overview

• John O’Brien was born into a musical family. He studied piano with his father from the age of five until graduating from high school. ; While in high school he also studied violin, flute and later harp. ; He began his undergraduate studies as a double major in violin and piano performance studying violin with Robert Gerle and piano with William Masselos. ; He continued his college piano studies with John Perry. ; In 1989 Dr. O’Brien was awarded the DMA in accompanying from the University of Southern California. There he studied with Gwendolyn Koldofsy and Jean Barr. ; While at USC he also studied organ with Cherry Rhodes and harpsichord with Malcolm Hamilton. ; Dr. O’Brien has been on the faculty of East Carolina University since 1985. ; He has been the Professor of Accompanying, Chairperson of the Department of Vocal Studies and Director of the ECU Opera Theatre. ;Dr. O’Brien has collaborated with such artists as Metropolitan Opera stars Hilda Harris and Victoria Livengood, violinist Eliot Chapo, tenor Bill Brown, soprano Louise Toppin, flautist Carol Wincence, and clarinetist Deborah Chodacki. He has performed in New York's Merkin Recital Hall, Weill Recital Hall, and at the Istanbul Festival with cellist Selma Gokcen. As harpsichordist he performs regularly with Clarino Consort and Baroque dance soloist Paige Whitley-Bauguess. He has performed recitals with soprano Julianne Baird and baroque violinist Julie Andrijeski, (Apollo’s Fire). ; He was a featured artist at the 2005, 2006, 2008, 2010 and 2012 Magnolia Baroque Festival in Winston-Salem NC and he has performed several times at the Piccolo Spoleto Festival with Chatham Baroque. ; Dr. O’Brien is Organist/Choirmaster at First Presbyterian Church in Kinston NC and he is the conductor of the Eastern Youth Orchestra.
  Currently Dr. O'Brien serves as chairperson of the Keyboard Department. ;He teaches courses in secondary piano, piano pedagogy and historic keyboards/early music. ;
  Dr. O’Brien’s home, The Music House, is a Victorian home -- one of the oldest in Greenville -- which has been meticulously preserved and decorated in period style. On the National Register of Historic Places it was built in 1902 by Jesse Moye. ; ; The Music House serves as a unique venue in Eastern North Carolina for approximately twenty classical concerts per year.
  Dr. O’Brien owns three pianos, a fortepiano, a harpsichord, three pump organs and two pipe organs. ; His Victorian Model “C” 8-foot “Small Concert Grand” Steinway was built in 1887. It was used as the performance instrument at Steinway hall in NYC until it was sold in 1904. The piano has undergone a complete restoration and now resides in his music room where it is used for practice and concerts.
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