Jude Balthazar is a Haitian tenor and is completing his DMA degree in voice and opera performance at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Jude made his professional debut with Cedar Rapids Opera as a Young Artist performer for the 2022 season. His academic vocal training started in fall 2013 at The University of Trinidad and Tobago, Port of Spain. Three years later, Jude transferred to Oklahoma Baptist University where he studied with Dr. Louima Lilite and completed his Bachelor of Music Performance in spring 2019. Jude did his masters studies in vocal performance at the University of Arkansas with Dr. Moon Sook Park. He was casted as Rinuccio in “Gianni Schicchi” with UA Opera Theater in early spring 2020. He was selected to perform Reverend Danforth in “The Crucible” and Normanno in “Lucia di Lammermoor” with Opera in the Ozarks for the summer of 2020. Jude performed the role of Anthony in “Sweeney Todd” with University Opera at UW-Madison in spring 2022, and Richard in “Ruddigore” with Madison Savoyards Ltd in the summer that followed. He was on stage as Benvolio in the production “Roméo et Juliette” with Florentine Opera in October of 2022. Jude is excited to join the Heartland Sings crew, and eager to reach out to Fort Wayne’s community via music.