About

Erik Tofte is a baritone from Binghamton, New York. He holds a Professional Studies Certificate in Opera from the Curtis Institute of Music, a Master’s Degree in Voice from Mannes School of Music (The New School), and a Bachelor’s Degree in Vocal Performance from Binghamton University.

—-Upcoming—-

Starting in November of 2025, Tofte will be joining… TO BE ANNOUNCED…

  • In March of 2026, Erik will make his debut with the Binghamton Philharmonic Orchestra as the Bass soloist in Beethoven’s Symphony No.9 in D Minor, Op. 125.

  • Following this engagement, Erik will make another company debut with the Allentown Symphony Orchestra, as the Bass soloist in Mozart’s Requiem in D Minor, K. 626.

—Recent Engagements—

In the summer of 2025, the young baritone made his Apprentice Artist debut with the Chautauqua Opera Company. The young baritone sang the role of Schaunard and covered the role of Marcello in Puccini’s La Bohème (conducted by Steven Osgood). In addition, Erik was a soloist in the “Chautauqua Symphony Orchestra: Opera and Pops” concert, as well as Ensemble member in Mazzoli/Vavrek’s Lincoln in the Bardo.

  • Tofte was the baritone soloist with the Tri-State Chorale in Scranton, PA, for John Rutter’s Mass of the Children, performed with choir and chamber orchestra.

  • Erik competed in the 2024 Pittsburgh District of the Laffont Competition and was an Encouragement Award winner. Following this competition, in December of 2024, he performed as the Bass soloist in Handel’s Messiah with Aracadia Chorale in Scranton, PA.

  • In January of 2025, Erik covered the role of The Woodcutter/The Outlaw for the NY Premiere of In A Grove (Cerrone, Fleishmann) with the Prototype Festival, directed by Mary Birnbaum.

—-Past Credits——————————————————————————-

  • Guest Artist with the Boston Symphony Orchestra at Tanglewood, in Lenox, MA. He performed as one of the 7 Vassals in Act III of Wagner’s Götterdämmerung with the BSO, conducted by Andris Nelsons.

  • Festival Artist with Opera Saratoga. Erik performed the role of Calvin and covered the role of Sky Masterson in the company’s production of Guys and Dolls (June 29th-July 7th, 2024). He was also the physical actor in George Miller’s staged production of Winterreise by Schubert (Will Socolov, Baritone; and Chris Reynolds, piano).

    —(Curtis Institute)—

  • In the 2023-24 season at the Curtis Institute of Music, Erik made his Verizon Hall debut in Philadelphia, performing scenes from Strauss’ Ariadne auf Naxos with maestro Yannick Nézet-Séguin and the Curtis Symphony Orchestra (Oct. 2023, The Kimmel Center). In March of 2024, Erik starred as Le Mari in Poulenc’s Les mamelles de Tirésias (Mar. 2024, Philadelphia Film Center), directed by Eve Summer.

  • In 2022-23, his first year at Curtis Institute of Music, Erik performed the role of Sergeant Belcore in L’Elisir d’Amore with Curtis Opera Theater.

—(New Music Engagements)—

  • Guest artist with Beth Morrison Projects for the 2023 workshop premiere of Sensorium Ex (Prestini, Shaughnessy)

  • Baritone Soloist in Donald McCullough’s Holocaust Cantata: Tales from the Camps with Arcadia Chorale, under the baton of Matthew Rupcich.

  • Other new-music engagements include “The Villain” in the world premiere of the chamber opera, The End: A Fairytale, by J.P. Redmond and Julia Hoch (Concordia Conservatory, 2022) and “The Outlaw” in In a Grove by Christopher Cerrone/Stephanie Fleischman (Mannes Opera).

—(Other Past Credits)—

  • In 2023, Erik performed the role of Schaunard in Puccini’s La Boheme (English) with Delaware Valley Opera. Just two weeks after the conclusion of this opera, he portrayed the role of Robert Bravo in a new work with the company entitled, The Audition - a pastiche with dialogue and arias based on Mozart’s Impresario.

  • Erik has performed many other roles with ‘DVO’ such as: Count Ceprano (Rigoletto, 2022); Sergeant of Police (The Pirates of Penzance, 2022); Henry (The Gift of the Magi, 2021); Ben/Mr. Gobineau (The Telephone and the Medium, 2019) and the Marquis (La Traviata, 2019).

  • Tofte has been a guest artist with Tri-Cities Opera in Binghamton, NY, as the Boatswain in a production of H. M. S. Pinafore (2019, The Forum) and as the Registrar in Madame Butterfly (2018, the Forum).

  • He has performed with the SUNY Binghamton Opera Ensemble as Papageno in Die Zauberflöte, Guglielmo in Così fan tutte, The Shoe Salesman in Postcard from Morocco, and Aeneas in Dido and Aeneas.

  • While at Binghamton University, Erik placed first in several vocal competitions, including the NATS Regional Competition (2016, 2017, 2018) and the Northeastern Division of the CS Music Competition (2018). He was also a semifinalist in the national rounds of both competitions.

 

(NicholeMCHPhotography)