Baritone John Taylor Ward (M.M.A. voice) returns to the ISM for his third and final year as only the second doctoral candidate in voice in Yale’s history.  Originally from Boone, NC, attended UNC Arts for high school and the Eastman School of Music, where he received his Bachelor’s degree in 2010. Some notable roles include Jesus in the St. Matthew Passion, Raphael and Adam in Haydn’s Die Schöpfung (both with Masaaki Suzuki, Juilliard 415, and the Yale Schola Cantorum); Jesus in Bach’s St. John Passion with the Paris Choral Society; Arkêl in Péleas et Mélisande and the Emcee in Cabaret with Eastman Opera Theatre; and the title role in Cavalli’s Ercole Amante with Paul O’Dette.  In 2008, Taylor founded the Lakes Area Music Festival in Brainerd, MN, where he continues to serve as assistant artistic director.  His scholarly research focuses on the performance practice of shape-note music.