Reader Submission: Saïd Pressley

Saïd Pressley

A reader spotted New Yorker Saïd Pressley as one of the semi-finalists in the 26th annual Dallas Opera Guild Vocal Competition and remembered him as the very attractive winner of the Amato Opera Competition.

A recent graduate of the Juilliard School, bass-barihunk Saïd Pressley is a New York native and former member of the Boy’s Choir of Harlem.

He has appeared as Presto in Poulenc's Les mamelles des Tirésias, Simone/Maestro Spinelloccio in Puccini's Gianni Schicchi, Wu Tianshi in the American premiere of Peter Maxwell Davies’ Kommilitonen with Juilliard Opera, Don Alfonso in Mozart's Così fan tutte, Sebastian in the world premiere recording of Lee Hoiby’s Tempest (Albany Records), Balthazar in Menotti's Amahl and the Night Visitors, and Sarastro in Mozar'ts Die Zauberflöte with Purchase Opera.

His concert work includes several recitals in both Paul Hall and Alice Tully Hall, as well as a master class with renowned American bass Samuel Ramey. Saïd has received the 1st Prize in the Tony and Sally Amato Opera competition (2010), 2nd Prize in the Harlem Opera Theater Competition (2013), and is a current semi-finalist in Dallas Opera Guild’s Annual Vocal Competition (2014). Tickets to the Dallas competition on March 14th are free and available online.