First among those equals is John Henrikson as Pluto, who has at times the biggest voice on the stage, even managing a killer soprano.
T.e. Klunzinger (Guest Reviewer)
Tenor John Henrikson is an active musician, currently having his Masters Degree in Vocal Performance. He has rigorously studied music and theater for many years. Most recently, in Fall 2024, John played the role of Don Basilio in the University of Kansas City opera production of Mozart’s Le nozze di Figaro. In terms of noteriety, John played the role of Pluto in the MSU Opera production of Jacques Offenbach’s Orpheus in the Underworld (2019), where he won a Lansing State Journal thespie for his performance as featured actor. Henrikson has also performed Don Ottavio in Mozart’s Don Giovanni (2024), Rinuccio in Giaccomo Puccini’s Gianni Schicchi (2023), Dorvil in Gioachino Rossini’s La Scala di Seta (2018), Dr. Blind in Johann Strauss’ Die Fledermaus (2017), Abe Kaplan in Kurt Weill’s Street Scene (2017) and Don Curzio in Mozart’s Le nozze di Figaro (2016). Coming up in Spring 2025, John will be performing the role of Le Prince Charmant in the UMKC production of Pauline Viardot’s Cendrillon.
In October 2018, Henrikson participated in the MSU-China XII, Vocal Arts Collaboration, and sang in the Tianjin Concert Hall in China while abroad across the world. John has a love for competition, and placed first in the 2016 and 2020 National Association of Teachers of Singing Competition in his division, and second place in 2017. As a Freshman in college, Henrikson placed first against twelve finalists at the Ethel J. Armeling Vocal Competition, hosted by the Steiner Chorale at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Lansing, Michigan. He also participated in the 2015 All-State Honors Choir.
Henrikson shares a love for the theater, and has portrayed many diverse characters over his tenure, most notably: Turtle from A Year with Frog and Toad (Fall 2022), Mr. Smee from Peter Pan (Summer 2015), Don Pedro from Much Ado About Nothing (Spring 2014), Mr. Halloway from Something Wicked This Way Comes (Fall 2014), Wilbur from Joseph Robinette’s adaptation of Charlotte’s Web (Summer 2013), Zoser from Elton John’s Aida (Fall 2013), and Gollum/Sméagol from The Hobbit (Fall 2012).
Henrikson is also devoted to continuing the choral study and tradition. Most recently, John performed with the ensemble Musica Vocale as the tenor soloist in the choral mass: Medlodious Accord by Alice Parker (Fall 2024). At Michigan State University, he also performed the tenor solo from Handel’s The Messiah (Fall 2017, Fall 2020). As a choral singer, he participated in the TTBB All-State Honors Choir in 2015 and studied with the University Chorale at Michigan State University. At UMKC, he continues to dabble in the choirs, having just participated in the UMKC Finale Concert (Spring 2024) featuring the Gustav Mahler Symphony No. 2, and Leonard Bernstein’s Chichester Psalms.
Currently, Henrikson is studying for his Doctorate in Music at the University of Missouri Kansas City Conservatory of Music, where he studies with Dr. Raymond Feener.
