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John Stuart Burrows August 3, 1941 – June 1, 2024 John Burrows died peacefully in hospice care on June 1, 2024, surrounded by family, at age 82. Born and raised in Newcastle-under-Lyme, England, John studied music from an early age and was a choirboy at St. George’s Church in Newcastle, where he was appointed assistant organist at age 14. He was an organ scholar at Saint Edmund Hall of Oxford University from age 16, ultimately graduating from the Royal Manchester (now Royal Northern) College of Music and Manchester University. He then spent twelve seasons on the music staff at English National Opera, where he served as the prompter for the legendary English-language production of Wagner’s Ring cycle and The Mastersingers under Sir Reginald Goodall. John went on to become musical director of a range of musicals in London’s West End, including more than 250 performances of A Chorus Line in its original London run at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane, and two long-running Mermaid Theatre revues, Cowardy Custard and Cole. During these years John also began his long and distinguished record of conducting the operas of Gilbert and Sullivan, including two London centennial productions: The Pirates of Penzance, relayed live by the BBC from the Royal Albert Hall; and Ruddigore, produced at the Barbican Centre. John moved to the United States in 1980 with his young family to head the opera program at Southern Methodist University and soon founded the Lyric Opera of Dallas, acting as the company’s artistic director and principal conductor for a decade. He also served as head of opera at Temple University, and later taught at the Academy of Vocal Arts, the University of the Arts, and vocal apprentice programs in the U.S. and Europe. While living in New York City and Washington, D.C., he maintained an active schedule conducting productions on a freelance basis and coaching singers of opera and musical theatre. John and Melinda married in 1994. After settling in Riverton, N.J. they enjoyed renovating the Victorian house that became their full-time home with John’s retirement in 2006. Before joining the Church of the Good Shepherd in 2022, they were parishioners at Christ Church in Woodbury, N.J., where John also served as interim organist and choirmaster. Previous affiliations included St. Paul’s Parish, K Street in Washington D.C.; Church of the Resurrection and St. Thomas’ Church in New York City; and St. Clement’s Church in Philadelphia. John was a delightful raconteur, an avid gardener, a superb cook, a connoisseur of British comedy, and a great listener with an infectious smile. He is survived by his wife, Melinda; his treasured daughter, Nan; his former wife and close friend, Rita; and his dear niece, Frances. His beloved son, Joel, died in 2012. A Requiem Mass for the repose of John's soul will take place on Saturday, June 15, at 11 a.m. at the Church of the Good Shepherd, Rosemont, 1116 W. Lancaster Avenue in Bryn Mawr. A reception will follow in the Rosemont Community Retreat House, adjacent to the church. For those unable to attend in person, the Requiem will be streamed live online. Livestream: https://boxcast.tv/view/solemn-requiem-mass-for-the-repose-of-the-soul-of-john-stuart-burrows-j37o2jf4hb2fcfuxyh3x Service Bulletin: https://storage.lifetributes.com/Tributes/7733469/pdf/funeral-program.pdf?cb=359a5234-86f3-4020-b6a1-597752da303a In lieu of flowers, contributions are encouraged to the music program of the Church of the Good Shepherd, Rosemont. Donations: https://onrealm.org/ChurchTheGoodSh519/-/form/give/music Directions/Parking https://www.goodshepherdrosemont.com/visit

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John Stuart Burrows

August 3, 1941 - June 1, 2024