John Kramar

Mr. Kramar, baritone, is Associate Professor of Music at the East Carolina University School of Music where he is Chairperson of the Vocal Studies Department and Director of ECU Opera Theater. He holds degrees from the Curtis Institute of Music and the Eastman School of Music, where he was a scholarship student of Jan DeGaetani.

His extensive performance experience includes participation in the Aspen, Tanglewood, Brevard, and Ravinia festivals; solo engagements at Carnegie Hall, Avery Fisher Hall, Alice Tully Hall, Kennedy Center, Symphony Space, and City Center Encores Series; appearances with opera companies of Sarasota, Santa Fe, Nashville, Houston Grand, and Washington.

For eight seasons he performed extensively with the New York Vocal Arts Ensemble, with whom he recorded albums of Beethoven, Schubert, and Brahms for the Arabesque label. He has recorded the Collected Songs of Alva Henderson, and Gary Smart’s The Major’s Letter for Albany Records.

Kramar maintains a busy career as a soloist and opera stage director. Recent productions include Riders to the Sea, and Idomeneo, as well as performances of Sir Michael Tippett’s A Child of our Time, Bach’s, St. John Passion, and Wachet auf, and Bruckner’s Mass in D Minor. Kramar’s critically acclaimed production of Bizet’s Carmen was a highlight of Chautauqua Opera’s 2007 season.

He was on Chautauqua Opera’s directing staff for five seasons. Kramar is also on the voice faculty of the Tennessee Governor’s School of the Arts and the New York State Summer School of the Arts.