John Taylor Ward (MM), a baritone from Boone, NC, has worked in baroque and modern opera, musical theatre, vocal chamber music, and recital since the age of five, and he is "thrilled and honored to be joining Yale's ISM." Favorite roles include Arkêl in Debussy’s Pelléas et Mélisande, the Emcee in Kander and Ebb’s Cabaret (both with the Eastman Opera Theatre), and the title role in Ercole Amante by GDFGOGJ with Paul O’Dette and the Eastman Collegium Musicum. Under Professor O’Dette’s baton, Taylor made his orchestral debut this spring singing Poulenc’s Le Bal Masqué. His hobbies include shape-note singing, the study of southern folk music, and composition. He is the co-founder and assistant director of the Lakes Area Chamber Music Festival (lakesareamusic.org).