A recipient of the Yamaha Corporation Top 40 Music Educator Award and a Musical America Top Professional of the Year, Dr. Justin John Moniz serves as Associate Director of Vocal Performance and Coordinator of Vocal Pedagogy at New York University’s (NYU) Steinhardt School where he holds the rank of Music Associate Professor. At NYU, Moniz leads the graduate vocal pedagogy program, teaches courses in pedagogic theory, practice, applied voice, and directs the DownBeat Award-winning NYU Pop/Rock Ensemble, a group he founded in 2019. He also serves as Program Director of the Contemporary Vocal Summer Workshop. In addition to his appointment at NYU, Dr. Moniz is a member of the Vocal Arts Faculty at Manhattan School of Music where he teaches Vocal Wellness & Physiology. He previously served as Chair of Vocal Studies at Millikin University and Visiting Instructor of Opera at the Oberlin Conservatory of Music.
Since August 2017, Moniz has served as Executive Director of HPAF. His innovative programming has earned HPAF both global recognition and multiple awards from the National Opera Association, The American Prize, and BroadwayWorld. Throughout Moniz’s administrative tenure, he has won the organization over a million dollars in public and private grants, increased the annual operating budget by nearly 40%, and yielded the highest student enrollment in the festival’s 20-year history. Justin was most recently named one of Pacific Business News’ 2023 Business of Pride honorees for his work with HPAF. The 6th Annual Business of Pride awards recognized outstanding LGBTQ business leaders, allies, or advocates in Hawaii who are making a difference in advancing equality and inclusion in the business world, as well as being active members of the community.
Prior to his work as Executive Director, Moniz served a Associate Executive Director, Assistant Artistic Director, and Vocal Faculty Chair. A three-time winner of The American Prize in Vocal Performance, Moniz has sung over 90 roles withcompanies including Opera Grand Rapids, Utah Festival Opera & Musical Theatre, Sarasota Opera, Florida Grand Opera, The Columbus Philharmonic, DreamCatcher Theatre, and more. His debut solo album, Along the Way (2021), is available on all streaming platforms.
Dr. Moniz holds four degrees from Florida State University, the University of Miami, and SUNY Potsdam, and certifications from Harvard Business School, Duke University, and the National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM). He has received young alumni awards from all three of his alma maters and was previously named one of Florida State University’s Notable Noles, University of Miami’s 30 Under 30, and a SUNY Potsdam Rising Star. As a voice teacher, researcher, and NASM Certified Personal Trainer, Moniz’s current research focuses on identifying the parallels between the worlds of voice science and sports medicine, more specifically concerning vocal load, efficiency, and sustainability. For more information: justinjohnmoniz.com / @jj_moniz
