A native of Billings, Montana, bass-baritone Doug Nagel graduated from the University of Wyoming and The San Francisco Conservatory of Music.

Before beginning a very active singing career for over 10 years, Nagel taught three years at the University of California, East Bay.

Doug made his American Wagner debut as the title role in The Flying Dutchman for Buffalo Opera, and later sang the role for Mobile Opera, West Bay Opera and the San Francisco Wagner Society.

Other company debuts included Arizona Opera, Sacramento Opera, Opera San Jose, Opera Santa Barbara, Cedar Rapids Opera, Opera Columbus, Des Moines Metro Opera, Virginia Opera, Opera Co. of Philadelphia, Opera El Paso, Longview Opera, Nevada Opera, Rogue Opera, Opera Idaho, and Eugene Opera.

Doug sang a wide repertoire from Scarpia, Giovanni, Germont, Magnifico, Falke, Frank, Michele, Dulcamara, Sharpless, Pasquale, Onegin, Renato, Zurga, Leporello, Marcello, Bartolo, Timur, Trulove, Blitch, Simone, Schicchi, Sprecher, Danilo, Figaro, and Wotan.

The role of John the Baptist in Salome was one of Mr. Nagel’s signature roles as he made his European debut in Rostock, Germany, and repeated it with Opera Columbus, The Virginia Opera and The Opera Co. of Philadelphia. In fact, he even traveled with his own “head.”

Doug created the role of Theseus in Roumanis’ Phaedra, broadcast on PBS throughout the U.S. He received international attention when he created the role of Francisco de Santander in the Virginia Opera world premiere of Thea Musgrave’s Simon Bolívar, later singing excerpts from the production at the Royal Albert Hall, London, broadcast on the BBC.

Other world premiere operas include West of Washington Square, Polpolvu, Powder Her Face, and Wuornos. Mr. Nagel is heard on CD by Albany Records in the title role of Count Orlock (Dracula) in Rimrock Opera’s world premiere recording of Henderson/Gioia’s Nosferatu. Nagel covered the role in 2018.

After holding Artistic Director (AD) positions at Rogue Opera and Opera Idaho, Mr. Nagel helped the board of directors form a new company in Billings-The Rimrock Opera, where he was the AD for 13 years.

Doug produced and directed two productions each season, toured throughout Montana and Wyoming with a school tour, in addition to all of the administrative trappings of holding this position.


Mr. Nagel is Department of Music CoChair and Associate Professor of Voice and Choral Studies at Montana State University Billings.

In addition to conducting two choirs and teaching Vocal Pedagogy, Choral Conducting and Lyric Diction, Doug maintains a large applied Voice Studio.

Mr. Nagel is VP on the Nova board of directors, where he also continues to direct and sing operatic productions.