Justin Anthony Spenner has been praised as a “Standout” with “boisterous comic energy” by the Star Tribune, and is known in new music circles for his artistic honesty and engaging versatility. Recent operatic performances include John Sorel (The Consul) with Arbeit Opera Theatre, Morales and Dancairo (Carmen) with Pine Mountain Music Festival, 2nd Priest/Armored Man (Zauberflöte) with Lakes Area Music Festival, and Billy Bigelow (Carousel) with American Gothic. As a concert soloist, he has enjoyed performances with St. John’s Music Series (The Messiah, Nikolai Messe, Coronation Mass), ODC Dance Company (The Path of Miracles), The Northstar Consort (Urtecht Te Deum/Jubilate Deo), Dakota Valley Symphony (In Terra Pax), South Metro Chorale (Ein Deutsches Requiem), and Shepard of the Lake Lutheran Church (The Crucifixion, The Messiah), as well as various recital programs throughout the state. In his life as a new music specialist, he has performed world premieres of works by Joey Crane, Tiffany Skidmore, Sam Krahn, and Josh Musikantow. His choreographed staging of Schubert’s Die Winterreise was labeled as “Breathtaking” by the Shepard Express. An avid educator, Justin maintains a full studio, and presents opera immersion classes which highlight the importance of creation, storytelling, and community. Justin is the Co-Founder of B-Sides Art Song Collective, an organization which strives to draw a lineage between classical art song and contemporary commercial music.