Christopher Briggs Rodriguez, baritone and poet, is a performer and teacher whose work spans opera, oratorio, and art song, with a particular emphasis on contemporary vocal music. Praised for his rich tone and compelling interpretations, he has performed a wide range of operatic roles including Don Giovanni, Papageno (Die Zauberflöte), Pandolfe (Cendrillon), Dr. Falke (Die Fledermaus), Dancaïre (Carmen), and Inspector Lestrade in the professional premiere of Sherlock Holmes and the Case of the Fallen Giant amongst others. He is also a committed interpreter of new works, having created roles in State of Jefferson, Lucinda y las flores de la Nochebuena and New York Stories.
As a soloist, Christopher has performed in major choral-orchestral works including Brahms’ Ein deutsches Requiem, Fauré’s Requiem, Bach’s Easter Oratorio and St. John Passion, and Orff’s Carmina Burana. His recent collaborations include appearances with the San Antonio Philharmonic, Trinity Symphony Orchestra, Sonido Barroco, and Ensemble Fantasmi.
He earned his Doctor of Musical Arts in Vocal Performance and Vocal Coaching from the University of North Texas, where he studied with bass-baritone Stephen Morscheck and coaches Elvia Puccinelli and Stephen Dubberly. An advocate for text-driven performance and interdisciplinary collaboration, Christopher’s work frequently explores the intersection of poetry and music.
His poetry has been featured in Mag Pie magazine and Cathexis Northwest Press, with several original octavos and song texts forthcoming in collaboration with composers. He has studied poetic craft and lyric writing with Tony Silvestri, whose mentorship has shaped his approach to text as both a singer and writer.
He currently serves as Visiting Assistant Professor of Vocal Studies at Emory University and is an Artist Affiliate with Reinhardt University in Waleska, GA. He continues to perform and present across the United States and abroad.