Eric van Hoven, Tenor

This Mississippi native debuted at three of New York City's prestigious music venues within twelve consecutive months. His New York debut was with New York City Opera in their production of Mozart's Die Zauberflöte, followed by his concert debut at Lincoln Center's Avery Fisher Hall with American Symphony Orchestra singing the roles of Hermes in Bruch's Odysseus, 3rd Soldier in Hindemith's Murderer Hope of Women, and the 2nd Player in Kurt Weill's The Protagonist. He then celebrated his Broadway debut in Bernstein's Candide directed by Hal Prince.

Mr. van Hoven has performed principal roles with Opera De Las Americas in Santo Domingo, Portland Opera, Opera Omaha, Chautauqua Opera, Chicago Chamber Opera, South Carolina Opera, Skylight Opera Theatre, and Hawaii Opera Theatre. With Knoxville Opera Eric performed Tamino in a new production of Die Zauberflöte, a role he had previously sung with Virginia Opera, the title role in Gounod’s opera, Faust, with Dicapo Opera and Sacramento Opera, and Nemorino in L'Elisir d'amore with Augusta Opera.

He has premiered new works for such esteemed composers as Robert Ward in the New York premier of Claudia Legare, creating the role of George Lowndes with Dicapo Opera, Salvatore Brotons in the filmed opera Reverend Everyman, performing the evil role of Thanatos with Florida State Opera, Dr. Robert Greenleaf in the world premier of Under the Arbor, a PBS broadcast production with Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, creating the role of the student Bubba, and Jon Polifrone in the opera Keepers of the Light, developing the role of Jonas with Opera Roanoke.

Recognized for his operetta and musical theatre repertoire, Eric has performed Eisenstein in Die Fledermaus with Sacramento and Augusta Operas, Ralph Rackstraw in H.M.S. Pinafore with Nevada Opera, Syracuse Opera, and Opera Omaha, Frederic in Pirates of Penzance with such companies as Mobile Opera, Asheville Lyric Opera, Chattanooga Symphony and Opera and Intermountain Opera and Nanki Poo with Anchorage Opera, Huntington Theatre and Northshore Musical Theatre in New England. Mr. van Hoven appeared as Tony in Terrance McNally's Masterclass with soap opera star Rosemary Prinz at Coconut Grove Playhouse.

Recent and upcoming engagements include: concert soloist with the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, Sioux City Symphony, and Mobile Opera Orchestra, Valere in Kirke Mechem’s Tartuffe with Lake George Opera, Orpheus in a new production of Orpheus and the Underworld with Nevada Opera and Alfredo in La Traviata in Oswego, New York.

Mr. van Hoven held full scholarship at the Cincinnati College Conservatory of Music where he studied as an Artist Diploma candidate. He received a B.M. from Florida State University and, while completing a M.M. from Northwestern University, was featured as the Celebrant in Bernstein's Mass. Eric currently resides in Easton, Pennsylvania with his wife and three children.