The American choral conductor, music pedagogue and bass singer, John Irving, began his musical training as a treble with the Texas Boys Choir. He obtained his Bachelor of Music degree in Music Education from the University of Texas at Austin (2007-2008); his Master of Music degree in choral conducting from Westminster Choir College (2012-2014); and his DMA in Choral Conducting, Early Music from the University of North Texas (2014-2016).
John Irving was was Director of Choral Music at Fordham High School for the Arts in New York City (August 2008-August 2012), where he prepared his choirs for performances at Carnegie Hall and was founding choral workshop director to Weill Music Institute’s Count Me In program, an initiative that delivers musical instruction to middle school students whose schools are without a choral music program. The New York Times praised his choirs in performance as “not just exuberant but polished and precise.” He has served as interim Music Director of the Denton Bach Society in Texas (August 2015-May 2016) and men’s chorus director of Westminster Choir College Vocal Institute.
Currently, John Irving is Director of Choral Studies at Christopher Newport University Newport News, Virginia (since August 2016), where he conducts the Chamber Choir and Women’s Chorus and teaches courses in choral conducting and literature. He is also Artistic Director of Ad Astra Music Festival in Russell, Kansas (since July 2016). He was Bass Section Leader at Church of the Incarnation in Dallas, Texas (Aug 2014-Jun 2016), and currently sings bass in Virginia Chorale in Hampton Roads, Viginia (since August 2016).
In addition, John Irving was Office Manager at Natural Ear Music, Inc. in Austin, Texas (August 2006-June 2007); Assistant Choral Director at St. Peter the Apostle Church in Austin, Texas (August 2006-January 2008); League Official at Oak Hill Youth Sports Association at Oak Hill, Texas (April 2004-May 2008); Choral Section Leader at First Presbyterian Church of Austin in Austin, Texas (January-May 2008). |