About Justin

Justin Montigne, countertenor, is a versatile young singer at home in many styles and time periods of music—in solo, collaborative, and choral capacities. Justin is originally from Des Moines, Iowa, where he received his Bachelor in Music from Drake University. He went on to spend several years in Minneapolis doing graduate work in voice at the University of Minnesota, where he received his DMA in vocal performance. An active teacher, as well as performer, Justin taught voice for the University of Minnesota and in several area high schools. He also toured Minnesota and the upper midwest with the select Ted Mann Vocal Quartet, the University of Minnestoa’s Opera, and as a soloist with many area ensembles in a variety of concert appearances.

Justin left the Midwest for San Francisco—singing alto for three years with the acclaimed male vocal ensemble, Chanticleer. He performed and recorded a wide variety of works with the group in venues around the United States and the world, including New York’s Metropolitan Museum of Art, Disney Concert hall in Los Angeles, The Concertgebouw in Amsterdam, and the Musikverein in Vienna.

Justin is equally at home in concert and on the operatic stage; his roles include the title role in Britten’s Albert Herring, the Father Confessor in Dialogues of the Carmelites, Mr. Splinters in The Tender Land, Alessandro in Il re pastore, Slender in The Merry Wives of Windsor, Brighella in Ariadne auf Naxos, Danceny in Conrad Susa’s The Dangerous Liasons, and Ernesto in Don Pasquale. His concert appearances include the alto or tenor solos in Haydn’s Creation, Mozart’s Requiem, Britten’s Serenade, and Handel’s Messiah, as well as in relative rarities like Ottorino Respighi’s Laud to the Nativity , and Arvo Pärt’s Litany. He has sung with the Minnesota Opera, Western Plains Opera the Oregon Bach Festival, Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra, City Concert Opera, Seraphic Fire, AVE, Volti, and Conspirare.

Justin is a founding member and President of the Bay Area’s a cappella men’s ensemble, Clerestory, and teaches voice at the San Francisco Girls Chorus. He is a registered yoga teacher (Yoga Alliance E-RYT 200) and teaches several public classes each week, as well as leading workshops in yoga and body awareness for singers. Justin’s SingAsana programs have been featured at the Chorus America national convention, and by the San Francisco Conservatory, the Piedmont Choirs, Sonoma Bach, and more.

Justin rounds out his performing and teaching activities with a dedicated yoga practice and a love of food, friends, and family. He lives in San Francisco with his husband Joe and their spoiled pooches Jasmine and Jorge.