ABOUT

Hailed for his “commanding stage presence” and the “dynamic power” of his voice (San Diego Story), West Virginia-born bass-baritone Steele Fitzwater is swiftly establishing himself as a sought-after performer on stages across the country.

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After an exciting debut with Salt Marsh Opera as Betto in Puccini’s Gianni Schicchi in spring of 2025, Steele returns to the company this fall to sing the Sergeant of Police in Gilbert & Sullivan's The Pirates of Penzance. Other 2025 debuts include Il Direttore in Donizetti's lesser-known masterpiece Viva La Mamma! with The Florentine Opera and with Des Moines Metro Opera in Janáček’s The Cunning Little Vixen and the company's Stars of Tomorrow concert. 

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His 2024 season featured an impressive array of roles, including the Sergeant of Police in G&S’s The Pirates of Penzance and Billy Jackrabbit in Puccini’s La fanciulla del West with Central City Opera. He returned to Cedar Rapids Opera for their production of Tosca, following his highly praised portrayal of The Pirate King (The Pirates of Penzance) with the same company in 2022.

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Other notable performances include his company debut as an apprentice artist with Sarasota Opera, his portrayal of Don Basilio in Rossini’s Il barbiere di Siviglia with Opera Neo, and his commanding work as the bass soloist in Haydn’s The Seasons with the Indiana University Orchestra. His diverse repertoire also includes Achilla (Giulio Cesare), Aleko (Aleko), Doctor Dulcamara (L’elisir d’amore), and Count Carl-Magnus Malcolm (A Little Night Music). On the concert stage, he has been a featured soloist in Handel’s Messiah, Schubert’s Mass in G, and Mussorgsky’s Songs and Dances of Death.

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Fitzwater holds both a Performance Diploma and a Master of Music degree from Indiana University and a Bachelor of Music degree from Miami University (Ohio). In addition to his performing career, he is dedicated to fostering the next generation of vocal talent, serving as a competition coordinator for Schmidt Vocal Arts, a non-profit organization devoted to the education and development of young singers.