Esteban Zúñiga Calderón- Tenor
"Esteban Zúñiga Calderón has the dizzying high register needed for the stratospheric tenor part of Prince Ramiro." Hubbell Stone / Finger Lakes Times.
Hailing from Cartago, Costa Rica, tenor Esteban José Zúñiga Calderón is a
passionate performer and dedicated voice instructor. Often praised for his high vocal range and expressiveness on stage, Zúñiga has forged his path through the world of vocal music, from Latin America to the United States. After completing his undergraduate studies in Costa Rica, he earned a master’s degree from the Manhattan School of Music and a Doctor of Musical Arts degree in Historical Performance Practice from the University of Oregon. Since then, he has made his home in the Pacific Northwest.
Zúñiga has had the privilege of working as a soloist with companies and organizations such as Seattle Opera, Eugene Opera, Eugene Symphony, Eugene Vocal Arts, Geneva Light Opera, The Oregon Bach Festival, The Oregon Branch of the American Liszt Society, Cascadia Chamber Opera, Uptown Classics NYC, The Afro Latin Jazz Orchestra, The Manhattan School of Music Chamber Sinfonia, and the National Lyric Company of Costa Rica. His repertoire includes principal roles in operas by Rossini, Donizetti, Mozart, Bizet,García, and Handel, in addition to zarzuela, operetta, and musical theater productions.
In parallel to performing and teaching, Zúñiga's research focuses on the technical development of the tenor voice throughout history. He is also dedicated to refining the process of assigning repertoire to developing voices, ensuring accuracy, efficiency, and respect for diversity, ultimately helping singers achieve their individual goals. He also examines the broader challenges faced by voice students, distilling practical strategies that support them as they develop their skills and professional identity. In the present day, Esteban serves on the voice faculty at Willamette University and Linn-Benton Community College, where he works with developing singers,helping them discover their voices and refine their technique.
