John Norris was born in California and began his teaching career at the American Conservatory Theater in San Francisco, CA, where he trained actors in movement and dance. After being invited to train young singers at the Wolf Trap Opera Company he went on working regularly with singers at several institutions like the International Vocal Arts Institute in Tel Aviv, Metropolitan Opera Young Artist Development Program, the Curtis Institute of Music, the Julliard School, and the Shanghai Conservatory of Music.
In addition to giving master classes internationally and maintaining a private studio in Berlin, John Norris coaches at the Bavarian State Opera Studio and the International Opera Studio at the Berliner Staatsoper Unter den Linden, supported by the Liz Mohn Kultur und Musik Stiftung.
John Norris also has a vast experience as stage director. His credits include productions of Theater, Musicals, and Opera at Connecticut Opera, Ft Worth Opera, Shanghai Opera Company and the Rostock Volkstheater among others.