John Bellemer
Adjunct Instructor of Music
Applied Voice
American tenor, John Bellemer, has gained a reputation for his strong portrayals in an ever-widening range of repertoire. With a voice the New York Times called “clarion-toned”, he continues to appear in leading roles with opera houses, orchestras, and music festivals across North America and Europe. John is also featured in Steven Spielberg’s Academy Award nominated film “Lincoln” as Gounod’s Faust. 
Recent engagements include Robert Mayo in the World Premier of Nicholas Flagello’s opera Beyond the Horizon with Teatro Gratticielo (NYC); Don Ottavio in Opera Colorado’s production of Mozart’s Don Giovanni, the title role in Mascagni’s L’amico Fritz also with Teatro Gratticielo; debut appearances with the Missoula Symphony, Helena Symphony, and the Idaho Falls Symphony; a return to Detroit Opera as Duca di Mantova in Verdi’s Rigoletto; Nadir in Bizet’s Les Pêcheurs de Perles with North Carolina Opera; featured artist with both the Salt Bay Chamber Festival and the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center; Lysander in Hawaii Opera’s production of Britten’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream; Peter Quint in Britten’s The Turn of the Screw in Beijing; a return to the Wexford Festival as Gabriele in Foroni’s Cristina, Regina di Svezia; and debuts with Teatro Reggio Torino, Teatro la Fenice (Venice), and Maggio Musicale Fiorentina (Florence).
Other highlights include appearances in leading roles with Opéra National de Bordeaux, Opéra National de Lorraine, Opéra de Rouen, New York City Opera, Vancouver Opera, Teatro San Carlo di Napoli, Teatro Lirico di Cagliari, Teatro delle Muse, Spoleto Festival dei Due Mondi, Opéra de Rennes, Theater Erfurt, Stadttheater Giessen, Opéra Royal de Wallonie, Estonian National Opera, and Teatro Arriaga.
Committed to the art of the vocal recital, John has toured with pianist John Wustman, presenting “The Songs of Franz Schubert.” He holds a Master of Music in Vocal Performance from the University of Illinois, a Bachelor of Music in Vocal Performance from James Madison University, and in the fall of 2025 he joins Western Connecticut State University as Adjunct Professor of Voice. John lives in Hamden, CT with his wife, Sarah Blaze, and their two Parson Russell Terriers.