John Churchwell

A champion of new and American music, John Churchwell worked on the world premiere of The Monkey King by Huang Ruo, led the preparation for John Adams’ world premiere The Girls of the Golden West and the West Coast Premiere of Jennifer Higdon’s Cold Mountain. He has prepared the world premieres of John Harbison’s The Great Gatsby, Jake Heggie’s Dead Man Walking, Stewart Wallace/Amy Tan’s The Bonesetter’s Daughter, Philip Glass’ Appomattox, and Tobias Picker's Dolores Claiborne.
 
Mr. Churchwell has partnered at Hollywood Bowl with Ellie Dehn, San Francisco Symphony with Michael Fabiano, and in recital with Renée Fleming, Sasha Cooke, Lawrence Brownlee, Lisette Oropesa, Joyce DiDonato, Susanna Phillips, and Isabel Leonard.  He is currently touring with Aryeh Nussbaum Cohen and their latest album, Uncharted.

Mr. Churchwell’s most recent guest appearances include Houston Grand Opera, McGill University, Minnesota Opera, UT Austin, Calgary Opera, and Opera Naples. He is Co-Director of the Lehrer Vocal Institute at Music Academy of the West in Santa Barbara, CA, training young singers and apprentice coaches. He regularly serves on the jury for The Laffont Competition and The Pavarotti Competition.
 
Mr. Churchwell earned his doctorate from University of Minnesota; bachelor’s degrees in piano from the New England Conservatory and in French from Tufts University; and a master’s degree in accompanying from the University of Minnesota. He studied song literature with Martin Isepp at Banff Centre for the Arts and was Tanglewood Fellow studying with Margo Garrett. Mr. Churchwell attended Merola Opera Program and is a graduate of Lindemann Young Artists Program at Metropolitan Opera.