Area of Study

Private Lessons

Career Highlights

M.M. Curtis Institute of Music
B.M. Curtis Institute of Music
Jungstudent at the Universität der Künste Berlin — Julius Stern Institut

Praised for his “carrying power as well as subtle sensitivity to sound” (Philadelphia Inquirer), German-American baritone Dennis Chmelensky is a rising force on international opera and concert stages. A graduate of the Curtis Institute of Music and a former member of the Washington National Opera’s prestigious Cafritz Young Artist Program, Dennis is equally at home in opera, song, and oratorio, bringing compelling musicianship and dramatic depth to every performance.

Recent season highlights include his Oper Frankfurt debut as Don Polidoro in L’Italiana in Londra under Julia Jones, as well as role debuts at Tiroler Festspiele Erl as Orlik in Tchaikovsky’s Mazeppa (directed by Matthew Wild) and Marquis de Corcy in Adolphe Adam’s Le postillon de Lonjumeau. He joined Curtis on Tour in Athens and appeared at the Philharmonie Berlin performing works by Bach, Charpentier, and Graun. Additional career milestones include his Verbier Festival debut, singing Peter in Hänsel und Gretel with Stanislav Kochanovsky and Tom in Un ballo in maschera under Gianandrea Noseda, as well as a standout performance as Don Giovanni in a Curtis and Opera Philadelphia co-production conducted by Karina Canellakis.

Equally drawn to innovative new works, Dennis portrayed Sensor in a workshop of Jeanine Tesori’s Grounded with the Metropolitan Opera and made a noted recital debut at the Phillips Collection, singing Beethoven’s An die ferne Geliebte. His artistry has been recognized with numerous honors, including being named a National Semifinalist in the 2022 Metropolitan Opera Laffont Competition and a recipient of the Verbier Festival’s Prix Thierry Mermod. His debut album, DENNIS, was released by Sony Classical in 2009.

Dennis’ extensive training includes mentorship from some of the most distinguished artists and pedagogues in classical music. At Curtis, he studied with Marlena Malas and Mikael Eliasen, and received guidance from luminaries such as Stephanie Blythe, Mitsuko Uchida, Pam Frank, and Barbara Hannigan. He further honed his skills at the Franz Schubert Institute in Austria with Robert Holl, Helmut Deutsch, Julius Drake, and Elly Ameling, and at the Internationale Meistersinger Akademie with Edith Wiens, Brigitte Fassbaender, Tobias Truniger, and Malcolm Martineau. At the Verbier Festival, he was mentored by Thomas Hampson, Barbara Frittoli, Anne Sofie von Otter, and others.

As a performer, Dennis has collaborated with world-renowned conductors including Gianandrea Noseda, Sir Simon Rattle, Kent Nagano, Daniel Barenboim, Yannick Nézet-Séguin, Julia Jones, and Gábor Takács-Nagy. His stage work includes productions with leading directors such as Matthew Wild, Daniel Fish, R.B. Schlather, and Chas Rader-Shieber.

In addition to his performance career, Dennis is a passionate advocate for music education and outreach. With over a decade of experience teaching private voice lessons, masterclasses, and leading community initiatives, he has worked with students of all ages and abilities across schools, conservatories, and international programs. In collaboration with Sirius Music Communications GmbH, he supports efforts to broaden global access to music education. His teaching approach is grounded in real-world experience and emphasizes a strong classical foundation, with a specialization in opera, German Lied, and oratorio.

For Dennis, music has always been more than a profession—it’s a transformative force. He remains dedicated to helping others discover their own voice and experience the power of music to inspire, heal, and connect.