Stephen Michael Hanna, lyric baritone and native of East Texas, currently resides in Cincinnati as an avid performer advancing music of many types.  This fall he has the privilege of performing with Cincinnati Opera’s “Opera Express” tour as well as Queen City Opera’s production of Cenerentola.  Active in the choral vein, he also sings regularly with the St. Rose of Lima Octet, Vocal Arts Ensemble, Cincinnati Fusion Ensemble, and on occasion with Coro Volante (recording choir for new music), early music ensemble Schola Cincinnati, St. Peter in Chains Chamber Choir, and Old St. Mary’s Quartet.

This past summer completed Stephen’s third season with the Cincinnati Opera Chorus in their productions of La bohème and Die Zauberflöte, after singing in past seasons in Die Fledermaus, Fidelio, Tosca, Turandot, and Il trovatore.  Concerts include Haydn’s The Creation, Bach’s Magnificat in D, Messiah, Israel in Egypt, Five Mystical Songs, the premier of Kile Smith’s Canticle with the Cincinnati Vocal Arts Ensemble, and Craig Hella Johnson’s Considering Matthew Shepard.

In April of 2016 Stephen received a Master of Music Degree in Voice from the College-Conservatory of Music, studying vocal performance with William McGraw.  During his time there, he performed Baron Zeta in Lehar’s The Merry Widow, Bobby in Kurt Weill’s Mahagonny Songspiel, Count Almaviva in an Act 2 workshop of Le nozze di Figaro, and Ned Keene in a scenes workshop of Peter Grimes. Additionally, he corresponded with Cincinnati Opera Fusion: New Works in the premier of Daniel Catán’s opera Meet John Doe (ed. Eduardo Diazmuñoz).  He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Music Education from Stephen F. Austin State University where he sang for four years as a leading baritone, studying voice with Dr. Scott LaGraff.

In the past few years, Stephen has had the pleasure of working (in master class or production) with directors and maestros such as Metropolitan Opera director Robin Guarino, Craig Hella Johnson, Emma Griffin, Dr. AikKhai Pung, Dr. Earl Rivers, Isaac Selya, Frances Rabalais, Yael Front, Levi Hammer, Gerald Steichen, Anne Heath-Welch, and Gottfried Schiller.
When not on the stage or in the rehearsal hall, Stephen spends his time as a professional photographer, barista, and backpacker.