J.J. Penna has performed in recital with such notable singers as Kathleen Battle, Harolyn Blackwell, David Daniels, Denyce Graves, Roberta Peters, Florence Quivar, Andreas Scholl, Sharon Sweet, Christopher Trakas, and Ying Huang, in venues throughout the United States, Europe, the Far East, and South America. He has held fellowships at prestigious festivals such as Tanglewood, Chautauqua Institution, Banff Center for the Arts, Norfolk, the Music Academy of the West, and San Francisco Opera Center’s Merola Program.
He received his training under Martin Katz, Margo Garrett, and Diane Richardson. Penna devotes much of his time to the teaching of art song literature, cultivating and championing a rich and unique legacy at Westminster Choir College of Rider University for over 25 years. Currently, he is on the faculties of the Steans Institute for Young Artists, The Juilliard School, and looks forward to joining the NEC community in Fall of 2019.