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Under Dr. John's leadership the choral program at ACSM has become recognized as one of the finest collegiate choral programs in the region, with performances by Queens College choral ensembles at state and divisional conferences of the American Choral Directors Association. In New York City, his choirs have performed in such prestigious venues as Carnegie Hall, Alice Tully Hall, Weill Recital Hall, Merkin Hall, St. Patrick's Cathedral, and Trinity Church Wall Street. His ACSM choral ensembles have also been featured on two compact disc recordings: "The Partsongs of Hamish MacCunn," released by the QC Vocal Ensemble, funded by a grant from the PSC-CUNY Research Foundation; and "Songs of Peace and Praise," a compilation of choral music by Queens College composers, released on the NAXOS label.
Dr. John's guest-conducting appearances include Brahms's Requiem and Beethoven's Missa Solemnis with the Tokyo Oratorio Society and Oratorio Sinfonica Japan, Avery Fisher Hall's annual Messiah Sing-In, a concert of American choral music with the Virginia Chorale, and honor choirs throughout New York State. He has served as guest chorus master for the Queens Symphony, and participated in a choral recording with jazz trumpeter Michael Mossman, head of the School of Music's Jazz Performance Program. Dr. John has also contracted choirs for Josh Groban, including appearances on the Tonight Show and the opening ceremonies of the U.S. Open, as well as for his Stages tour of New York City.
As a teacher and scholar, Dr. John has served as guest lecturer in conducting at the Hochschule für Musik in Freiburg, Germany, and has presented seminars on American choral music in Basel and Stockholm. He has given presentations at both divisional and national conferences of the American Choral Directors Association, and is in demand as a clinician and adjudicator throughout the United States. His dissertation on Brahms won the Julius Herford Prize from the ACDA, and from 2011 to 2016 he served as editor of the scholarly journal American Choral Review, published biannually by Chorus America. He has also served as a member of ACDA's National Research and Publications Committee.
Dr. John received his Doctor of Musical Arts in Conducting from the Eastman School of Music. His prior appointments include Director of Choral Activities at both Tufts University (Boston, MA) and Nassau Community College (Garden City, NY), as well as Conducting Fellow at Dartmouth College. He received his Master of Arts in conducting from the Aaron Copland School of Music. |
