Virginia native Melton Sawyer is enjoying growing musical success. Liz Keill of the Indpependent Press described him as having "...a beautiful voice and terrific comic flair... ," and is known for being a quick study as well as presenting thoughtful portrayals of the roles he performs. While residing in Connecticut, the Hartt School of Music graduate performed in both outreach programs as well as mainstage productions with Connecticut Opera. He sang the role of Paris in Roméo et Juliette as well as the baritone choral solos in Porgy and Bess. Melton also participated in an outreach program with Virginia Opera, singing several concerts featuring arias and scenes from the standard repertoire as well as a staged production designed to introduce children to opera. Other concert work during this time included Handel's Judas Maccabeus with Waterbury Chorale; the Bach B Minor Mass and Purcell's Come Ye Sons of Art with the Middletown Chorale; the Fauré Requiem with the Hartford-based ensemble The City Singers; and Handel's Dettingen and Utrecht Te Deums with the New Britain Chorale. Upon moving to New York, Melton sang the role of Simon in Opera Ebony's production of Joplin's Treemonisha. Since living in New York, he has sung the role of Morales in Carmen with State Repertory Opera; Marcello and Schaunard in La Bohème with New York Opera Forum; Guglielmo in Così fan Tutte with New York Opera Forum; and Thomas Putnam in The Crucible with Brandenburg Opera. Performances in 2000 and 2001 include Maestro Strappaviscere in Donizetti's Le Convenienze ed Inconvenienze Teatrali; Leporello in Mozart's Don Giovanni; and Junius in Britten's The Rape of Lucretia; all with New York Chamber Opera and Marco in Puccini's Gianni Schicchi with Liederkranz Opera. Concert performances in this period include the J.S. Bach's Weinachts Oratorium with the Bach Cantata Singers as well as recitals in New York, Brazil and Portugal.