Puerto Rican Tenor Juan Hernández Mercado began his professional singing career with the Puerto Rico Symphony Orchestra in 2012 and has since been part of many local and international productions in the US and abroad. In the 2019 season, he was selected to be a Bailey Apprentice Artist at Palm Beach Opera and a Young Artist at Opera Saratoga. Role credits include: Corentin in Dinorah (Amore Opera), Almaviva in Il Barbiere di Siviglia (Accademia Lirica Uberto Giordano), Gastone in La Traviata (Accademia Lirica Umberto Giordano), Basilio in Le Nozze di Figaro (International Festival Il Ponte), L’arithmétique in L’enfant et les sortilèges (Opera on the Avalon), Gofreddo in Rinaldo (Vocalpdeia’s Vozarteum), Monostatos in Die Zauberflöte (Conservatorio de Musica de P.R). Recent awards include: Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions District Encouragement Award (2019), NATS NYC District Competition First Place (2019), Opera on the Avalon Audience Choice Award (2015). He began his Music Studies at the Escuela Libre de Música Ernesto Ramos Antonini, Alma Mater of some of the most recognized Puerto Rican artists. After graduating with Honors, he continued his training in Vocal Performance at the Puerto Rico Conservatory of Music under the tutelage of the late William Woodruff. Juan is currently a voice student of Raymon Geis.