Biography
A native of Rock Hill, South Carolina, tenor Aaron McKone has been recognized as a “rising star” and praised for his “ardent tenor” (Cincinnati Business Courier). Deeply committed to the emotional and transformative power of the operatic voice, he brings vibrant color and visceral authenticity to the stage, aiming to create experiences that resonate with every audience member.
This fall, Aaron is thrilled to return to Utah Opera for a second season as a Resident Artist. During the 2025/2026 season, he will appear in several mainstage productions, singing Watson and Lloyd in Paul Moravec’s The Shining, Jaquino in Fidelio, and Gastone in La Traviata, while also covering the role of Nemorino in L’elisir d’amore. He will again join the Utah Symphony as the tenor soloist in Messiah and as a featured performer in the annual Access to Music concert. His season also includes community concerts and extensive educational outreach work, sharing opera with tens of thousands of students statewide.
This summer, Aaron joined The Santa Fe Opera’s Apprentice Program for Singers. While in residence, he study-covered the roles of the Prologue and Peter Quint in Britten’s The Turn of the Screw and performed in the choruses of La Bohème, Rigoletto, and The Marriage of Figaro. While at The Santa Fe Opera, Aaron was able to coach and collaborate with many of the leading professionals in the industry.
Aaron made his Utah Opera debut during the 2024/2025 season as a Resident Artist, performing as Beppe in Pagliacci and the Official Registrar in Matthew Ozawa’s striking new production of Madama Butterfly. He also covered the role of the Witch in Hänsel und Gretel and appeared as the tenor soloist in both Messiah and the Access to Music concert with the Utah Symphony.
In early 2024, he appeared with Opera Naples as a Resident Artist, performing Lord Tolloller in Gilbert & Sullivan’s Iolanthe and Goro in Madama Butterfly, in addition to community concerts and educational outreach productions of the touring children’s opera Stop, Bully!.
Aaron made a notable debut with the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra in November 2023, performing the role of Laërte in Ambroise Thomas’ Hamlet under the baton of Louis Langrée in collaboration with Paris’ Opéra Comique. His portrayal received strong critical acclaim, with reviewers praising his arias as standout moments and wishing for more music for his character.
In the summer of 2023, he was a Studio Artist with Wolf Trap Opera, covering the title role in Gounod’s Faust and performing as a soloist in a collaborative concert with the National Orchestral Institute and Festival. The previous summer, Aaron joined Spoleto Festival USA, participating in the world premiere of the Pulitzer Prize-winning new opera Omar by Rhiannon Giddens and Michael Abels and performing in the U.S. premiere of Nico Muhly’s The Street.
Other notable operatic roles include Rinuccio (Gianni Schicchi), Galileo (Galileo Galilei), Scaramuccio (Ariadne auf Naxos), Laurie (Little Women), Eisenstein (Die Fledermaus), Le Remendado (Carmen), Orphée (Orphée et Euridice), and Chevalier de la Force (Dialogues des Carmélites).
Aaron is a passionate advocate for new works. In addition to performing in the world premiere of Omar, he has participated multiple times in Cincinnati Opera’s Opera Fusion: New Works program, collaborating with composers and librettists to develop new operas. His workshop credits include Robeson by Scott Davenport Richards and The Highlands by Carlos Simon, Lynn Nottage, and Ruby Aiyo Gerber.
Equally at home on the concert stage, Aaron has performed as the tenor soloist in Mozart’s Requiem with the Lima Symphony Orchestra and in Messiah with the Utah Symphony. He has also performed as the tenor soloist in Orff’s Carmina Burana and Bach’s Uns Ist ein Kind Geboren with the York County Choral Society. He is a dedicated recitalist, particularly drawn to the Lieder of Franz Liszt.
Aaron earned his Bachelor of Music from Winthrop University. He earned a Master of Music degree in Vocal Performance and an Artist Diploma in Opera from the University of Cincinnati: College-Conservatory of Music (CCM), where he studied under Tom Baresel and Stuart Skelton.
Outside of music, Aaron enjoys reading fantasy novels, playing board games with friends, and doting on his cat, Momo.
