Justin T. Swain is a graduate of The Ohio State University with
a Master of Music in Vocal Performance and a Master of Arts in
Vocal Pedagogy where he was awarded “Most Outstanding Graduate
Associate” and was a student of both Dr. Scott McCoy and Dr. Robin
Rice. Justin served for two years as the vocal performance area’s
administrative assistant and taught applied voice as a graduate
teaching associate within the OSU School of Music. Prior to
completing his graduate studies in music, he completed a Bachelor
of Music in Vocal Performance at Ohio State, and an Associate of
Arts degree at Columbus State where he assisted in the piano lab
and was awarded the prestigious “Man of the Year” award for his
contributions to the campus through his volunteer work and with
various student organizations. Justin has studied and performed
piano for over a decade with notable teachers Rose Zuber, Dr. Maria
Staeblein, and Dr. Sekyeong Seong.
A Columbus native, Justin has served as Opera Columbus’ Teaching
Artist (2018-2020), been featured in the Columbus Italian Festival
(2012 & 2018), in concert with Harmony Project Columbus (2015),
with the New Albany Symphony Orchestra (2016 & 2018), with
Opera Project Columbus (Maestro Spinelloccio in Gianni Schicchi
2017), has given a number of public and private recitals, and has
performed four world premiere works. Additionally, Justin has
performed numerous times with Opera Columbus as a chorister, on the
main stage (Baron Duophol in La Traviata 2016), as a member of
their touring Education Outreach program for two seasons (2015
& 2017), Opera On The Edge (Marcello in La Bohème 2016), as a
member of The Voice of Freedom touring performance group
(2018-2020), and in Twisted 3, a collaboration with BalletMet and
the Columbus Symphony Orchestra (Pinellino in Gianni Schicchi
2019).
As an academic, Justin owns and maintains the free database of
phonetic transcriptions website, IPA Resource Center
(IPAResourceCenter.com), has contributed the full breadth of
digital transcriptions of vocalises for Dr. Robin Rice’s book,
“Great Teachers on Great Singing,” available through Inside View
Press (VOXPed.com), has guest lectured at The Ohio State University
working with students of Prof. Ed Bak, Dr. Laura Portune, and Dr.
C. Andrew Blosser, and has served as a clinician in the Central, OH
region of choral programs of area middle and high schools.
With over eight years of teaching experience, Justin specializes
in working with adolescent and adult singers looking to prepare for
collegiate studies in voice or productions, adult and child
beginner to late intermediate piano studies, and both performers of
classical and contemporary styles of music.
Justin’s teaching methods are best suited for serious students
looking to prepare for a lifetime of music-making, truly
understanding their instrument, enhancing their musical
knowledge/competency, and who look to improve their overall
technical ability and health through the study of classical and
contemporary techniques.
Justin holds affiliations and memberships with the National
Association of Teachers of Singing (NATS), Music Teachers National
Association (MTNA), Black Classical Music Educators (BCME), Ohio
Music Educators Association (OMEA), the Royal Conservatory of Music
Certificate Program (RCM), the Pan American Vocology Association
(PAVA), Estill International, and the Pi Kappa Lambda National
Music Honor Society Alpha Rho Chapter.