Shem von Schroeck’s road to opera did not begin in the usual way. Born into a musical family, his singing career began at a very early age. As a child, he sang on many television and radio commercials nationwide, continuing to do so throughout his early twenties. His early education was very thorough, studying at the Manhattan School of Music for both composition and double-bass studies, thus contributing to his accomplishments as a multi-instrumentalist, composer-arranger, and vocalist.

In addition to being a veteran of the recording studio, Mr. Schroeck’s performance credits are equally impressive. His early musical theater experience found him starring in productions such as Oklahoma (Curly), Pirates of Penzance (The Pirate King), Bye, Bye Birdie (Conrad), Lil’ Abner (Abner), and Once Upon A Mattress (Sir Harry). As a singing bass player, he has performed in 26 countries, touring with several Grammy award-winning artists including Tom Jones, Marie Osmond, Christopher Cross, and as Musical Director/Conductor for Kenny Loggins.

Mr. Schroeck’s career took an unexpected turn in 2004 when he won the El Camino Symphony Competition, singing “Ein Schwert verhiess mir der Vater” from Wagner’s Die Walküre. He made his professional opera debut in Tosca, as Spoletta, at the Mittelsächisches Theater in Freiberg and Döbeln, Saxony, Germany. Opera legend Jon Vickers heard Shem in a performance of Peter Grimes and strongly encouraged him to pursue a career as a dramatic tenor. Mr. Vickers has since coached him as both Siegmund and Peter Grimes.

Mr. Schroeck is now enjoying a career as a sought after tenor in such roles as Peter Grimes, Parsifal, Siegmund, Loge, Florestan, Froh, and Melot. He is a principal tenor for the Millennium Wagner Opera Company. His credits also include guest conducting several pops concerts with the Columbus Symphony, the Oklahoma Symphony, the Little Rock Symphony, the Dallas Symphony, the Phoenix Symphony, and the Hollywood Bowl Orchestra.