John Pierce

Assistant Professor of Voice
jcpierce@umich.edu

Professor Pierce joined the U-M voice faculty after an extensive singing career in Europe. He is one of the leading dramatic tenors of his generation, having performed the title role in Wagner’s Tristan und Isolde to universal acclaim across Europe, as well as maintaining a large, active operatic repertoire including the leading tenor roles in Lohengrin, Tannhaeuser, Peter Grimes and Freischuetz.

Mr. Pierce studied with William Warfield, Grace Wilson and John Wustman at Illinois, and Dale Moore and Jean Deis at Indiana.

After an Apprenticeship in Santa Fe in 1985, Pierce moved to North Carolina, started a family, taught at UNC Wilmington and the NC School of the Arts, and switched to Heldentenor. He won the Wagner Prize at the Liederkranz Competition and accepted an engagement at the Brandenburg State Theater in Cottbus, Germany, where he and his wife, soprano Alice Pierce, were full-time members of the operatic ensemble for 10 years. During that time Pierce sang over 500 performances of leading tenor roles. He also sang in oratorio and operetta and portrayed Tony to his wife’s Maria in West Side Story over 25 times. Professor Pierce received Cottbus’ prestigious Max Gr√ºnebaum Award in 1999 and left Cottbus in 2002 to become a freelance singer.

Mr. Pierce has sung throughout Europe and in South America. His portrayals in the opera, including Das Spielwerk by Franz Shreker, Loge in Wagner's Rheingold, and the title role in Friedrich Cerha's contemporary opera, Der Rattenfänger (the Pied Piper of Hamlin) have been unanimously acclaimed successes. The Cerha opera was also a highlight of the 2004 Vienna Festwochen.

Professor Pierce appears regularly in concert, recently soloing in the Philharmonic Hall in Berlin. He has performed song recitals, collaborating with pianist John Wustman and is an honorary member of the International Hans von Bülow Society.

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