Jesse Padgett began singing at age 17. After only one year of voice lessons, he applied to the Appalachian State University School of Music, where he received a scholarship to begin his studies. He graduated from Appalachian with a double major in Music Education and Vocal Performance with a minor in theater. Immediately following undergraduate studies, he taught choral arts at East Forsyth High School in Winston-Salem, North Carolina.
In 1996, Jesse enrolled at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, where he received a Master’s of Music Degree in Vocal Performance. He returned to teaching with a position at Asheboro High School in Asheboro, North Carolina, where he taught choral and dramatic arts. Throughout his teaching career, he arranged and composed music to meet the educational needs of his choirs. He currently has two works published with Hinshaw Music.
After teaching for two years in Asheboro, Jesse left to focus on his professional singing career. His credits bridge the worlds of opera and musical theatre, having worked with the Greensboro Lyric Opera, Ohio Light Opera, the Asheville Lyric Opera, Maine State Music Theatre in Brunswick, Maine, and Walnut Street Theatre in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, where he currently resides. There, he sang with the Voices of the Pops, the professional singing group of the Philly Pops Orchestra under the direction of Peter Nero. It was this connection that gave him the opportunity to sing in Atlantic City with legendary performer Keely Smith.
Jesse made his Broadway debut in the 75th birthday celebration for Stephen Sondheim at the New Amsterdam Theater in New York City. This gala featured many Broadway legends including Angela Lansbury, Whoopie Goldberg, Harvey Fierstein, Brian Stokes Mitchell, Betty Buckley, and David Hyde Pierce (among many others).
After taking some time to re-evaluate his professional singing goals, Jesse is now hoping to re-emerge as a solo performance artist. The unexpected passing of his father motivated him start working toward something he had long dreamed, but always thought was out of reach: releasing a solo CD.
Reinvented is a collection of traditional hymns and spirituals that have been updated by expanding the vocal range, and crossing over into styles such as Contemporary Christian, Gospel, and R&B. With arrangements by Mark Knox, the CD features the title song Reinvented, with words and music by Jesse Padgett. The song not only relates to the theme of the CD, but also celebrates the reinvention of Jesse after finally discovering what he wants for his life.
Reinvented is available only through this website. To hear clips or to purchase the CD, click here.
