About Dr. Hancock:

Kyle Hancock, bass-baritone, made his operatic debut in 1977 in the role of Sparafucile in Verdi's Rigoletto with Lyric Opera Cleveland. Since then he has sung over forty principal roles with such companies as Pensacola Opera, Ohio Light Opera, Opera Southwest, and Pittsburgh Chamber Opera. He created the role of the Banker in the American premiere of the three-act version of Alban Berg's Lulu with the Santa Fe Opera and participated in world premieres of Mary Stuart: A Queen Betrayed by Bain Murray; The Death of Lincoln by Edwin London; and Haydn's Head by Larry Baker. Kyle made his Augusta Opera debut in the role of Dr. Grenvil in their May 2006 production of Verdi's La Traviata and perform the role of the Governor/Innkeeper in their upcoming production of The Man of La Mancha . In concert he has performed the baritone solos in the Duruflé Requiem, the bass solos in Bach's Cantata 78, and the bass solos in Schubert's Mass in G with the Savannah Symphony; the bass solos in Beethoven's Ninth Symphony with the Suburban Symphony of Cleveland along with numerous other appearances with orchestras throughout the Midwest. He has performed Mozart arias and duets with the Augusta Symphony and recently sang the baritone solos in the Brahms Ein deutsches Requiem with the Hilton Head Orchestra. At Georgia Southern he has performed the bass solos in Haydn's Mass in Time of War, and in last spring's performance of the Fauré Requiem. In the spring of 2007, Kyle will create the role of Marvin Pittman in the Georgia Southern Opera production of Michael Braz's opera A Scholar Under Siege . Other upcoming engagements include appearances with the Southern Georgia Symphony Chamber Players and the Savannah Sinfonietta.

As Director of Georgia Southern Opera from 1997-2002, Kyle directed productions of Gilbert and Sullivan's Patience and The Mikado, Menotti's The Old Maid and the Thief, The Medium, and The Telephone , and Puccini's Gianni Schicchi. He has also conducted the Georgia Southern Opera Orchestra in productions of Gilbert and Sullivan's The Pirates of Penzance and HMS Pinafore , and Sondheim's A Little Night Music . Also as a conductor, Kyle has led the Shaker Symphony of Cleveland, Ohio, and was Associate Conductor of the Trinity Episcopal Cathedral Choir, also of Cleveland , from 1979-1989.

Kyle received his doctorate from the University of Michigan where he studied with Leslie Guinn and coached with Martin Katz. Currently he is a member of the music faculty at Georgia Southern University where he is Chair of the Vocal Arts Area.