Israeli bass-baritone Matan A. Gendelman is currently pursuing his Master of Music degree at the Shepherd School of Music at Rice University, studying under Professor Robin Rice. Praised for his rich tone, expressive storytelling, and dramatic versatility, Gendelman brings a compelling presence to both comedic and serious roles. In the 2025/26 season, he will take on the title role in Verdi’s Falstaff at the Shepherd School. His recent performances include Suleyman Pasha in The Ghosts of Versailles with Shepherd School Opera and Dulcamara in L’elisir d’amore at the Heraklion Cultural Center in Crete.

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A native of Haifa, Israel, Gendelman began his musical journey as a trombonist at the Kiryat Yam Conservatory before transitioning to voice studies at the Haifa Conservatory with Marie-Claire Herman. He earned his Bachelor of Music degree in Vocal Performance from the Buchmann-Mehta School of Music at Tel Aviv University, studying with Anat Efrati. During his undergraduate years, he performed extensively in staged productions and vocal concerts, gaining a strong foundation in operatic performance.

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His operatic roles span across Israel, Europe, and the United States. Highlights include Bartolo in Le Nozze di Figaro with the Jerusalem Symphony Orchestra, Figaro in Le Nozze di Figaro with Canto Vocal Virginia, Don Alfonso in Così fan tutte, Sarastro in Die Zauberflöte, Benoît and Alcindoro in La bohème with the Haifa Symphony Orchestra, and Colline in La bohème with Summer Tel Aviv Opera. At the International Vocal Arts Institute (IVAI) in Tel Aviv, he appeared as Spinelloccio in Gianni Schicchi and the Prime Minister in Cendrillon. In 2019, he originated the role of Xardashir in the premiere of When He Was Good, a contemporary opera by Roni Reshef and Elad Kidan.

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Gendelman has trained in several prominent young artist programs. He was a participant in IVAI Tel Aviv from 2015 to 2022 and a member of the Young Singers Program at Mishkenot Sha’ananim from 2014 to 2017. In 2023, he was selected as an Emerging Artist at the Institute for Young Dramatic Voices (IYDV) under the mentorship of Dolora Zajick.

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His achievements have been recognized with numerous awards and scholarships. In 2025, he received an Encouragement Award from the Metropolitan Opera Laffont Competition (Houston District). From 2014 to 2021, he was a recipient of the America-Israel Cultural Foundation’s Sharett Scholarship and has also been supported by the Ronen Foundation, the Sharett Foundation, and the Israeli Opera Arts Association. During his undergraduate studies, he was awarded excellence scholarships from both Tel Aviv University and the Buchmann-Mehta School of Music.

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Dedicated to both classic and contemporary repertoire, Gendelman continues to hone his artistry with a focus on character roles and dramatic bass-baritone parts. He is particularly noted for his vocal warmth, comedic instinct, and captivating stage presence.