DREXEL L. HALLAWAY
Lyric Baritone

BIOGRAPHY (last updated May, 1993)

Drexel Hallaway, a native of Indiana, made his operatic debut as Figaro in a touring production of The Barber of Seville for Palm Beach Opera's Educational Guild.  Shortly thereafter he moved to New York, where he continued his education as a scholarship student at Manhattan School of Music.  While there he performed roles in the New York premieres of several operas.  Among these were his portrayals of Mr. Plunkett in H.W. Henze's The English Cat, and Hämerlein in Feuersnot, by Richard Strauss.

Returning to Florida, Mr. Hallaway became increasingly involved with the Palm Beach Opera, initially singing supporting roles in full productions of such operas as Les Contes d'Hoffmann, Carmen, and Andrea Chenier.  Meanwhile he was performing leading roles in PBO's touring productions of Cinderella, The Goose of Cairo, Little Red Riding Hood, Hänsel & Gretel, and Papageno.  He also appeared as Ben in Menotti's The Telephone, and as Brack Weaver in Down in the Valley, by Kurt Weill.

Since winning the Montgomery & Larmoyeux prize in the Advanced Division of Palm Beach Opera's national competition, his career has expanded greatly.  His international debut as Schaunard in La Bohème, at the invitation of Maestro Anton Guadagno, opened the first season of Mexico's newly established Compañia Opera de Monterrey.  Two seasons ago he was presented in critically acclaimed portrayals of Sharpless in Palm Beach Opera's Madama Butterfly, opposite Yasuko Hayashi in the title role.  Last season he appeared as Dr. Malatesta - opposite Mario Bertolino in the title role of Don Pasquale.  Just this season, he reassumed the role of Schaunard for Palm Beach Opera, and returned to Opera de Monterrey for Silvio in I Pagliacci. 

A versatile performer, Mr. Hallaway is also in demand for oratorio, operetta, and concerts.  He has appeared as soloist with such organizations as the Greater Palm Beach Symphony, the Masterworks Chorus, and the Florida Symphonic Pops.  Last spring he was the featured soloist in a concert of American music - celebrating the 500th anniversary of Colombus' discovery of America - presented by Schubertiades at Sotheby's, a concert series in London, England.  He has just returned this spring from a second engagement there, singing songs by Duparc and Ravel.  Much of that concert, shared with the Lark Quartet, was later digitally recorded - for probable release in the series' private-label compact disc collection.