Dr. John Plier joined our staff in 2011. A Wisconsin native, John lived primarily on the east coast and in Europe, before returning to the Green Bay area. He studied voice at Lawrence Conservatory of Music, and subsequently began a successful performing career by attending the American Institute of Musical Studies in Graz, Austria, as the Eugene Conley Stipendiat for Most Promising Midwestern Artist. In Graz, he received musical coaching from Katherine Cathcart of the San Francisco Opera, studied Mozart opera roles with Heinz Sosznitza of the Essen Opera in Germany, and studied the role of Rodolfo in Puccini's La Bohème with Mario Salerno of the La Scala Opera, a role that he performed with the Grazer Schauspielhaus and with the Chamber Opera of Chicago. While in Europe, John was engaged to perform the world premiere of Eugene Hartzell's Four Latin Lyrics for Tenor and Orchestra, which he also recorded for Austrian National Radio. He has sung leading roles in national tours of Donizetti's L'Elisir d'Amore and Mozart's Così fan tutte and has numerous other professional opera performances to his credit, including engagements in the Midwest with Michigan Opera Theatre in Detroit, Florentine Opera in Milwaukee, and Dayton Opera, where he served as an artist in residence. He has sung performances on the east coast in oratorio, musical theater, and recital as well as opera, and has debuted in recital in New York City. In addition to the Eugene Conley Stipend, Dr. Plier received the Uihlein Award from the Metropolitan Opera National Council and has been a semi-finalist in the Mobil-Oil Austria International Competition
John has a long history of experiences as a choral director and liturgical musician. He spent six years on the faculty of the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay where he directed the Concert Choir, University Chorus, and for four years led the Opera Theater. He additionally directed and conducted performances for the Theater Department.
Dr. Plier served as the adult choir director at St. Peter's Church in Oshkosh while still in college. He later served for four years as the Head Cantor of the historic Holy Cross Church on 42nd Street in New York City, served in the same capacity at the Shrine of the Blessed Sacrament in Washington, D.C., and most recently served for four years as the Chancel Choir Director at the First Presbyterian Church in Green Bay. John continues to serve as guest Director of Music for the High Holidays at Beth El Hebrew Congregation in Alexandria, Virginia.
In addition to his Bachelor's degree from Lawrence, Dr. Plier holds both M.M. and D.M.A. degrees from Peabody Conservatory of the Johns Hopkins University, where he studied voice, drama, and repertoire with Stanley Cornett, Roger Brunyate, Phyllis Bryn-Julson, and John Shirley-Quirk. Prior to his work at the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay, Dr. Plier served on the faculties of the Baltimore School for the Arts, and Morgan State University. John was appointed by the Fulbright Foundation to serve as a Fulbright Senior Specialist in 2002, and was sponsored to appear in recital, and conduct master classes in American musical theater, at the National Academy of Music and the Arts in Bratislava, Slovakia.
He currently teaches private voice lessons, and conducts choral workshops in Green Bay. He and his wife, Jennifer, are the proud parents of a seven year old girl, Anna Marie, who is much more interesting and talented than her father.