Hawaii Performing Arts Festival Appoints Justin John Moniz as Executive Director

Hawaii Performing Arts Festival (HPAF) has named Justin John Moniz, current Associate Executive Director, award-winning singer, actor, and stage director, the festival's new Executive Director, effective August 7, 2017.

In his previous post as Associate Executive Director, Moniz was responsible for overseeing the festival's artistic operations, planning, casting, and programming, alongside Artistic Director, Val Underwood. Throughout this season, he maintained a successful collaboration with former Executive Director, Genette Freeman, managing both short and long-term operating plans, including various initiatives to cultivate partnerships with local community arts, educational, and cultural organizations. In his new role as Executive Director, Moniz will continue to work on both the artistic and administrative fronts while assuming the responsibilities of the organization's financial management, development of annual budgets, and supervision of fiscal planning. In addition, Moniz will collaborate with Underwood and the festival's new Director of Development, Genette Freeman, to implement and monitor long-term strategic operating plans for the future of Hawaii's rapidly growing summer festival.

"The opportunity to lead such a prestigious performance and training program is a great honor," said Moniz. "I first came to the festival as a student in 2009, and have since witnessed HPAF's enormous growth first hand. It is my hope to build upon the traditions from the past thirteen seasons, while moving forward with a newly defined vision for the future."

In addition to his work as Executive Director, Moniz will remain a member of the HPAF faculty, and is slated to direct Stephen Sondheim's Sweeney Todd during the 2018 festival season. His recent production of Gilbert & Sullivan's The Mikado received great acclaim and played to enthusiastic audiences across the island, including a sold-out closing performance at The Kahilu Theatre. Over the past few seasons, he has held the positions of Associate Executive Director, Assistant Artistic Director, and chair of the festival's prestigious voice faculty.

Justin John Moniz is nationally recognized for his work as a singer, stage director, and pedagogue, and is quickly earning recognition as a prominent leader in the performing arts industry. Moniz's progressive research and passion for redefining singer training in the 21st century has allowed him to emerge as one of the industry's most notable and innovative young leaders. As a member of the National Opera Association, he recently completed his second term as Florida Governor.

In addition to his tenure as a seasoned performer, Moniz brings an extreme wealth of knowledge and experience to his work as a teacher and director. He currently serves as Coordinator of Vocal Studies at Millikin University, where he teaches courses in voice and diction. Prior to his appointment at Millikin, he was a member of the faculty at the Oberlin Conservatory of Music, where he taught courses in performing techniques and opera. His students have been praised by the press for their ability to bring "a veteran performer's assurance and personality" to the stage (Miami Herald), and have gone onto perform on Broadway, National Tours, and regionally. An active researcher of the evolving operatic canon and its effect on singer training, his ongoing research was recently presented at two conferences for the National Opera Association, and is slated for publication this September.

Celebrated for his "superb high tenor" (South Florida Classical Review) and "commanding stage presence" (TalkinBroadway.com), Justin John Moniz has been thrilling audiences in opera houses, theaters, and concert halls across the nation. His unique style and versatility have afforded him an active career in opera, concert, and musical theatre, having sung over 80 roles to date. Moniz has previously appeared with Opera Grand Rapids, Utah Festival Opera & Musical Theatre, Sarasota Opera, Florida Grand Opera, Opera Company of Middlebury, Opera New Jersey, DreamCatcher Theatre/Adrienne Arsht Center, Orchestra Miami, Gulfshore Opera, Palm Beach Dramaworks, Orchestra of Northern New York, and Chicago Symphony Center. Most recently, Moniz's star turn as Prince Karl Franz in The Student Prince with Opera Grand Rapids received high praise and great acclaim, the press hailing his performance as "simply outstanding...glorious" (Encore Michigan). His performance also earned him the prestigious BroadwayWorld Award for Best Actor in a Musical.

Moniz holds degrees from the University of Miami, the State University of New York at Potsdam, and is currently a doctoral candidate at The Florida State University.

ABOUT THE FESTIVAL

Now preparing for its fourteenth season on the Big Island, Hawaii Performing Arts Festival brings together some of the most talented young musicians from Hawaii, the U.S., Canada, Asia, Africa, the Middle East, South America and Europe to Hawaii Island between late June and early August to study, grow and perform with professional musical performer/teachers.

During the 2018 Festival - June 27 through July 23 - more than 20 concerts and stage performances will be presented, giving students invaluable experience and the privilege of appearing on stage with some of the top musical artists in their field including Jennifer McGregor (Sydney Opera), Carleen Graham (Houston Grand Opera), Jennifer Tung (Royal Conservatory of Music), and Paul Floyd (Los Angeles Opera), among others.

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