Biography
John William Artz VIII, is a graduate of the G.P.D. program at The Peabody Conservatory of the Johns Hopkins University in the studio of Dr. Stanley Cornett.
John earned his BFA in Vocal Performance and Opera Production from The University of Oklahoma where he studied with Dr. Dolores Leffingwell.
While in Oklahoma he performed the role of Frederick in The Pirates of Penzance and Ralph in H.M.S. Pinafore with The Cimarron Circuit Opera Company. He also performed the role of Vaŝek in The Bartered Bride, Apollo in Semele, Remendado in Carmen, Normanno and Arturo in Lucia di Lammermoor, and he covered the role of Tybalt in Roméo et Juliette all with The University of Oklahoma Opera Theatre.
While at Peabody John performed the role of Prince Tamino in The Magic Flute (Peabody Outreach), the title role of Candide in Candide, the role of Rinuccio in Gianni Schicchi, and the role of Pedrillo in Die Entführung aus dem Serail. He performed with all the combined Peabody choirs and orchestras to sing the Tenor Soloist in the Verdi Requiem.
Mr. Artz has performed with the Young Victorian Theatre Company of Baltimore in the role of Frederick in The Pirates of Penzance, Leonard in The Yeomen of the Guard, and Nanki Poo in The Mikado.
John has also performed the role of Marcellus in The Music Man, the Tenor Soloist in Bach’s St. John Passion, the role of Tobias in Sweeney Todd, King Kaspar in Amahl and the Night Visitors, and recently made his Kennedy Center debut as a soloist with the Annapolis Chorale.
His professional chorus engagements include Wolf Trap Opera, Baltimore Concert Artists, Baltimore Opera Company, Washington National Opera, and Washington Concert Opera. He has performed locally as a tenor soloist for various choirs singing Handel’s Messiah and Mozart's Requiem, both with full orchestra.
John has sung for several dignitaries including several Senators of the great State of Oklahoma, Governor Keating of Oklahoma and The United States Ambassador to the Czech Republic.
His awards include two First Place Tenor awards at regional N.A.T.S., Lions Club Scholarship, three University of Oklahoma Opera/Music Theatre Guild Awards, full tuition scholarship to The University of Oklahoma, Peabody Career Development Grant, and a tuition scholarship to the Peabody Conservatory.
John has had the honor of performing in Master classes with Marilyn Horne, Kathy Kelly, Mignon Dunn, Gary Arvin, Margeret Cusack, John Hagen, and Leslie Morgan.
John’s upcoming and recent engagements include:
- his solo debut with Wolf Trap Opera as the Tenor Soloist in Sweeney Todd
- the Tenor Soloist in An Evening of Verdi and Puccini and as Charlie in Brigadoon--both with Baltimore Opera Outreach under the direction of James Harp
- his solo debut with Baltimore Opera as Guiseppe in La Traviata
- the World Premiere of Scotti’s A Poet’s Opera in the title role of Garofulous off-Broadway in New York City at the famed La Mama Theatre.
Sponsored by
Web Hosting