John Scott Moir

John-Scott Moir [basso] was the Director of Choirs and Voice at Bluefield College (M.Mus. Eastman, DMA, Shenandoah). Dr. Moir had always been both a vocal Soloist and Choral Director. He had long worked in Lutheran, Catholic, Methodist, and Episcopal settings as Cantor and Choir Director over the course of his career. Before coming to Virginia, Dr. Moir formed and was Founding Artistic Director for a decade with the Twin Cities semi-professional chorus, CORO! – a ‘stand-alone opera chorus’ whose varied and innovative programs (all in original languages) spanned the gamut. CORO! joined forces on a number of occasions performing with the Minnesota Sinfonia and Dakota Valley Symphony. CO, and joined with the MacPhail Center for the Arts’ Prior to moving to Virginia, Dr. Moir began his career as a solo singer in Southern California. For fifteen seasons, he sang with the San Diego Opera as chorister and comprimario in over 60 productions; and was a member of the San Diego Opera Center under Tito Capobianco. John sang with such stars as Beverly Sills, Joan Sutherland, Sherrill Milnes, and Aprile Millo. John was also a soloist for seven years with San Diego’s Temple Beth Israel synagogue, and became a founding member of the San Diego Gilbert and Sullivan Society (SDG&S - later ‘San Diego Comic Opera’) doing lead roles and acting as occasional Chorus Master. While living in Minneapolis, John appeared as a soloist with the St. Paul Chamber Orchestra, Dakota Valley Symphony, Minnesota Center Chorale, Lyra Consort, Opera Pacific, Pacific Chamber Opera, Santa Barbara Civic Opera, Akron Opera, and as a Guest Artist with Opera Lucca (Italy). John also sang with: Roger Wagner Chorale, Eastman Chorale, San Diego Master Chorale, Minnesota Orchestra, St. Kate’s Oratorio Society, Opera 101, Anoka Opera, and numerous community theaters, (as King Arthur/Camelot; R.F. Simpson/Singing in the Rain; and Henry Higgins/My Fair Lady). Dr. Moir began to focus his energies as a Choral Director soon after obtaining his Master’s degree. His pedagogical background, love of music, and gift for encouraging chorus members to ‘sing as an ensemble of soloists’ has enabled him to obtain a ‘full, free sound’ from choruses, across the country. Dr.Moir is survived by his wife Sandy, son Brendan and daughter Diana, all of whom are musicians. His memorial service will be held on Saturday, February 15, 2025 at 11:00 a.m. at Christ Episcopal Church, 200 Duhring Street, Bluefield, WV 24701.

John Scott Moir

April 28, 1955 - December 15, 2024