T.J. Turner

About

Dr. T. J. Turner is an accomplished tenor and vocal educator recognized as one of Memphis's Top 20 Under 35 in 2023. He maintains active positions as Instructor of Voice at Lander University in Greenwood, SC, and Faculty at the Lawson Academy of the Arts at Converse University in Spartanburg, SC. His professional singing career includes notable performances such as The Doctor in The Handmaid's Tale with GLOW Lyric Theatre, appearances in Kristin Chenoweth's My Love Letter to Broadway at the Lunt-Fontanne Theatre in New York, and collaborations with international artists Andrea Bocelli and Renée Fleming. Critics have praised his "crystalline high tenor" as "delightful to listen to." Dr. Turner emphasizes that proper vocal technique is crucial in all mediums of voice performance. His pedagogical approach focuses on developing foundational classical technique that transfers across genres including music theatre, contemporary-commercial music, jazz, and popular music. His methodology involves identifying and replacing unhelpful vocal habits with tension-releasing techniques, building vocal stamina and focus through targeted vocalises, and selecting repertoire aligned with individual student goals.

Education & Qualifications

Doctorate of Music Arts in Voice Performance and Opera Stage Directing from University of Memphis (recipient of Graduate Document Award); Masters Degree from University of South Carolina; Bachelors Degree from Furman University

Teaching Styles