Countertenor John Holiday, winner of the 2017 Marian Anderson Vocal Award, one of Broadway World’s “New York Opera 2015 Gifts that Keep on Giving” and nominee for “Newcomer of the Year” by the German magazine Opernwelt, has quickly established himself as a fast-rising singer to watch.

Original engagements for Holiday’s COVID-19 shortened 2019-20 season began with a collaboration with the Mark Morris Dance Group at the La Jolla Music Festival as a part of their Synergy Initiative. He then reprised the role of First Male Voice in Huang Ruo’s Paradise Interrupted for the Art Macau Festival in Shanghai, followed by his return to the Metropolitan Opera roster to cover the title role in Orfeo ed Euridice. He made his debut with the Lucerne Symphony Orchestra as the Alto Soloist in Handel’s Messiah, also appearing in recital with pianist Roger Vignoles, before returning to Los Angeles Opera as Orpheus’s Double in the world premiere of Matthew Aucoin’s Eurydice. He was slated to make his debut in the title role of Serse with Opéra de Rouen (cancelled), and appear with Dayton Opera for their Going for Baroque concert (cancelled), before finishing his season presenting a recital at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, curated as a part of the Jacob Lawrence Struggle series (cancelled), and in concert at The Glimmerglass Festival (cancelled).

Past highlights have included singing the title role in Xerxes at the Glimmerglass Festival in 2017, a debut with Boston Baroque in the role of Tolomeo in Handel’s Giulio Cesare in Egitto in 2016, Holiday’s 2016 Spoleto Festival debut in the world premiere of Paradise Interrupted, his 2014 debuts with Los Angeles Operaas the Sorceress in Barrie Kosky’s acclaimed production of Purcell’s Dido and Aeneas, and with Wolf Trap Opera as Caesar in Handel’s Giulio Cesare in Egitto, as well as engagements with the Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra, the Cincinnati Chamber Orchestra, the Chorus of Westerlyin Rhode Island, the Nashville Symphony, and programs with Ars Lyrica and Mercury Baroque in Houston, Texas. Holiday joined the roster of the Metropolitan Opera in 2013 to cover the role of Nireno in David McVicar’s acclaimed production of Giulio Cesare in Egitto, and his operatic stage debut was with Portland Opera in Galileo Galilei.

In addition to the Marian Anderson and YBCA 100 Awards, numerous other major competitions and award programs have recognized Holiday’s accomplishments. He is a 2014 recipient of the Catherine Filene Shouse Career Development Grant from the Wolf Trap Foundation for the Performing Arts and is also a recipient of the Richard F. Gold Career Grant from the Shoshana Foundation, first prize from the Richard Tucker Foundation Sara Tucker award, and third place winner of OPERALIA. He was awarded first place at both the Gerda Lissner International Vocal Competition for 2013 and the Sullivan Foundation for 2012. Holiday also received a first place win at the Dallas Opera Guild Vocal Competition. In 2007, he was the first place winner in his district of the Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions.

Alongside his classical repertoire, Holiday excels in jazz and gospel music having opened for Grammy award winner Jason Mraz in concert. Holiday recently released his debut jazz album entitled The Holiday Guide.

He received a Bachelor of Music in vocal performance from Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas, a Master of Music in vocal performance from the University of Cincinnati College—Conservatory of Music, and the Artist Diploma in Opera Studies from The Juilliard School in New York City. Holiday grew up in Rosenberg, Texas, located near Houston, and attended the town’s public schools.