Alfonse Anderson, Ph.D., tenor is Professor of Voice at the University of Nevada Las Vegas. Since coming to UNLV, Anderson has served as Director of Opera, Voice professor, and Vocal Coordinator. Anderson has performed in opera, recitals, and concerts for over 40 years. In the United States and Europe, he has performed with such notable organizations as the Houston Grand Opera, Teatro Colon Buenos Aires, Teatro Municipal Sao Paulo, Teatro Sols Montevideo, Arizona Opera, Des Moines Metro Opera, Minnesota Opera, Chicago Opera Theatre, Oakland Opera, Virginia Opera, Opera Francais, Opera South, Opera Columbus, Opera North, and Opera Las Vegas. Anderson has performed in concert and oratorio with the National Symphony Orchestra at the Kennedy Center and in the National Cathedral in Washington DC, the Chautauqua Symphony, the Illinois Symphony, the Grant Park Orchestra in Chicago, the Warsaw Symphony and Krakow Symphony in Poland, Las Vegas Philharmonic and the Henderson Symphony. He also performs frequently in recitals, concerts and master classes throughout the US.

The world premiere of the opera Bandana by Daron Hagen was released in the summer of 2006 on Albany Records with Anderson singing the role of the “Leader.” He can be heard on various recordings with the American Spiritual Ensemble and on the Nationally acclaimed DVD titled The Spiritual, airing throughout the U.S. on PBS. Also, in 2008/09 the CD from the German recording label Klavier sang Nessun Dorma from the opera Turandot with the UNLV Wind Symphony.

Anderson has taught voice for over 35 years and in that time, he has won several teaching awards at UNLV. In 2019 he was the first recipient of The Dr. Bert Babero Sr. Faculty/Staff Award, which is designed to recognize any faculty or staff member at UNLV who has a record of serving and mentoring Black students. In 2021, Anderson also won the UNLV College of Fine Arts Outstanding Teaching Award and the 2023 Cal-Western Regional NATS Teaching Award.

Many of his students have won international, national, and regional vocal competitions with such notable organizations as the Paris Opera, MET Opera, NATSAA, Leontyne Price, Marian Anderson, Mario Lanza, Montserrat Cabellé, Meistersinger in Graz, Austria, Opera Index, Belvedere and Palm Spring Vocal Competition, to name a few. The talented students under his guidance have gained acceptance to a multitude of prestigious national and international young artist programs, including the Paris Opera, Vienna Volksoper, Deutsche Oper Berlin, The Metropolitan Opera, Academy of Vocal Arts in Philadelphia, Aspen Musical Festival, San Francisco Opera, Florida Grand Opera, American Institute of Musical Studies, Opera Theatre of St. Louis, Utah Opera, Portland Opera, LA Opera, Opera Ebony,Florida Grand Opera, Chautauqua Opera, Des Moines Opera, OperaNorth, Sarasota Opera, and the Mirella Freni CUBEC program. Additionally, many of his current and former students have pursued careers in teaching at universities, conservatories, and school districts across the United States, Europe, and China. Anderson also serves as a master vocal clinician and adjudicator throughout the US and Europe. He has also been a very active member of NATS for over 30 years. He has served as president of the local chapter in Las Vegas and teaching mentor for the national NATS. Most recently, Anderson was inducted into the prestigious American Academy of Teachers of Singing, a group of invited voice teachers with outstanding teaching backgrounds and a history of noted teaching success. Anderson has also served as a Master Teacher mentor for the prestigious NATS Intern program. Anderson also serves on the Board of Opera Las Vegas in Nevada. Anderson is a major recruiter for the Vocal Division at UNLV and his leadership in the Vocal Division spans 26 years.