Eugene Onegin)and Curio (Giulio Cesare) which he performs in all main stage performances. Cover assignments for the Lyric include Grenvil (La Traviata), Colline (La Bohème) which he previously performed for Sarasota Opera, and Achilla (Giulio Cesare).

Mr. Stokes has performed with distinguished young artists' programs in addition to the Ryan Opera Center. During his tenure with Glimmerglass Opera in 2005 as a member of the Young American Studio Artist program, he sang the the Russian Father and the Priest in St. Mark's Square in Tazewell Thompson's acclaimed production of Death in Venice . He covered the Lido Boatman (Death in Venice) and Don Alfonso (Così fan tutte), adding important roles to his growing repertoire.

In the 2004-2005 Season and in addition to his work for Glimmerglass Opera, Mr. Stokes participated in the season long intensive Apprentice Artists Program at Sarasota Opera and was awarded the 2005 Leo M. Rogers Scholarship for Outstanding Apprentice. He returned to Sarasota Opera for the 2005-2006 Season where he performed the role of Antonio (The Marriage of Figaro) and covered the role of Figaro. Additional assignments for Sarasota Opera included concerts as part of the Fall Outreach program and Colline in a main stage student performance of La bohème. Other projects in the 2005-2006 Season comprised King Balthazar (Amahl and the Night Visitors) for Opera Memphis, an Opera Gala Concert for Opera Company of North Carolina, and a tour of Scott Joplin's Treemonisha with Rick Benjamin's Paragon Ragtime Orchestra - the world's only year-round, professional organization performing ragtime-era music.

Mr. Stokes began his professional music career with Virginia Opera in the opera chorus and subsequently toured New York State with various gospel groups. In addition to Sarasota Opera, Opera Memphis, Virginia Opera and Glimmerglass Opera, Mr. Stokes has sung with Natchez Opera Festival, Opera Company of Brooklyn, Ash-Lawn Opera Festival, Amato Opera Theatre, Taconic Opera Company and the New York Opera Forum. To date, roles which Mr. Stokes has performed include Colline (La bohème), Ferrando (Il trovatore), Count Ceprano (Rigoletto), Crespel (Les Contes d'Hoffmann), the Duke of Verona (Roméo et Juliette), Antonio (The Marriage of Figaro), King Balthazar (Amahl and the Night Visitors), Bluesman (American Riversongs), and York in Michael Ching's Corps of Discovery, an American opera commissioned by the University of Missouri to commemorate the Louisiana Purchase Bicentennial celebration.

Mr. Stokes received a Bachelor of Science degree from Norfolk State University in his home state of Virginia and worked as a chemist before turning to music. Mr. Stokes recently received an encouragement award from the prestigious William Matheus Sullivan Musical Foundation.