Canadian born Tenor Joel Ricci’s Opera Niagara performance as Rodolfo in Puccini’s La Bohème, Opera Canada wrote: “mesmerizing” and “extremely well-acted” with “ringing top tones and emotionally sensitive colouring”.
Ricci had the privilege of studying with and being conducted in performance by legendary Maestro Richard Bonynge, who spoke of Joel’s voice as being “unusually beautiful”. In front of a jury that included Adua Veroni, the wife of Luciano Pavarotti and a host of world musical luminaries.
Ricci was a recipient of the Second Prize in the Benvenuto Franci International Opera Competition. He has performed in many venues across North America and Italy. In 2019, he made his successful debut performing in concert at Carnegie Hall in New York City. In the same year, with Opera Niagara, Ricci performed Elvino in Bellini’s La Sonnambula, Corrado in Verdi’s Il Corsaro, and Rodolfo in Puccini’s La Bohème. More recently, he performed in Rakes, Rogues, and Rascals with the Rose Orchestra as well as Beethoven’s 9th Symphony at the Shenandoah Music Festival with Richmond Symphony Orchestra.
Ricci’s roles include: Rodolfo (La Bohème), Alfredo (La Traviata), Il Duca di Mantua (Rigoletto), Faust (Mephistophele), Edgardo (Lucia di Lammermoor), Nemorino (L’Elisir D’Amore), Des Grieux (Manon), Elvino (La Sonnambula), and Arturo (I Puritani).
His passion in music began at a very young age and has sparked a lifelong journey that has led him to where he is today. Ricci began his studies with a Bachelor of Arts in Theatre and Film at McMaster University and Bachelor of Education at University of Ottawa. In 2011, Ricci began his vocal studies with soprano Dr. Maria Vetere in the Vetere studio in Niagara Falls, Ontario.
When he is not performing, he is teaching drama and vocal music to many young aspiring student performers at Pauline Johnson Collegiate and Vocational school, Brantford, Ontario. Ricci has helped build a wonderful musical performance program and has directed many classic musical theatre productions including ”Once Upon A Mattress, The Wizard of Oz, Annie Get Your Gun, Hello Dolly, Disney’s Beauty and the Beast, Disney’s The Little Mermaid“, and in 2025, “The SpongeBob Musical”.