Conductor of Opera at the University of Southern California’s Thornton School of Music
As Conductor of Opera at the University of Southern California’s Thornton School of Music since 2004, McMunn has mentored numerous singers in a vibrant program, in repertoire ranging from Early Baroque to world premieres. McMunn’s professional operatic conducting credits include five seasons at the New York City Opera plus engagements at Arizona Opera, Opera Saratoga, Kentucky Opera, Opera New Jersey, and Calgary Opera. At the Pittsburgh Festival Opera he led a highly successful series of five operas by Strauss. Additionally, he has served as Assistant and Cover Conductor for a combined total of 20 seasons at LA Opera, Santa Fe Opera, New York City Opera, and Dallas Opera. In recent seasons he has led operas in concert: Carmen, La Bohème, La Cenerentola, La fille du Régiment, Lucia di Lammermoor and The Ballad of Baby Doe for The Opera Buffs Inc, in Los Angeles, featuring illustrious alumni of the program. As a pianist, McMunn has collaborated with many eminent musicians, including members of the Juilliard String Quartet, cellist Lynn Harrell and ECM recording artist Michelle Makarski. He has appeared in recital at Carnegie Hall and at the Santa Fe Chamber Music Festival, and for many years has been the official pianist for the Western Region of the Metropolitan Opera’s Laffont Competition