American tenor James Schaffner is quickly being recognized as an important up-and-coming talent especially in the bel canto, contemporary opera and operetta repertoire. His vivid stage characterizations and ringing lyric tenor voice have earned him extensive media praise. The L.A. Times stated, “Schaffner is a find--a facile tenor voice and a fluent stage presence...whose combination of musical skills and fearless acting ability encourage hope for opera’s future.” Most recently he appeared as Graf Albert in DIE TOTE STADT for New York City Opera, Arturo in LUCIA DI LAMMERMOOR for Kentucky Opera,] Ke-ki-ka-ko in BA-TA-CLAN and Hermosa, in L'ILE DE TULIPATAN for the Bard Festival, Tom Rakewell in THE RAKE'S PROGRESS, for Festival Mozart, A Coruńa, Spain, Laurie in LITTLE WOMEN for Skylight Opera Theater,  Prince Phillipe in Lennox Berkeley's A DINNER ENGAGEMENT in Săo Paulo, Brazil, and Laurie for Kentucky Opera. Other appearances include Alfredo with Oregon Lyric Opera, New York City Opera creating the role of the villainous Mr. Sengupta/Khattam Shud in the World Premiere of Charles Wuorinen’s HAROUN AND THE SEA OF STORIES, Mr. Erlanson and cover of Henrik in A LITTLE NIGHT MUSIC for his debut with Los Angeles Opera, Ernesto in DON PASQUALE for Lyric Opera of San Antonio, the title role in CANDIDE for Opera Boston, Lord Reginald in Philip Hageman’s THE MUSIC CURE for Opera Intimate at Lincoln Center, and the tenor soloist in the South American Premiere of Charles Wuorinen’s THE HAROUN SONGBOOK at the Teatro Santa Cruz in Săo Paulo, Brazil. Other credits include Piquillo in LA PČRICHOLE, the Electrician in the U.S. Professional Stage Premiere of Thomas Ades’ POWDER HER FACE, and the World Premiere of Robert Moran’s REMEMBER HIM TO ME for Long Beach Opera; Mr. Erlanson in A LITTLE NIGHT MUSIC at New York City Opera (alongside Academy Award winner Jeremy Irons an legendary movie star Claire Bloom); the World Premiere of the HAROUN SONGBOOK at the Guggenheim Works and Process Series in New York City (recording on Albany Records); and Camille in THE MERRY WIDOW for Chautauqua Opera.

An accomplished instrumentalist, Mr. Schaffner recently won audiences when he accompanied himself on classical guitar in his performance of Ernesto’s aria "Com’ č gentil" in DON PASQUALE with Lyric Opera of San Antonio. In response to the aria, the San Antonio Express News said, “James Schaffner projected a big, bright lyric tenor...He even accompanied himself on guitar in his serenade to Norina. The futures market might want to take note of this one. “

A native of the Midwest, Mr. Schaffner received his Bachelor of Music degree from Nebraska Wesleyan University and his Master of Music degree with continuing studies in the Professional Studies Program at the prestigious Manhattan School of Music. While a graduate student at Manhattan School of Music he was heard in many leading roles including Baron Kronthal in DER WILDSCHÜTZ, Male Chorus in RAPE OF LUCRETIA, Alfredo in LA TRAVIATA, Clifford in the World Premiere of Scott Eyely’s HOUSE OF THE SEVEN GABLES (a role he has also recorded for Albany Records) and Paolino in IL MATRIMONIO SEGRETO.

He has been a regular concert soloist with organizations such as the Oklahoma Mozart Festival, the Omaha Symphony, the Abendmusik: Lincoln Concert Series, the Choral Societies of Richmond and Rockland County, and the National Symphony of Rio de Janeiro.