Skip to main content
Dr. John McCarty is joining Lincoln Trail College as a Music Instructor. He comes to LTC from Elon University in North Carolina, where he taught in the music theatre program.
Growing up, McCarty quickly found music to be his passion. “I didn’t have any musicians in my family as I was growing up, but once music classes began in school, I was hooked! In third grade, I convinced my parents to let me take piano lessons, I joined all the bands and choirs in school, I participated in my high school musicals, and started taking voice lessons at the end of my time in high school. I went to the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul, Minnesota where I was a K-12 vocal music education and voice major. My masters degree is in choral conducting from the University of Minnesota and my doctorate is in choral conducting, pedagogy, and literature from James Madison University in Virginia.”
His first teaching position was at Bridgewater College in Virginia, where he served as the director of choral music. From there, McCarty moved to Miami, Florida where he held two part-time teaching positions: one in the music theatre program at the University of Miami and another in the music department at Miami Dade, the nation’s second-largest two-year college. While teaching, McCarty has also sung in professional choirs and conducted several church and community choirs.
“Professionally, I am most proud of the amazing accomplishments of my former students. I supervised the vocal music education students at Bridgewater College, and I am proud that all of them either went to graduate school or have successful teaching careers; some of them have even been selected as ‘teacher of the year’ in their districts. My voice students have performed in regional theatres, national tours, and I have a voice student who just graduated from Elon who is going to be singing in a show on Broadway beginning this summer.”
For McCarty, the move to Lincoln Trail College brings him closer to his roots. “I’m originally from Iowa and most of my family lives in Iowa or Illinois, so I’m excited to be back in the Midwest!”
Outside of work, McCarty enjoys traveling and cooking. “Wherever I am, I make it my mission to find the best bakeries, coffee shops, and restaurants around.” He’ll be joined by his husband, who is an actor, singer, dancer, director, and choreographer.
