Local tenor John Walters has been performing regionally for more than two decades.  His stage career began at Saint Vincent Summer Theater, where he received his degree in English literature in 1985.  His love music had him singing on the job in a local tavern where he honored requests and came to be regarded as, “Chiodo’s Singing Bartender.”  In the late ‘80’s he began vocal studies and offered Emile in South Pacific, the Constable, in Fiddler on the Roof, and the Preist in Man of La Mancha, at C.C.A.C. South Summer Theater.  As his voice developed his vocal coach and mentor, Dr. Thomas Caruso, encouraged him to audition for the Mendelssohn Choir of Pittsburgh.  After five seasons with the Mendelssohn Choir, he joined the chorus at the Pittsburgh Opera and has been on the roster ever since, performing in more than 30 operas over the last 15 years.  As his interest in opera strengthened he took up voice at Duquesne University where he studied with opera legends Ms. Mija Novich, and Ms. Claudia Pinza, and earned his degree in music in 2001.

     Mr. Walters’ operatic repertoire includes such roles as Rodolfo in La boheme, Zsupan in The Gypsy Baron, Gherardo in Gianni Schicchi, Sid in Albert Herring, and Topp in The Tender Land.  He has performed the roles Smiley in The Jumping Frog of Calaveras County and Tony in A View from the Bridge in Opera Theater of Pittsburgh productions.  Most recently, he played Herr Eiler in Mozart’s The Impresario for the Greensburg American Opera in 2007.  He also offers programs of Italian street songs and sings with local Irish folk band, The Rivermen.