Directory

Biography

John Irving is director of choral studies at Christopher Newport University (CNU) where he conducts the Chamber Choir and University Chorale, teaches courses in conducting, choral literature, music education, vocal pedagogy, and supervises student teachers. In addition to his responsibilities at CNU, he is co-artistic director of the Ad Astra Music Festival in Kansas and chorister with the Virginia Chorale and Philadelphia Symphonic Choir, and director of choral ministry at First Baptist Church Newport News. Dr. Irving served as interim music director of the Denton Bach Society and men’s chorus director of Westminster Choir College's Vocal Institute. Previously, he was director of choral music at Fordham High School for the Arts in New York City and founding choral workshop director to Carnegie Hall’s Weill Music Institute Count Me In program. He has prepared choruses for performance with the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra, New York Philharmonic, Orchestra of St. Luke’s, and Virginia Symphony Orchestra. The New York Times praised his choirs in performance as “not just exuberant but polished and precise.” As a countertenor and bass chorister, he has appeared in performance with Gustavo Dudamel, Esa-Pekka Salonen, Daniel Barenboim, Yannick Nézet-Séguin, Vladimir Jurowski, Jane Glover, Andrew Manze, Gary Thor Wedow, Alan Gilbert, Nathalie Stutzmann, and JoAnn Falletta.

Dr. Irving earned a doctorate in choral conducting from the University of North Texas. He holds a master’s degree in choral conducting from Westminster Choir College and a bachelor’s degree in music education from the University of Texas at Austin. His musical training began as a treble with the Texas Boys Choir.