John Verkuilen, bass, is glad to return as a member of the BCI artist faculty.  John recently graduated from the Manhattan School of Music, receiving his D.M.A. in choral conducting in May 2024.  While completing his dissertation, John worked as an Associate Conductor of the National Children’s Chorus and Assistant Conductor with the Oratorio Society of New York.  In the previous academic year, John was a Visiting Associate Professor of Music and Director of Choral Activities at Muhlenberg College, where he also maintained a classical and musical theater voice studio. Before beginning his studies at MSM, John served for two years as Artistic Director of Sine Nomine (Fall River, MA), was guest conductor of the Falmouth Chorale and Chamber Choir (Falmouth, MA) for two concert cycles; and spent a year as Interim Artistic Director of Calliope, a collaborative chorus and orchestra in Boston. John earned a Master of Music degree in choral conducting from Boston Conservatory and a Bachelor of Arts in international studies, economics, and music from Macalester College in Saint Paul, Minnesota, where his interdisciplinary focus was world music.

John was appointed Macalester College’s Assistant Choral Conductor, completed a yearlong music liturgy internship at St. Olaf Catholic Church in Minneapolis, and performed two seasons as a member of the Minnesota Opera. He has served as Assistant Conductor of the Newburyport Choral Society and has taught as a member of the Boston Conservatory Vocal/Choral Intensive and MSM Summer faculties. In addition to conducting, John frequently sings with professional choirs, including Artefact Ensemble, the Choir of Trinity Church Wall Street, Musica Viva NY, and the Taylor Festival Choir. His recent solo engagements have included Mozart and the Fauré Requiems in Boston and the roles of Jesus, Peter, and bass arias in performances of Bach’s St. John Passion in New York.