Biography
A native of Rock Hill, South Carolina, tenor Aaron McKone has been recognized as a “rising star” and praised for his “ardent tenor” (Cincinnati Business Courier). Deeply committed to the emotional and transformative power of the operatic voice, he brings vibrant color and visceral authenticity to the stage, aiming to create experiences that resonate with every audience member.
This fall, Aaron is thrilled to return to Utah Opera for a second season as a Resident Artist. During the 2025/2026 season, he will appear in several mainstage productions, singing Watson and Lloyd in Paul Moravec’s The Shining, Jaquino in Fidelio, and Gastone in La Traviata, while also covering the role of Nemorino in L’elisir d’amore. He will again join the Utah Symphony as the tenor soloist in Messiah and as a featured performer in the annual Access to Music concert. His season also includes community concerts and extensive educational outreach work, sharing opera with tens of thousands of students statewide.
This summer, Aaron joined The Santa Fe Opera’s Apprentice Program for Singers. While in residence, he study-covered the roles of the Prologue and Peter Quint in Britten’s The Turn of the Screw and performed in the choruses of La Bohème, Rigoletto, and The Marriage of Figaro. While at The Santa Fe Opera, Aaron was able to coach and collaborate with many of the leading professionals in the industry.
Aaron made his Utah Opera debut during the 2024/2025 season as a Resident Artist, performing as Beppe in Pagliacci and the Official Registrar in Matthew Ozawa’s striking new production of Madama Butterfly. He also covered the role of the Witch in Hänsel und Gretel and appeared as the tenor soloist in both Messiah and the Access to Music concert with the Utah Symphony.
In early 2024, he appeared with Opera Naples as a Resident Artist, performing Lord Tolloller in Gilbert & Sullivan’s Iolanthe and Goro in Madama Butterfly, in addition to community concerts and educational outreach productions of the touring children’s opera Stop, Bully!.
Aaron made a notable debut with the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra in November 2023, performing the role of Laërte in Ambroise Thomas’ Hamlet under the baton of Louis Langrée in collaboration with Paris’ Opéra Comique. His portrayal received strong critical acclaim, with reviewers praising his arias as standout moments and wishing for more music for his character.
In the summer of 2023, he was a Studio Artist with Wolf Trap Opera, covering the title role in Gounod’s Faust and performing as a soloist in a collaborative concert with the National Orchestral Institute and Festival. The previous summer, Aaron joined Spoleto Festival USA, participating in the world premiere of the Pulitzer Prize-winning new opera Omar by Rhiannon Giddens and Michael Abels and performing in the U.S. premiere of Nico Muhly’s The Street.
Other notable operatic roles include Rinuccio (Gianni Schicchi), Galileo (Galileo Galilei), Scaramuccio (Ariadne auf Naxos), Laurie (Little Women), Eisenstein (Die Fledermaus), Le Remendado (Carmen), Orphée (Orphée et Euridice), and Chevalier de la Force (Dialogues des Carmélites).
Aaron is a passionate advocate for new works. In addition to performing in the world premiere of Omar, he has participated multiple times in Cincinnati Opera’s Opera Fusion: New Works program, collaborating with composers and librettists to develop new operas. His workshop credits include Robeson by Scott Davenport Richards and The Highlands by Carlos Simon, Lynn Nottage, and Ruby Aiyo Gerber.
Equally at home on the concert stage, Aaron has performed as the tenor soloist in Mozart’s Requiem with the Lima Symphony Orchestra and in Messiah with the Utah Symphony. He has also performed as the tenor soloist in Orff’s Carmina Burana and Bach’s Uns Ist ein Kind Geboren with the York County Choral Society. He is a dedicated recitalist, particularly drawn to the Lieder of Franz Liszt.
Aaron earned his Bachelor of Music from Winthrop University. He earned a Master of Music degree in Vocal Performance and an Artist Diploma in Opera from the University of Cincinnati: College-Conservatory of Music (CCM), where he studied under Tom Baresel and Stuart Skelton.
Outside of music, Aaron enjoys reading fantasy novels, playing board games with friends, and doting on his cat, Momo.