John Cox

Conductor, tenor, and musicologist John K. Cox is Visiting Professor of Music at Whitman College, where he leads the choral program and teaches courses in Music Theory and Music in Society. His previous academic posts include visiting appointments at Lewis and Clark and Reed Colleges. A specialist in Renaissance and Baroque performance practice and advocate for forgotten repertories, Dr. Cox’s recent scholarship focuses on Italian sacred music from the late-seventeenth century. His editions have been recorded by Skylark Ensemble and performed by professional and amateur choral groups across the country. In its 2024-25 season, Portland Baroque Orchestra will give the modern debut of five of his editions, written for performance in Roman convents during the Anno Santo of 1675. He has presented research at meetings of the International Musicological Society, North American Renaissance Society, Society for 17th Century Music, and International Conference on Historic Performance.

As a professional tenor and chorister, he has performed with many renowned vocal ensembles including Apollo’s Singers, True Concord, Cappella Romana, the Oregon Bach Festival Chorus, and the Skylark Ensemble. Dr. Cox holds degrees from Oberlin Conservatory, University of Oregon, and University of Illinois at Champaign-Urbana. While pursuing graduate studies he served as apprentice conductor of the Eugene Symphony, Eugene Opera, assistant conductor of the Eugene Symphony Chorus, and guest conducted both the University of Oregon and University of Illinois Symphony Orchestras.