Bio

Praised by the Santa Barbara Daily Sound for his "moving and hypnotic" performances and Fanfare magazine for his "impeccable precision", award-winning violinist John Irrera is in demand as a soloist, chamber musician, orchestral musician, and pedagogue. Since his acclaimed Carnegie Hall debut, in which the New York Concert Review wrote, a “riveting and dynamic performance” and “a performance full of grace, whit, and charm”, John’s performances have taken him across the globe with performances on three continents, at some of the world’s most prestigious venues, including Lincoln Center, Spivey Hall, Conway Hall in London, and at the El Auditoria de la Diputación de Alicante "ADDA", Spain.  As a versatile soloist, John has performed with the Rochester Philharmonic, Georgia Symphony, and Penfield Symphony orchestras, as well as with ensembles at the Eastman School of Music, Georgia Tech, Virginia Tech, and Kennesaw State University.   His performances have been heard on international TV and Radio stations throughout the United States, and internationally in South America, and Europe.  

Active in the recording studio, John has released numerous critically acclaimed albums on the Centaur and MSR Classics label. His release on Centaur Records of Robert Morris' complete works for violin and piano, received the following praise from Fanfare Magazine, "The Irrera's are impressive. John negotiates an often demanding, disjunct violin part with subtle finesse. without sacrificing a sense of musical line." While Art Music Lounge's Lynn René Bayley wrote of the same album, "The Irrera Brothers help bring [the music] to vivid life....as I mentioned early on, it is the playing of the Irrera Brothers that makes this disc." 

A founding member of the mixed instrument chamber ensemble, October Sky, comprised of fellow Virginia Tech faculty members, the ensemble is active commissioning, recording, and performing new works around the globe. Its debut album release of world premiere recordings in the summer of 2023 was on the MSR Classics label. The album, October Skies, was released to critical acclaim with Linda Holt of Fanfare Magazine stating "the marvelous playing by John Irrera, throughout the album adds immeasurably to the charm and interest." While Colin Clarke, writes “Irrera captures the jig element superbly in the penultimate ‘There was an Old person of Ischia’” and “Barbara Allen showcases John Irrera’s rock-solid and perfect sense of delivery” Ken Meltzer in his review lauds the ensemble stating "They play with arresting spirit, tonal richness, and razor-sharp ensemble.”  

John is in the midst of a new project alongside co-creator and colleague Dr. Annie Stevens, in the creation of a new award-winning mobile application designed to assist musicians at all stages of musical development achieve their performance and practice goals. The project was awarded a prestigous and highly selective Alumni Enterprise Award by the Music Academy of the West, which has funded projects on four continents. The award resulted in startup funding, a summer residency at the 2023 Summer Music Festival in Santa Barbara, CA, as well as additional creative and instructional seminars at Stanford University’s d. school.  

As the Assistant concertmaster of the Roanoke Symphony Orchestra, John remains an active orchestral musician. He has also performed with the New World Symphony under conductors Michael Tilson Thomas and Thomas Ades, with the Grammy-nominated Metropolis Ensemble under the baton of composer Tan Dun, with the Georgia and Charleston (SC) Symphony Orchestras, served as the concertmaster of the Genesee Symphony Orchestra, and was also awarded a fellowship to perform with the festival orchestra of the Music Academy of the West. 

John holds degrees from the Eastman School of Music, where he earned his Doctorate of Musical Arts degree and was awarded the prestigious Performer’s Certificate, having studied with, and serving as, the Teaching Assistant for the studios of Zvi Zeitlin and Federico Agostini. Currently, John is Assistant Professor of Violin at Virginia Tech. His students have won top prizes in international competitions, hold positions in professional ensmbles, and have received scholarships to attend top universities to continue their studies.  In 2024, John was the awarded Virginia Tech’s College of Architecture, Arts, and Design Award for Outstanding Research and Creative Activities.