Brent Funderburk

About

Brent Funderburk is a distinguished collaborative pianist and vocal coach on faculty at Northwestern University Bienen School of Music, DePaul University, and the Lyric Opera of Chicago's Ryan Opera Center. He is equally skilled in opera, art song, chamber music, and vocal coaching, and is recognized nationwide as a respected recitalist, coach, and music director. Funderburk holds bachelor's degrees in music and biology from Lawrence University in Wisconsin and a master's degree from the prestigious Juilliard School of Music in New York, where he served as a staff pianist for four years in the Ellen and James S. Marcus Institute for Vocal Arts. He regularly collaborates with singers at major opera companies and festivals including The Metropolitan Opera, Lyric Opera of Chicago, Houston Grand Opera, Arizona Opera, Ravinia Festival, and Music Academy of the West. In 2022, he anchored the world premiere of Ricky Ian Gordon's chamber opera Intimate Apparel, based on Lynn Nottage's iconic play, which made history as the first opera produced by Lincoln Center Theater and was broadcast nationally on PBS Great Performances. As a faculty member of the Schmidt Vocal Institute, he works with gifted high school singers from across the country.

Education & Qualifications

Bachelor's degrees in Music and Biology from Lawrence University, Master's degree from Juilliard School, staff pianist Ellen and James S. Marcus Institute for Vocal Arts

Teaching Styles