Countertenor MARK CRAYTON is hailed by critics and audiences for the pure beauty of his voice, his expressive and insightful interpretations, and his natural musicality. Winner of the Classical Singer International Vocal Competition, Mr. Crayton performs on concert stages and in opera houses throughout the United States and Europe, and his extensive repertoire includes many diverse works. Mr. Crayton created the role of the "First Minstrel" in The Holland Festival's production of Peter Onnes opera/theatre piece Pantagruel et Gargantua. In 2002-2003, Mark Crayton was invited by the composer Philip Glass and the Tony Award director Mary Zimmerman to sing in the world premiere performances of Glass' opera Galileo Galilei in Chicago, New York City and London.

In addition, Mark Crayton was chosen by composer John Kander and lyricist Fred Ebb to sing the role of Louis Perch in their new musical called The Visit starring Chita Rivera. Recent seasons have included performances at Lincoln Center's Avery Fisher Hall, Carnegie Hall, Chicago's Orchestra Hall, Opera Theatre of St. Louis (American Premier of Goehr's Arianna), Seattle Opera (Handel's Giulio Cesare), San Diego Opera (Handel's Giulio Cesare), Lyric Opera of Chicago (Handel's Partenope), and the Kennedy Center. Equally at home on the recital and concert stage, Mr. Crayton has performed on Chicago's Jewel Box and Dame Myra Hess series as well as recitals with Ars Musica Chicago, at Washington, D.C.'s Phillip's Collection, at Weill Hall in New York City, as well as Amstelrande in Amsterdam and Grovesnor Chapel in London. Mr. Crayton has been a return guest artist every summer with the Oberlin Baroque Orchestra at Oberlin Conservatory's Baroque Performance Institute since 1993.

Mr. Crayton has appeared with the Houston Symphony, Indianapolis Symphony, Sarasota Symphony, Fargo Symphony, Sheboygan Symphony, Milwaukee Symphony, Chicago's Music of the Baroque, Chicago Baroque Ensemble, Ensemble Voltaire, La Pettite Bande, the Netherlands Kammerkoor, El Ayre Español, as well as many others. Mark Crayton has developed quite a reputation for his interpretation of Bernstein's Chichester Psalms, which he has performed 162 times. This season's Chicago appearances include Ulnufo in Handel's Rodelina as part of Handel Week, recitals with Mary Wilson, soprano, appearances with Haydn by the Lake as well as a new project of music based on the writings of Henry VIII and his wives with Yasuko Oura, piano and Susanna Phillips, soprano, at Roosevelt University's Ganz Hall. Outside of Chicago, recitals are planned in London, New York City, and Washington D.C. as well as many masterclasses here in the United States as well as Europe. On a CD for the Centaur label, the beauty of Mark Crayton's voice, with the Chicago Baroque Ensemble, can be heard singing songs by Phillipp Heinrich Erlebach. For more information, please visit www.markcrayton.com.