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Jonathan
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Born in Syracuse, New York, Jonathan English entered the Eastman School of Music to study voice. His primary teacher was John Maloy, and additional teachers were Jan DeGaetani, Helen Boatwright, Seth McCoy and Thomas Paul. While at Eastman he sang early music with lutanist Paul Odette, and gained a reputation as a champion for new music. Upon completion of his undergraduate course, English continued on at Eastman, earning Master’s Degrees in Vocal Performance under Maloy, and Choral Conducting under Donald Neuen and Alfred Mann. More recently Mr. English has had the distinct good fortune to study with Hazel O'Donnell, one of the leading voice teachers in the country. As a tenor Jonathan English has performed a wide range of musical styles – from opera, symphonic and oratorio, to art song, choral, Broadway, and modern vocal chamber music. He has been a soloist with Boston’s Cantata Singers, under David Hoose, the Oswego Opera under Juan LaManna, the Syracuse Opera Theatre under Christopher Keene, The Rochester Philharmonic under Isaiah Jackson, and The Pennsylvania Sinfonia under Alfred Mann. Mr. English gave the American Premiere of Johann Rosenmüller’s cantata In te domino with lutanist Paul Odette, and the Boston Premiere with organist James David Christie. Mr. English is especially proud of his association with new music. He has premiered works by composers such as Samuel Adler, Steven Albert, Warren Benson, Sydney Hodkinson, Daniel Pinkham and Stanley Walden. In December of 2001 English took on the role of Nicholas in the world premiere of a new opera by Denise Bacon and Addison Hall - A Legend of St. Nicholas. This past season he premiered new works written for him by John Andrew Ross and Charles Turner. He is the founder of The American Song Project, created to promote awareness, through performances and recordings, of the depth and beauty of contemporary and historical American Art Song. This past year, Newport Classic released his first solo CD, Over There! Songs From America’s Wars, featuring music from the Revolutionary War to World War I. Mr. English has taught voice at the Commonwealth School in Boston, Roger Williams University and Holy Cross College, and has given vocal and choral master classes throughout New England. As a choral conductor he has been Music Director at a number of churches in MA, NY and RI, and was vocal coach and director of the Boys Chorus for the Boston City Singers. Additionally, English has been a critically-praised stage director for The Stanley B. Theatre, a small company in Boston. His productions include: David Mamet’s Glengarry Glen Ross; Aaron Sorkin’s A Few Good Men; James McClure’s Laundry and Bourbon and Lonestar; Neil Simon’s The Odd Couple, among others. Currently Mr. English serves as Music Director for Northminster Presbyterian Church in North Syracuse, and serves on the Board of Directors for the Ernst Bacon Society and Syracuse’s Civic Morning Musicals. Home ♦ Tenor ♦ Teacher ♦ Conductor ♦ Stage Director ♦ Contact ♦ Bio ♦ Pictures ♦ Recordings |