John Bogardus

John Bogardus is a passionate music director and educator who has spent most of his career making music and music education as accessible as possible. His passion lies in facilitating people and organizations to realize the fullest of their potential. John was a founder of OperAtlantic, and he brings his passion to his role of Treasurer on the Board of Directors.

John began his professional career working on the staff of the New York State Summer Music Festival and Institute and as a performer and Choir Manager of the King’s College Chapel Choir.

With a strong sense of vision and an inspiring approach to leadership, John built a community around the Halifax Music Co-Op (HMC) composed of thousands of music professionals, enthusiasts, and supporters over the ten years as its leader. John led the HMC’s faculty, which included members from all over the world and worked with the HMC Board of Directors, faculty, and community leaders to deliver year-round music programming for students, amateurs, and professional musicians. Under his direction, the renowned HMC Inventions program brought emerging Nova Scotian musicians together with an ever-growing community of orchestra and choral musicians to reinvent the shape of traditional symphonic and choral music.

Over the years, John has worked with musicians from various genres. He has organized and performed jazz and classical concerts for the Lieutenant Governor, bringing together and conducting large orchestras and choirs to perform Mahler Symphonies and Stravinsky Ballets. John has also worked as an arranger, conductor, and musician to bring music to the performances of other arts organizations and productions, including Breaking Circus, Vocalypse, and KAMP The Musical.

John has served as Music Director for several churches in HRM. He has been the Executive Director of the HMC, Halifax Dance, and Nova Scotia Kiwanis Music Festival. He is currently the Music Director of the Nova Scotia Mass Choir and a local Catholic Mission. Additionally, he sings with for both the Cathedral Choir of All Saints and Capella Regalis.

John’s love of and passion for music drive him to seek out new ways to share music more broadly. In each project he takes on, he looks for ways to create powerful connections and engage with music lovers from different backgrounds and communities.