Damian Norfleet
Interdisciplinary Performing Artist
As an interdisciplinary performing artist, I create monodramatic performance pieces that exist at the intersection of contemporary classical music, spoken word, and theater. My work explores the human condition and inter-communal relationships—with an awareness of shared space, my work seeks to uncover epiphanic moments and prolong them into empathetic experiences. I am fascinated by mythologies; cosmogonic mythology, biomythology, and geomythology are oft-explored themes in my work.
Decennium of Highlights
2021: Collaboration with Courtney Bryan, Tiona Nekkia McClodden, Janinah Burnett & Rob Kaplowitz as part of Opera Philadelphia's Digital Commission Series.
2020: Reparations Now! concert at Center West with Ensemble Pi featuring commissions and premiers from composers Allison Loggins-Hull, Angélica Négron, Courtney Bryan, Trevor Weston, and Damian Norfleet.
2019: Composer Jeff Scott arranged two songs for vocalist Damian Norfleet and The Dream Unfinished Orchestra for the season finale concert Deep River at the New York Society for Ethical Culture.
2018: Performance in composer David Lang's Mile-Long Opera on the High Line in New York City.
2017: Composer Dr. Nkeiru Okoye wrote the monodrama Invitation to a Die-In for Damian Norfleet and the Mount Holyoke Orchestra. The piece officially premiered in Mount Holyoke, but also toured the Chicago metro area.
2016: Principal actor in the world premier of the play Nix as part of the Planet Connections Theatre Festivity in NYC. Damian was awarded Best Actor in a Musical for his performance.
2015: Principal actor in the world premier of the play Little Rock at the Passage Theatre company. The cast received a 2015 Barrymore Award for Outstanding Ensemble in a Play.
2014: Principal actor in the experimental opera Makandal as part of the Works & Process Series at the Guggenheim Museum, NYC
2013: Principal actor in the world premier and recording of Paula Kimper's contemporary opera Truth.
2012: Principal actor in the Drama Desk Award nominated production of The Threepenny Opera.
2011: Presented a vocal seminar and performed at Hong Kong Disneyland
Summer 2021
A collaboration with multimedia artist Katya Popova at the 2021 Artbeat Festival in Somerville, Massachusetts
Guest artist at the Bread and Puppet Theater in Glover, Vermont
Fall 2021
Guest artist at the New England Conservatory, Boston
Spring 2022
A collaboration with dancer/puppeteer/improviser Maura Gahan will premiere in New York City
Winter 2021
Recording of my original composition Kendi's Secret (commissioned by Ensemble Pi) at the DiMenna Center for Classical Music in New York, New York