John Moriarty

John Moriarty (September 30, 1930 – January 5, 2022) was an American conductor and stage director of productions at opera companies throughout the United States. He was also noted vocal coach and accompanist. Moriarty was born in Fall River, Massachusetts, on September 30, 1930. He served the Central City Opera for twenty years through the 1998 season. He was artistic director from 1982 to 1998; and was artistic director emeritus from 1998 until his death. He was artistic administrator at the Santa Fe Opera and the Washington Opera Society, and administered apprentice artist programs at Santa Fe, Lake George, Wolf Trap, and Central City. He has been conductor and/or stage director with these companies and with Opera Theatre of St. Louis, the Colorado Symphony at Red Rocks Amphitheater, Wolf Trap, Boston Lyric Opera, and Oklahoma City Opera. He received Bachelor of Music (1952) with highest honors and honorary Doctor of Music (1992) from the New England Conservatory of Music. He studied at Brandeis University and Mills College. He studied piano with Egon Petri, Paolo Denza, and Carlo Zecchi and French vocal literature with Pierre Bernac. He was chairman of the Opera Department at the New England Conservatory from 1989 to 2001. Moriarty was known as one of the USA's most distinguished vocal coaches and accompanists. He conducted master-classes and workshops across the United States and at the National Association of Teachers of Singing national convention. He was piano soloist with the Boston Pops, the Boston Civic Symphony, and the Radio Éireann Orchestra of Dublin.