John MASSARO - Conductor, Composer & Scriptwriter
John Massaro is the Principal Conductor for Phoenix Opera and the Southwest Vocal Competition as well as the Resident Conductor of the Scottsdale Philharmonic.
Most recently, he conducted opera Galas with world renowned opera superstars Dmitri Hvorostovsky and Jonas Kaufmann. Mr. Massaro served as an assistant to Leonard Bernstein during the creation of A Quiet Place and to Zubin Mehta for the Israel Philharmonic's production of Madama Butterfly.
© John Massaro
Mr. Massaro worked extensively with the great German soprano, Elisabeth Schwarzkopf, with whom he coached both Opera and Art Song repertoire. He made his Carnegie Hall debut conducting the Mozart Requiem which led to a distinguished European tour to Budapest, Krakow, Prague, Salzburg and Vienna, where he conducted several additional Mozart masterpieces in a 250th anniversary celebration of the composer's birth.
He debuted with the Phoenix Symphony in 2002, conducting a 9/11 memorial concert, which included his own arrangement of the National Anthem. He has also served as the Musical Director for the Phoenix Theater and the Black Theatre Troupe, where he received an AriZoni Award for BTT's production of Blues in the Night. As the first Music Director for the Arizona Broadway Theatre, Mr. Massaro conducted numerous stage productions, winning awards for his work there. Mr. Massaro began his career in Los Angeles as a vocal coach and conductor, later moving to New York City to coach and accompany several artists from the Metropolitan Opera.
He is currently working as a scriptwriter for a fictional TV crime series as well as on several feature films and docudramas based on the lives of famous classical musicians. As an award-winning composer, arranger and conductor, he is also ideally suited to create high quality film music.
Show Reel Maestro John Massaro: Please direct all inquiries to lead agent and agency director Isabella Hirt.
Dmitri Hvorostovsky performs an encore, 'Palami d'amore mariu' with the Phoenix Opera Orchestra and Chorus under the baton of Maestro John Massaro during Hvorostovsky's Gala concert at Phoenix's Orpheum Theatre Tuesday, January 10, 2012.
Phoenix Opera Gala With Dmitri Hvorostovsky and Maestro John Massaro:
Dmitri Hvorostovsky performs 'Di Provenza il mar, il suol' from Verdi's La Traviata with the Phoenix Opera Orchestra and Chorus under the baton of Maestro John Massaro, during Hvorostovsky's Gala concert at Phoenix's Orpheum Theatre Tuesday, January 10, 2012.
Phoenix Opera's 2018 Southwest Vocal Competition First Place Female is Abigail Krawson. Watch her first aria from the finals under the baton of Maestro John Massaro here.
Phoenix Opera's Third Annual Southwest Vocal Competition sponsored by Mayo Clinic. Anna-Lisa Hackett sings with the Phoenix Opera Orchestra under the baton of Maestro John Massaro. Sunday, March 5, 2017 at the Phoenix Orpheum Theatre.
Phoenix Opera's Third Annual Southwest Vocal Competition sponsored by Mayo Clinic. Jeffrey Strand sings with the Phoenix Opera Orchestra under the baton of Maestro John Massaro. Sunday, March 5, 2017 at the Phoenix Orpheum Theatre.
Phoenix Opera's Third Annual Southwest Vocal Competition, sponsored by Mayo Clinic. Hear ten of the finest and most talented opera singers in the Southwest perform with the Phoenix Opera Orchestra under the baton of Maestro John Massaro and compete for fabulous cash prizes!
Phoenix Opera's Third Annual Southwest Vocal Competition, sponsored by Mayo Clinic. Hear ten of the finest and most talented opera singers in the Southwest perform with the Phoenix Opera Orchestra under the baton of Maestro John Massaro and compete for fabulous cash prizes!
Interview John Massaro and Gail Dubinbaum, Founders of the Phoenix Opera: