The Lebanese-American tenor, Karim Sulayman, has attracted for years the attention of international audiences with his sophisticated musicianship and sensitive voice.
As a Chicago native, Karim began his musical education studying the violin at the age of 3. He also participated in the Chicago Children’s Choir and was chosen by Sir Georg Solti and Leonard Slatkin as a soloist for the Chicago Symphony Orchestra.
He graduated with honors from the Eastman School of Music and then earned a Masters’s degree from Rice University.
He later moved to Paris to study with the renowned tenor Howard Crook, and improvisation at the Second City Training Center in Chicago.
In November 2016, the Lebanese tenor created a social experiment and performance art piece, “I Trust You”, to ease the ever-divided political climate. The experiment went viral, and was honored at the My Hero Film Festival.
Coming out back again from the Covid-19 pandemic, the Lebanese-American tenor has resumed live performances in well-known opera theaters, including the Drottningholms Slottsteater in Stockholm, Florentine Opera in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and New York City Opera.
He also made orchestral appearances with the Chicago and National Symphony Orchestras, the Australian Brandenburg Orchestra, and the Marlboro Music Festival.
His heightening career grew after he released his solo album debut, Songs of Orpheus, in 2018.
Suleyman was also named the “Critic’s Choice” by Opera News and celebrated by BBC Music Magazine for his “lucid, velvety tenor, and pop-star charisma.”
In addition to his enchanting opera voice, he was also featured in a documentary by ARTE “Leonard Bernstein – A Genius Divided”, which was premiered in Europe.
Since earning the Best Classical Solo Vocal Grammy Award in 2019, he continues to be celebrated for his opera performances, orchestral concerts, and recitals around the world.
Karim Suleyman is also currently influencing the classical music industry, while also advocating for positive changes in the world of arts.
