Marques Hollie: At the Crossroads

Opera singer and Jew by choice, Marques Hollie discusses his journey and musical inspiration.

Operatic tenor Marques Hollie, whose voice has been noted for its power, range, and triumphant qualities, has been singing professionally since 2008. Since his debut in Opera Omaha’s production of Verdi’s Aïda, he has gone on to perform more than 20 roles in the operatic canon, including rarely performed and new works. Additionally, he has made multiple appearances on the concert and recital stage (including, but not limited to, a New York Fashion Week runway). After a particularly meaningful Passover experience several years ago, he began seeking out opportunities (musical and non) to explore his identities as a Jew and a person of color.

As an emerging Jewish leader, Marques was a member of the inaugural cohort of the Union for Reform Judaism’s JewV’Nation Fellowship, where he began developing Go Down, Moshe; a one man show that tells the Passover story through the musical tradition of Negro spirituals and slave narratives. In addition to his work on Go Down, Moshe, Marques has been a soloist for High Holidays services, spoken on panels about Jewish seeker-hood and the diversity of Jewish identity, and has helped facilitate creative Jewish ritual that is both meaningful and relevant.