Kevin Wetzel earned his master’s degree in 2006 and his graduate performance diploma in 2008 at The Peabody Institute where he studied with Steven Rainbolt. He received his bachelor of arts in music with an emphasis in piano performance from Westmont College in Santa Barbara, California, where he was the recipient of the Westmont College Excellence in Music Award. While attending Westmont he studied under Dr. M. Grey Brothers (voice) and Dr. Steven Hodson (piano) and was a featured soloist as both vocalist and pianist with the Westmont College Choir, the Westmont Chamber Singers, and the Westmont Chamber Orchestra.

After graduating from The Peabody Institute, Kevin became a member of the Virginia Opera Association’s Spectrum Resident Artist program. Known for his “sturdy, warm-voiced baritone” and “admirably finished product” (Tim Smith, Baltimore Sun), appearances include Samuel in Pirates of Penzance, Morales and Le Dancaïre in Carmen, the Mandarin in Turandot, and Montano in Otello, with Arizona Opera; Germont in La traviata and Marcello in La bohème with Chesapeake Chamber Opera; Renato in Un ballo in maschera with Opera in the Heights; the Customs Officer in La bohème, and Sciarrone in Tosca, both with Virginia Opera; Assan in The Consul, and the Commissionario in La traviata, with Glimmerglass Opera, the Imperial Commissioner in Madama Butterfly with Baltimore Opera Company; Baron Douphol in La traviata, and Tom/John in Henry Mollicone’s The Face on the Barroom Floor with Central City Opera; John in the world premiere of Catherine Reid’s The Yellow Wallpaper, Junius in The Rape of Lucretia, and Count Almaviva (cover) in Le nozze di Figaro, all with Peabody Opera. He was also given the privilege of creating the role of Sir “Bertie” Bland in the world premier of The Alien Corn by Thomas Benjamin with Peabody Opera in March of 2005. Other credits include Der Musiklehrer in Ariadne auf Naxos; Giuseppe in The Gondoliers with UCSB Opera; and both Marcello and Alcindoro in La bohème, with La Fabbrica in Vicchio, Italy. In April 2007, Kevin was invited to participate in the Chateauville Foundation’s Young Artist Residency at Castleton Farms under Loren Maazel. Future engagements include Guglielmo in Così fan tutte with Opera in the Heights. He has also appeared in concert and recital with the Russian Chamber Arts Society of Alexandria, Virginia; the U.S. State Department; the U.S. Consulate in St. Petersburg, Russia; the Russian Embassy; the Peabody Concert Orchestra; and The Kennedy Center.

In October of 2005, Kevin appeared in the Fifth International Conservatory Week Festival in St. Petersburg, Russia. While attending the festival, he performed recitals at the St. Petersburg Conservatory, Moscow Conservatory, and the Gnessin Academy, and took part in master classes with Irina Bogachova, Mikhail Arkadiev, Vera Danchenko-Stern, and composer Sergey Slonimsky.

Kevin is a winner of the Washington, D.C. district of the Metropolitan Opera National Council auditions, First Prize winner of the Sylvia Green Voice Competition, and recipient of the Lindauer Memorial Prize at the Annapolis Opera Competition.