Edward Pleasant, a native of Midland, Texas, continues to distinguish himself as an outstanding performing artist in opera and musical theater as well as in concert, recital and recording. He has been critically acclaimed by The New York Times for his “appealing stage presence.”  Theater Inform describes his performance of the role of Pompey in The Bloomer Girl as “beautiful and emotional” and a “highlight.”  “Edward Pleasant is not only a fine singer but a fine actor as well,” states the Midland Reporter Telegram, for his stirring portrayal of Coalhouse Walker, Jr. in Ragtime.  The Stamford Advocate and Greenwich Time declare “he has a pleasing voice that distinguishes him as a polished performer.” Edward Pleasant is “a fine soloist in his own right,” continues to “raise the bar for other singers” and “has the ability to charm and delight his listeners.”

He has appeared with New York City Opera as Jim in Porgy and Bess and was also seen in that production's Emmy nominated Live from Lincoln Center telecast on PBS. This historic broadcast was the first time a live performance of the Gershwin masterpiece had ever been televised.  He assumed the same role at the Bregenzer Festspiele in Austria.  He has been seen in roles such as Nardo in Mozart's La Finta Giardiniera, Jacques in Romberg's The New Moon, the dual roles of Alcindoro and Benoit in Puccini's La Bohème, Don Alfonso in Mozart's Cosi fan tutte, Giuseppe Palmieri in Gilbert and Sullivan's The Gondoliers, Pish-Tush in The Mikado, Don Bartolo in Mozart's Le Nozze di Figaro, and The Woodsman in Seymour Barab's Little Red Riding Hood.  He has also portrayed Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. in a production of Faith Journey, the story of the unfolding of the Civil Rights Movement.  Mr. Pleasant also performed the role of Ben Ross, Harriet Tubman’s father, in a touring production of Freedom Train and most recently was seen as Coalhouse Walker, Jr. in Ragtime the Musical with the Midland Community Theater and the Midland-Odessa Symphony.  He appeared as soloist in Weill's The Flight of Lindbergh for National Public Radio.

Mr. Pleasant has sung on the concert stages of Lincoln Center. At Avery Fisher Hall, he sang as a soloist during the annual Messiah Sing-In for the National Choral Council and with the National Chorale’s concert version of Mozart’s Idomeneo. At Alice Tully Hall he appeared as a soloist with the world renowned Moses Hogan Chorale.  Mr. Pleasant recently celebrated his Carnegie Hall debut in a performance of the Duruflé Requiem.  While abroad, Mr. Pleasant performed with the American Gospel Quartet during the Orchestermessen Series as well as on Austrian radio and television.

He's added professional storytelling to his orchestral repertoire as narrator of the perennial children’s favorites Peter and the Wolf, Carnival of the Animals and Tubby the Tuba for the Norwalk (CT) Symphony and the Greenwich (CT) Symphony. He’s added a new work, Russell Peck's The Thrill of the Orchestra, in a performance with the Greenwich Symphony. 

Mr. Pleasant holds a Bachelor of Music and a Master of Arts degree from the Texas Tech School of Music. His discography includes a recording of The Seven Last Words of Christ for Gothic Records and a recording of Kurt Weill’s The Flight of Lindbergh for Voices International. Mr. Pleasant can be heard on a CD entitled Black Manhattan with the Paragon Ragtime Orchestra for New World Records. Mr. Pleasant’s performance of “When the Band Plays Ragtime” from the CD has been heralded as "beautifully sung” by ClassicsToday.com. 

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