John rownan - Tenor
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A bit about John

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John is a spinto tenor, originally from Dublin, but after studying in Bucharest, he furthered his training in Greece and beyond.  He now works freelance with the Hellenic Opera Co and Opera Da Camera Oscura.

He is an avid lover of opera, traditional folk songs, lieder and also tango music.

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John has always loved to sing and sang in school choirs as well as taking music lessons from age 7 in clarinet, tin-whistle, keyboard, and guitar.

As a teenager, John sang in bands, playing old Irish ballads and indie music.  At 17 he went to a singing school in Dublin, which sparked his passion for opera and classical music.

While studying singing privately, John did a degree in Classics (Latin & Ancient Greek) at Trinity College Dublin, where he also began to dance, and soon became passionate about Argentine tango: both the dance and the music.  In 2006, upon completing his academic studies, John spent a year travelling, a large part of which was based in Buenos Aires developing his dancing skills, and learning about tango music.

After several years, working as a tango dancer, teaching and organising Tango festivals and events, John decided to study singing full-time again to follow his dream of working as a singer.  In 2013, he found some excellent teachers in Bucharest, and he focused on improving his language skills, acting, musical education as well as singing technique.

In 2016, John took part in the Skull of Yorick Opera Studio in Greece, at which he sang 2 performances of Pinkerton, and 2 performances of Yamadori.  He then founded the Dublin Opera Studio and sang Luigi in Il Tabarro in July in Dublin and again in September at the Greek Opera Festival.  He also sang Rinuccio in Gianni Schicchi in Italy in August.  Ferrando in Cosi Fan Tutte followed in November, and then the Tenor solo in Saint-Saens Christmas Oratorio in Glasgow in December.

In 2017, John studied intensively the roles of Don Jose and Cavaradossi, and he also performed in a comic opera play called Opera was kicked out of heaven, by Kassandra Dimopoulou.  A big highlight was a Bloomsday Concert and Readings from Ulysses for the Irish Embassy in Bucharest in June.  He also began to work as a Project Manager for Hellenic Opera Co. and Opera Da Camera Oscura.

In 2018, John performed Don Basilio/Don Curzio at the Thessaloniki Concert Hall, as well as Spoletta in Tosca.  He then sang Rodolfo at a recital of La Boheme in Bucharest at the Italian Culural Institute.  He is currently studying new roles.

Recent Performances:

2018:
  • Don Basilio, in Le Nozze di Figaro, Thessaloniki, January
  • Cavaradossi, Understudy in Tosca, Thessaloniki, March
  • Rodolfo, Sing-Through of Boheme, Bucharest, April
  • Rodolfo, Sing-Through of Boheme, Cyprus, 5 June
  • Idomeneo Sing-Through of Idomeneo, Cyprus, 7 June​
  • Rodolfo, cover,  La Boheme production, Thessaloniki, Sept.

2017 Highlights:
  • Irish Embassy of Bucharest Bloomsday Concert, June
  • Don Jose in Carmen, Amsterdam, July
  • Pinkerton in Madama Butterfly, Thessaloniki, September
  • Spoletta in Tosca, Larisa, October
  • Cavaradossi Understudy in Tosca, Thessaloniki, November

2016 Highlights:
  • Flavio in Norma, Thessaloniki  (March)
  • Pinkerton in Madama Butterfly, Thessaloniki (April)
  • 9th July: Opera Group Recital in Dublin
  • 16th July: Opera Cafe Evening with John & Friends
  • 22 & 23 July: Luigi in Il Tabarro, Dublin
  • 12-13 August: Rinuccio in Gianni Schicchi, Italy
  • 10-11 September:  Luigi in Il Tabarro, Greek Opera Festival
  • 22 October: Irish song recital, Bucharest
  • 26 November: Ferrando in Cosi Fan Tutte
  • 17 December:  Christmas Oratorio, Saint-Saens in Glasgow
Photos from a show at the University of Music, Bucharest, in June 2015.


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