"Please extend my heartfelt congratulations and gratitude to the performers in the Opera à la Carte cast. They are always so patient and professional with the student actors; they put everyone at ease." – Educator, on Mark's work at a Santa Rosa elementary school, Fall 2009


"Laughs galore...and out of this world singing" – Mendocino Beacon on Mark's performance as Basilio/Curzio in the Mendocino Music Festival's Le Nozze di Figaro, July 2008


"The voices, singing, and interactions of the performers are stunning.... Singing by these performers is of professional quality, as indeed it should be with such local luminaries as Clifton Romig and Mark Hernandez....[who] provide the richest vocals." – San Francisco Bay Times on Mark's performance as Omar the Taxi Driver in The Lab's Trap Door, June 2008


"Hernandez sang a mesmerizing 14th-century Sephardic song, Cuando el Rey Nimrod... His singing, sinuous in sound, ornamental, using expressive scoops and bent notes, was well-adapted to the unique sound and style of the accompanying oud..." – San Francisco Classical Voice on Mark's performance in Coro Hispano's Dia de Reyes series, January 2008


"My daughter is in your after school program. I didn't realize she was learning The Magic Flute with you, and only found out two days before I took her to see the full production at the Opera House. She proceeded to tell me the whole story, with character names, etc. It was WONDERFUL. She listened! She learned! She remembered! She got it!" – Parent, on Mark's K-2 after-school program at a San Francisco public elementary school, Fall 2007


"Scenes from Los Angeles' founding crowd in upon Mark Hernandez's commanding Siqueiros as his burnished-gold tenor ruminates on what the wall's stones sing about the city's forgotten founders." – San Francisco Chronicle on Mark's performance as Siqueiros in Thick Description's America Tropical, May 2007


"Sung with appropriately formidable presence by a swaggering, tempestuous Mark Hernandez" – San Francisco Bay Guardian on Mark's performance as Siqueiros in Thick Description's America Tropical, May 2007


"A strong and rich tenor" – San Francisco Bay Times on Mark's performance as Siqueiros in Thick Description's America Tropical, May 2007


"Performed with emotional nuance" – San Francisco Weekly on Mark's performance as Siqueiros in Thick Description's America Tropical, May 2007


"Thank you so very much for making opera come alive for our students.... You haven't just introduced opera to these children, you've made opera lovers out of them, and me!" — Principal on Mark's work with a summer school program at a San Mateo County public elementary school, Summer 2006


"Among the supporting cast, Mark Hernandez’s Nick took the honors, musically and dramatically." – San Francisco Classical Voice on Mark's performance as Nick in Berkeley Opera's La Fanciulla del West, July 2006


"My students are a tough bunch, but you seemed to keep their attention really well. Thank you for all of your hard work. We really enjoyed it." — Teacher on Mark's residency at an Oakland public high school, June 2006


"I can't thank you enough for your dedication to this kind of project. I hope we can continue to expand our mission in just such directions. You're a double threat—educator and performer—and it's a winning combination!" — Arts administrator on Mark's work as a teaching artist, June 2006

"One could only smile...at the truly standout Bardolfo of Mark Hernandez... Hernandez [delivers] winning physicality and unceasing attention to character, anchored by secure, attractive vocalism."
– Opera News on Mark's performance as Bardolfo in Berkeley Opera's Falstaff, January 2006


“I cannot remember a more effective Bardolfo-Pistola pair than found in Berkeley, courtesy of Mark Hernandez and Isaiah Musik-Ayala… [Hernandez] is a lively, robust personality.” – San Francisco Classical Voice on Mark's performance as Bardolfo in Berkeley Opera's Falstaff, January 2006


“A marvelous singer as well as a splendid actor.... Mark Hernandez offered up a genuine roué as a forked-tongued South American dictator with a real handlebar mustache.” – Napa News on Mark's performance as the Governor in the Lamplighters' Candide, April 2005


“Top drawer...[a] powerful voice” – Talkin Broadway on Mark's performance as the Governor in the Lamplighters' Candide, April 2005


“Mark Hernandez gave a fine, understated Basilio, the palace gossip…” – Napa News on Mark's performance as Basilio in Pocket Opera's The Marriage of Figaro, March 2004


“The vocal talent that Thick’s director, Tony Kelly, and his company have assembled would be an impressive accomplishment at a much larger theater…. Ivan, the chronically depressed night clerk, [was] beautifully sung by tenor Mark Hernandez…. All the singers are outstanding in their ability to invest their potently sung passages with distinct characterizations and dramatic immediacy... The performers' voices wrap around each other to spine-tingling effect.” – San Francisco Chronicle on Mark's performance as Ivan in Thick Description's Firebird Motel, November 2003


“As Ivan, tenor Mark Hernandez gave a heartfelt performance…”
– Classics Today on Mark's performance as Ivan in Thick Description's Firebird Motel, November 2003


“A gutsy performance…” – San Francisco Bay Guardian on Mark's performance as Ivan in Thick Description's Firebird Motel, November 2003


“Beautifully sung…” – Oakland Tribune on Mark's performance as Ivan in Thick Description's Firebird Motel, November 2003


“An excellent singer… his comic acting is outstanding” – San Mateo County Times on Mark's performance as Panatellas in West Bay Opera's La Périchole, May 2003


“A hoot” – San Francisco Classical Voice on Mark's performance as Panatellas in West Bay Opera's La Périchole, May 2003


“A standout” – Classical Voice on Mark's performance as Panatellas in West Bay Opera's La Périchole, May 2003


“A clear and convincing soloist” – San Francisco Classical Voice on Mark's appearance with Citywinds, Old First Concerts, June 2002