Jacob DeSett was recently praised for his “dignified but long-suffering” portrayal of Timur (Gregory Barnett, Houston Chronicle) in a concert performance of Turandot at Moores Opera Center alongside Christine Goerke in the title role, Limmie Pulliam as Calaf, and Alicia Gianni as Liù.
While pursuing his master’s degree at the University of Houston, DeSett sang Timur in Turandot, Don Alfonso in Così fan tutte, the title role in Offenbach’s Monsieur Choufleuri, Gideon March in Little Women, Amantio di Nicolao in Gianni Schicchi, and Albert Prosser in Hobson’s Choice with Moores Opera Center.
Jacob joins the Seagle Festival for the summer of 2025, performing Escamillo in Carmen and Lord Evelyn Oakleigh in Anything Goes.
In 2022-23, he covered Figaro and performed Antonio in Le nozze di Figaro, Albert in Werther, and James in The House without a Christmas Tree at William Jewell College.
Jacob joined Central City Opera in their 2022 season to cover Gad Beck in Jake Heggie’s Two Remain, Frosch in Die Fledermaus, and Roy Johnson in The Light in the Piazza. He sang Figaro in Le nozze di Figaro in the Short Works program.
He sang in the world premiere of Kaminsky, Campbell, and Reed’s choral work “A Brighter Light” with the American Opera Projects, inspired by the chamber opera As One.
DeSett received his Master’s of Music in Voice Performance from the University of Houston (‘25). He received his Bachelor’s of Music in Voice Performance from the University of Kansas (‘21), graduating with the Carl & Frances Haven Preyer Award for Voice. Solo credits from KU include Hannah-Younger in As One, Curio in Giulio Cesare, and David in A Hand of Bridge.
He is currently under the tutelage of his teacher from the University of Houston, Dr. Timothy Jones.
Jacob is currently based in Houston, Texas.
2025
Escamillo — Carmen
Seagle Festival - July 23-26, 2025
Lord Evelyn Oakleigh — Anything Goes
Seagle Festival - August 20-23, 2025
Timur — Turandot (in concert)
Moores Opera Center - April 24, 2025
https://kgmcaboxofficemusic.universitytickets.com/w/event.aspx?id=1553
Masterclass with Missy Mazzoli and Royce Vavrek
Epilogue (Jan’s aria) from Breaking the Waves
Moores School of Music - April 18, 2025
Master’s Degree Recital
When Dreams Fade: Songs of Illusion, Struggle, and Longing
Music by Rossini, Ibert, Robert Owens, and Schoenberg
Dudley Recital Hall - April 8, 2025 at 6:00 pm
Amantio di Nicolao — Gianni Schicchi
Moores Opera Center - Jan. 30-31 & Feb. 1-2, 2025
https://kgmcaboxofficemusic.universitytickets.com/w/default.aspx?PageNumber=1
2024
Gideon March — Little Women
Moores Opera Center - October 17-20, 2024
https://kgmcaboxofficemusic.universitytickets.com/?cid=167
Albert Prosser — Hobson’s Choice (workshop)
Moores Opera Center - April 27, 2024
Don Alfonso — Così fan tutte
Moores Opera Center - April 11-14, 2024
https://kgmcaboxofficemusic.universitytickets.com/?cid=167
Chorus — Parsifal
Houston Grand Opera - January 21-February 4, 2024
https://my.houstongrandopera.org/parsifal-23-24/4973
2023
Masterclass with Sergei Leiferkus, baritone
Onegin’s arioso from Eugene Onegin
Moores School of Music - November 30, 2023
Choufleuri — Monsieur Choufleuri restera chez lui le (Offenbach)
Moores Opera Center - October 26-29, 2023
https://kgmcaboxofficemusic.universitytickets.com/?cid=167
Albert — Werther
William Jewell College - May 6-7, 2023
Escamillo — Carmen
Overland Park Orchestra - March 4, 2023
2022
James “Dad” — The House without a Christmas Tree
The Folly Theater - December 6, 2022
William Jewell College & Kansas City Chamber Orchestra
Gad Beck (cover) — Two Remain
Central City Opera - July 16-28, 2022
Frosch (cover) — Die Fledermaus
Central City Opera - July 9-31, 2022
Roy Johnson (cover) — The Light in the Piazza
Central City Opera - July 2-28, 2022
Bass soloist — Mozart’s Vespers
Liberty Symphony Orchestra
Figaro (cover)/Antonio — Le nozze di Figaro
William Jewell College
2021
Masterclass with Anthony Roth Costanzo
Harriman-Jewell Series
Greatorex/Gissing/Solomon/Etcher — Elizabeth Cree
William Jewell College
Mercutio — Roméo et Juliette
Lawrence Opera Theatre
Hannah-younger — As One
University of Kansas, Lied Center