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The Salvadorian-American tenor and music educator, David F. Morales, obtained his Bachelor of Music degree in Vocal Performance and Music Education from Bob Cole Conservatory of Music at California State University, Long Beach (2012-2017). Through his undergraduate career he has had the opportunity to perform roles in operas, musicals, and tour with the collegiate award-winning Chamber Choir. Discovering his passion for early music, he has been accepted to the University of Southern California's Thornton School of Music, where he obtained his Master of Music degree in Early Music Performance (2018-2020). He has studied voice with Sopranos Marian Bodnar and Jennifer Kampani, as well as operatic bass, Reid Bruton.
David Morales performs music across a variety of genres and styles. Past solo engagements include: In March 2018, he participated in 81st Whittier College J.S. Bach Festival where he not only sang along side the Whittier Festival Singers, but also served as the tenor soloist for J.S. Bach's Cantatas BWV 182 and BWV 61. In March 2019, he was soloist for Haydn's Missa in tempore belli with the Long Beach Chorale and Chamber Orchestra. In 2022, he was tenor soloist in the Bach Akademie Charlotte as a Vocal Fellow singing solos in J.S. Bach's Oster-Oratorium BWV 249 and Johannes-Passion BWV 245.
As a choral and ensemble performer throughout the nation, David Morales currently performs with groups such as Tonality (since 2018), Long Beach Camerata, and the Los Angeles Master Chorale. He recently sang with the LA Opera Chorus in the 2023 Los Angeles premier of El Ultima Sueño de Frida Y Diego. Some other of his most recent performances include being the 2023 Tenor fellow for The Thirteen’s Flowering of Days concert, Björk’s 2022 Cornucopia tour in Los Angeles and San Francisco with Tonality and Early Music America’s 2020 Emerging Artist Showcase at the Berkeley Early Music Festival with L.A. Camerata Baroque. Past choral engagements include programs with Pacific Chorale, Bach Collegium San Diego, Conspirare, and the Seraphim. He also has experience as a session singer recording for movie soundtracks, Space Jam: A New Legacy, Spiderhead, and Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F as well as on the T.V. series The Other Black Girl. He is a member of the SAG-AFTRA and AGMA unions.
David Morales is currently Music Director at Casa de Oracion Church Bellflower, California, where he leads the contemporary worship team in addition to being a soloist and section leader with the chancel choir at Bay Shore church. He has been Tenor Section Leader/Soloist at Bay Shore Church - Long Beach, California (September 2017-August 2021); Staff Singer- Tenor at St. James' in the City (September 2021-June 2023).
When David Morales is not performing, he can be found teaching. He was Music Teacher at Tustin Music Center (May 2017-January 2018). Currently is Voice/Piano Teacher to various age levels at Sunset Learning Studio (since January 2018); Voice Instructor at Loyola Marymount University (since September 2023); and Adjunct Professor at Citrus College (since September 2023).
Being of Latino heritage, David Morales is greatly interested in scholarly topics that relate to Spanish Baroque music through Spain and Latin America. This particular interest led him to his thesis topic on Guatemalan composer, Raphael Castellanos, and his selected works on the Immaculate Conception. His thesis work included translating Spanish text and transcribing Castellanos’ music into modern notation with the goal of adding knowledge to the Guatemalan Colonial period. His ultimate goal is to engage audiences with sharing and performing this music that is often overlooked. He currently lives in Bellflower, California. |
