about nmon
ABOUT NMON
THE ARTIST
Panamanian-American Nmon Ford is the composer, librettist, and title-role performer 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-19. The show will now be presented as a co-production between 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 (USC), he began an international opera career as a lead 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; Scotland: BBC Symphony).
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, Nmon 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 ASCAP, SAG/AFTRA, Canadian Equity, the National Black MBA Association, and the USC Alumni Association.
THE EXECUTIVE
Nmon is Founder and Creative Director of One World Productions, a creative development and production company specializing in live and cross-media projects. Current partners include Lincoln Center, LA Comic Con, WonderCon, 4DFun, Cincinnati Opera, Opera Carolina, Young Vic Theatre (London), Blumenthal Arts (Charlotte, N.C.), Arbour Artists (London), and Hermitage Artist Retreat (U.S.). Additionally, Nmon serves as Principal Consultant for Branding and Marketing Strategy and A&R (Artists and Repertoire) for Lune Rouge, a Montréal-based corporation owned by Guy Laliberté, the founder of Cirque du Soleil. Nmon initially arrived at Lune Rouge as Managing Director of Marketing, Branding and A&R after having been Vice President and Head of Artists and Repertoire at Universal Music Group’s Verve Label Group (VLG), where he was in charge of U.S. media and releases for classical and alternative artists, and creative projects for VLG, 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, VLG earned an Oscar, a Golden Globe Award, 10 Grammy Awards, 18 Grammy nominations, and Billboard #1 rankings on multiple charts.
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, and Serbian Film Festivals).
During Nmon’s career as an artist, producer, and executive, he has engaged with albums that have garnered a total of 15 Grammy Awards (24 nominations), and he has recorded and/or executive produced for Universal Music Group, Concord, Telarc, Naxos, eOne, and In-Akustik.
Nmon earned his MBA in Marketing Management and Corporate Strategy and Entrepreneurship from California State University San Bernardino, and his Master of Music and Bachelor of Music—both with honors—from the University of Southern California, with additional studies in Journalism and Arts Administration.
Opera Innovators - Nmon Ford and Orfeus, A House Music Opera
