SUNY Potsdam Alumni Name Justin John Moniz '11 a 'Rising Star'

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From left, SUNY Potsdam President Kristin Esterberg, Rising Star Award recipient Justin John Moniz ’11 and Alumni Association President Amy Kellogg ’99.

POTSDAM, NY (07/23/2015)(readMedia)-- The SUNY Potsdam Alumni Association recently honored Justin John Moniz '11 with the 2015 Rising Star Award, at the College's annual Reunion Weekend.

The Rising Star Award is presented to an alum who has demonstrated outstanding professional achievement in the first decade following graduation. Moniz was recognized for his outstanding professional development as an academic, teacher and performer.

Justin John Moniz is a 2011 graduate with a Bachelor of Music degree in vocal performance and a Bachelor of Arts degree in speech communication. Since graduating from SUNY Potsdam, Moniz has earned a master's degree in vocal performance from the University of Miami's Frost School of Music, where he also served as the director of marketing and public relations for Frost Opera Theatre. This fall, he will begin a Doctor of Musical Arts degree in vocal performance at Florida State University. While there, Moniz will serve as the graduate assistant in opera directing, simultaneously earning a second master's in opera production with an opera directing emphasis. Additionally, he has developed an extensive professional career as a performer and as a teacher.

Moniz's performances have earned rave reviews such as "exquisitely sung" and "the strongest voice of the show." Since leaving Potsdam, he has performed roles and/or concert repertoire with Sarasota Opera, Florida Grand Opera, Opera New Jersey, Utah Festival Opera, the Lake George Music Festival, Liederfest in Suzhou (China), Gulfshore Opera, the Hawaii Performing Arts Festival, Opera Company of Middlebury, Center Stage Opera, Frost Opera Theatre, CBA Symphony Orchestra, Anna Maria Island Concert Orchestra, DreamCatcher Theatre, Orchestra Miami, Miami Bach Society, Miami Oratorio Society, Civic Chorale of Greater Miami, Alhambra Orchestra, SoBe Institute for the Arts, Palm Beach Dramaworks, New Presbyterian Symphony and the Plymouth Chancel Choir and Orchestra.

As the winner of the 2015 American Prize in Voice, Chicago Musical Theatre Award, Moniz had his solo debut at the Chicago Symphony Center. He also has participated in multiple young artist programs, and was a semifinalist in the Concorso Lirico International Opera Competition and the Classical Singer Competition.

Moniz has been teaching privately since 2011, has held faculty positions at the University of Florida's New World School of the Arts and the Miami Conservatory of Music, and has given masterclasses and lectures across the country. His students have gone onto perform on Broadway, in national tours, earn admittance and scholarships to some of the nation's top conservatories and receive top honors in many prestigious competitions.

Moniz is a member of the American Guild of Musical Artists, the Actors' Equity Association, the National Association of Teachers of Singing and the Pi Kappa Lambda, Phi Kappa Phi and Phi Eta Sigma Honor Societies.

For more information about SUNY Potsdam's Alumni Association, visit www.potsdam.edu/alumni.

Founded in 1816, and located on the outskirts of the beautiful Adirondack Park, The State University of New York at Potsdam is one of America's first 50 colleges. SUNY Potsdam currently enrolls approximately 4,300 undergraduate and graduate students. Home to the world-renowned Crane School of Music, SUNY Potsdam is known for its handcrafted education, challenging liberal arts and sciences core, excellence in teacher training and leadership in the performing and visual arts. Empowered by a culture of creativity, the campus community recently launched Take the Lead: The Campaign for Potsdam, which aims to raise $32 million by the College's bicentennial in 2016.

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