Tenor Michael (Mike) Forest has passed away due to persistent health issues.

Forest was born on April 24, 1963. He earned both a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Music Education from Shenandoah Conservatory (1985, 86). He also attended Guildhall School of Music and Drama in London.

He was a member of the Metropolitan Opera’s Young Artists Development Program from 1989-92, and an apprentice artist with the Wolf Trap Opera Company and Santa Fe Opera Company.

Forest was a frequent soloist at the Kennedy Center with the Choral Arts Society of Washington and the Washington Chorus. Symphonic engagements include performances with the National Symphony Orchestra, Pittsburgh Symphony, New York Philharmonic, St. Louis Symphony Orchestra, BBC Orchestra, and L’Orchestre du Montreal. Alongside performing with the Metropolitan Opera, Washington’s Concert Opera, Wexford Opera, and Ash Lawn Opera Festival, Forest taught at his alma mater from 1994-2024.

Performances by Forest can be found on recordings from EMI, Deutsche Gramophone, Vocalessence, Clarion Label, and BMG’s Grammy Award-winning recording of John Corigliano’s “Rage and Remembrance.” He is also featured on DVDs from the Washington Chorus and the Metropolitan Opera.

Forest passed away on Sept. 23, 2026. No arrangements have been announced at this time.