Meet the 24-25 Converse Opera Guest Director, John M. Roche ’92

John M. Roche, ’92, graduated with a Bachelor of Music degree in Vocal Performance from Boston University in 1986 and a Master of Music degree in Vocal Performance from Converse College in 1992. While at Converse, he studied with Ross Magoulas who was not only his voice teacher, but mentor in stagecraft and direction.

Mr. Roche has performed over fifty opera roles, some of his favorites including: “Major-General Stanley” in The Pirates of Penzance, “KoKo” in The Mikado, “Goro” in Madama Butterfly, and “Alfred” in Die Fledermaus. Most recently Roche performed the role of “Pieter te Bakkenskijl” in The Girl in The Train, directed by Elizabeth Margolius, an experience he found most enjoyable and enlightening and proved to him that you really can teach an old dog new tricks.

Roche is a former President of the Spartanburg Repertory Opera Company where he directed many operas and operettas such as Strauss’s Die Fledermaus, Gilbert and Sullivan’s Iolanthe and H.M.S. Pinafore and Mozart’s The Magic Flute. He has previously worked with Converse Opera Theatre, directing Pauline Viardot’s Cendrillon, as well as several opera scenes programs.

In addition to his work in the theater, Roche is the Music Director at Spartanburg’s Saint Paul the Apostle Catholic Church. He is also a Knight of Columbus and a Knight of the Holy Sepulcher of Jerusalem. John and his wife reside in Spartanburg near their six children and four grandchildren. In John’s words, “It is an immense pleasure to be back at Converse, for it will always hold a special place in my heart.”