Panamanian-American Nmon Ford is the composer and librettist of House of Orfeus (formerly Orfeus, A House Music Opera), which was scheduled for its world premiere at London’s Young Vic Theatre in April, 2020, prior to postponement due to Covid. He also sings the title role. The show is scheduled for 2024 as a co-production with Lincoln Center and Opera Carolina.
Nmon began his artistic life at age 3 as a piano prodigy, studying composition and several instruments before deciding on a career as an opera singer. After graduating with honors from the University of Southern California, he began an international opera career as a leading singer, appearing at Lincoln Center, Kennedy Center, Hollywood Bowl, and the principal opera companies and symphony orchestras of New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Chicago, Boston, Cincinnati, Dallas, Atlanta, Italy (Bologna, Macerata, Ancona, Rovigo), France (Bordeaux, Nantes, Angers), Germany (Hamburg), Russia (Moscow), Japan (Tokyo), Hungary (Szeged), and the United Kingdom (London: BBC Symphony, English National Opera). His most successful opera and stage roles include Macbeth (by G. Verdi and E. Bloch, based on Shakespeare’s play), Don Giovanni (W.A. Mozart), Iago (Otello in G. Verdi’s opera), Billy Budd, The Traveler (Death In Venice), and Brutus Jones (The Emperor Jones).
Nmon has been a featured soloist on 2 Grammy-winning albums (total of 5 Grammy Awards), and has reached the Top 15 on the Billboard Charts (Classical, Classical Crossover). He has recorded for Universal Music Group, Naxos, Concord, Telarc, and eOne.Having performed, written, and produced music in multiple genres. He ultimately fused his two favorite styles—opera and house music—to create House of Orfeus.
Nmon is a Voting Member of the Recording Academy, and an active member of the USC Alumni Association, ASCAP, and SAG/AFTRA.
Nmon is Founder and Creative Director of One World Productions, a creative development company. Formerly he served as Managing Director of Marketing and Brand Strategy and A&R (Artists and Repertoire) at Lune Rouge, a Montréal-based corporation owned by Guy Laliberté, the founder of Cirque du Soleil. Prior to Lune Rouge, he was Vice President and U.S. Head of A&R at Universal Music Group, where he was in charge of U.S. media and releases for classical. alternative, and crossover artists, as well as creative projects for Verve, Decca Gold, Deutsche Grammophon, Decca, Mercury KX and Paragon, in addition to collaborations with artists signed to Republic, Interscope, Capitol, Sony, and Warner. In this role he also directly managed the Decca Gold and Paragon labels, for which he led global initiatives and partnerships.
During Nmon’s tenure at Universal, his business unit’s (Verve Label Group) releases earned an Oscar, a Golden Globe Award, a BAFTA, 10 Grammy Awards, 18 Grammy nominations, and multiple Billboard #1 chartings.
Prior to Universal, Nmon was Co-Founder and Senior Director of Media and Communications at MATSTAT Consulting, leading creative development and integrated marketing strategy for global clients including recording artists signed to Universal, Sony, Warner, and Live Nation; Target’s Community Initiatives; TED Talks; Gujarat Raffia LTD (NGO partnerships with United Nations, UNICEF, and American Red Cross); and Scallywag Productions (Walking Dead, Fear the Walking Dead, Awards from Los Angeles Independent, Berlin, Chicago, London, and Serbian Film Festivals).
Nmon earned his MBA in Marketing Management and Corporate Strategy and Entrepreneurship from California State University at San Bernardino, and his Master and Bachelor of Music—both with honors—from the University of Southern California, with additional studies in Journalism and Arts Administration. He is a Voting Member of the Recording Academy, and an active member of the USC Alumni Association, ASCAP, and the National Black MBA Association.
