John Calkins teaches Voice and Small Vocal Ensembles, beginner-advanced, with a focus on power performance and audition techniques. John, a licensed educator, frequents as a soloist, and grew up singing pop, musical theatre, rock and R&B genres. John has had experience teaching all age levels, encourages all of his students to embark on the journey to discovering their own voice, and believes most people are able to sing. Many of his students have championed solo competitions, received superior ratings for state-adjudicated solo contests, and auditioned successfully for performing ensembles, musicals, and collegiate music programs. John was recently hailed in Opera News (A publication of the Metropolitan Opera) as possessing ”the most musical and stylistic sophistication onstage, taking everything…as Rossini would have expected.” This year, John was the honored recipient of the Lynne Cushman Award and will be making his solo Carnegie Hall debut this Autumn season.
Mr. Calkins also has served the community by providing educational music/theatre outreach for organizations such as The Boys and Girls Club of Trenton, the Newark Public School District, as well as the Princeton Hun School. John received his bachelor degree in Voice Performance and Music Education, and enjoys traveling and playing soccer in his free time.