Eriq Ayala is an Orange County-based singer, writer, and teaching artist. He has sung on various stages across the country and abroad including the Library of Catalonia in Barcelona, The St. Paul Basilica in Rome, the Hollywood Bowl with John Williams, Chicagoʼs Symphony Hall, Carnegie Hall, and Lincoln Center.

Mr. Ayala has sung the roles of Tamino in Mozartʼs Magic Flute and Gerardo in Pucciniʼs Gianni Schicchi. During his studies in Fullerton, Eriq won first place in the Intimate Opera Company of Pasadena’s Vocal Competition. He has also placed as a semi-finalist in Classical Singer Magazine’s annual vocal competition at their 2018 and 2019 convention. While as a section leader with the Anaheim United Methodist Church, Eriq has been the featured tenor soloist for Britten’s Rejoice In The Lamb and Theodore Duboisʼ Seven Last Words of Christ, both under the direction of Dr. Scott Farthing.

His love for vocal literature and the psychology connecting text to performance has kept Eriq in demand as a clinician. He has held masterclasses and served as a clinician with the Moreno Valley School District in Moreno Valley, California. The Rio Hondo College Vocal Arts Department in Whittier, California has also welcomed Eriq as a guest speaker, vocal coach, and has joined the choir as a guest soloist for Ariel Ramirezʼs Missa Criolla, under the direction of Dr. Kellori Dower.

Mr. Eriq worked for the Walt Disney Company in Orlando, Florida, where he interned in Organizational Leadership, Creativity & Innovation, and Entertainment Show Production. While in Florida, he also participated in a summer musical theatre workshop with the Mad Cow Theatre, where he worked with Broadway veteran, Kurt von Schmittou.

Eriq is currently continuing his work with the Disney Company and hosting the BackStage Issues Podcast. He holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Liberal Studies with a Music Emphasis from Excelsior College in Albany, New York, and a Master of Science degree in Education Law from Nova Southeastern University in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida.