Bass Daeyoung Kim

Professor. Jamon Maple

📖 Story of Jamon Maple: A Vocal Artist Transcending Cultural Boundaries

Jamon Maple stands as a remarkable figure in the global music landscape, distinguishing himself as a tenor, voice specialist, and cross-cultural artist whose career spans continents, languages, and musical traditions. His journey from Beaumont, Texas, to international acclaim demonstrates the universal power of music to bridge cultures and connect hearts.

Education and Academic Leadership 

Maple's strong academic foundation includes a B.M. in Vocal Performance from Boston University and an M.M. & Advanced Certificate in Vocal Performance and Vocal Pedagogy from New York University. This rigorous training prepared him for a multifaceted career that seamlessly blends performance and education. 

Currently serving as an Adjunct Professor of Voice at New York University, Maple is also the Associate Director of the Contemporary Vocal Workshop summer program. His teaching portfolio at NYU is extensive, including leadership of the Unplugged Contemporary Voice Ensemble and co-creation of the Contemporary Voice Business Skills and Workshop course for senior students. For five years, he has taught Vocal Pedagogy in classical, musical theatre, and contemporary voice in the Advanced Pedagogy Certificate program, sharing his expertise across multiple genres. Additionally, he guides freshmen in vocal production, introducing them to the fundamentals of voice science and pedagogy. 

Maple previously taught at Marymount Manhattan School, further broadening his impact on the next generation of vocal artists. His commitment to vocal education extends to his role on the board of the National Association of Teachers of Singing's (NATS) New York City Chapter, where he recently organized and chaired the chapter's Student Auditions, a significant undertaking that showcases his leadership and organizational skills. Under his guidance, his students have consistently achieved top honors in the contemporary voice category. 

As an educator, Maple's impact is profound and far-reaching. His students have become NATS national competition winners, finalists in the New York Lyric Opera Theatre national competition, and successful recording artists and Broadway performers. Many now perform as leads on Broadway and in national tours, a testament to Maple's effectiveness as a mentor and vocal coach. 

Maple has completed several prestigious artist residencies, most notably at Simpson University in Northern California, where he worked intensively with students across various vocal disciplines. In April 2025, Maple completed an artist residency at Boston Conservatory at Berklee, where he worked with vocal pedagogy students and performers across all genres, delivering lectures, talks, interviews, and workshops. 

Performance Career and Repertoire 

Maple's early career was marked by a defining moment in Simon Cowell's X-Factor national competition, where he emerged as a leading talent among 16,000 competitors, securing a place in the top 100 in Los Angeles. This achievement catalyzed a series of triumphs, including victories at NATS competitions in Boston and Houston, and a lauded debut at Carnegie Hall. 

His operatic repertoire demonstrates remarkable range, with roles in productions from 'The Student Prince' to 'Don Giovanni'. His musical theatre credits include leading roles in 'The Music Man' and 'Peter Pan' for Stage Stars Records, while his versatility as a conductor and music director shines through productions of 'Hair', 'Into the Woods', 'Fame', 'Evita', 'Legally Blonde', and 'Footloose'. 

In the classical realm, Maple made his solo debut at Boston Symphony Hall as the tenor soloist in Charles Ives' Psalm 90. He has performed works by numerous renowned composers, including Bernstein's 'Chichester Psalms', Mozart's 'Requiem', 'Coronation Mass', and 'Regina Coeli', Handel's 'Messiah', and Carrisimi's 'Jephte'. A collaboration with Grammy-nominated Indian Classical artist Chandrika Tandon led to performances at the Kennedy Center in Washington D.C. and in New York City, including a memorable gala for Bharath Vidhya Bhavan's 35th anniversary alongside Deepak Chopra and Sadhguru. 

International Recognition and Cultural Diplomacy 

Maple's career took an extraordinary turn with his success in South Korea. His television appearances on 'Fantastic Duo' and the hit variety show 'I Can See Your Voice' introduced him to millions of viewers nationwide, establishing him as a unique presence in Korean entertainment. These performances represent some of Maple's most significant accomplishments, catapulting him to recognition across Asia and cementing his status as a true cross-cultural phenomenon. 

As one of the few African American artists excelling in Korean music, Maple has released three original Korean ballad singles: 'A Midsummer Night's Dream,' 'My Only Rhyme,' and 'We United', each showcasing his linguistic versatility and cultural sensitivity. His social media presence as an African American artist performing Korean music has captivated millions worldwide. 

In Asia, Maple has established himself through concerts in Seoul and collaborations as an English lyricist with renowned OST composer Kang Dong-yoon for multiple Korean hit dramas. His influence in the region reached new heights when he was invited by 新东方 (New Oriental Education), China's largest private arts education company, to host a 3-day vocal workshop covering classical, musical theatre, and contemporary voice techniques. This workshop was met with glowing reviews and resounding success, further solidifying Maple's reputation as a master educator and cross-cultural musical ambassador. 

Maple has graced Korean and Vietnamese festivals and charity events in the US, and performed at world-renowned venues. Notable performances include his solo debut at the Kennedy Center for the 'Sound of Korean Soul', opening for famed Korean ballad singer TEI in West Virginia, and landmark performances at Lincoln Center's David Geffen Hall. 

At Lincoln Center, Maple has showcased his extraordinary linguistic versatility through performances in both Korean and Chinese, including his participation in the "Golden Night Concert" alongside Chinese actress Wang Ji and other singing stars. More recently, he performed in a Chinese-language concert titled "The Night of Long Island" in Great Neck, NY, further expanding his reach within Chinese-speaking communities. 

His original composition "We United," addressing the reunification of North and South Korea, has been performed at multiple government events in South Korea, including a presidential gathering attended by President Yoon in November 2023. In recognition of his contributions to cultural understanding, Maple was presented with the South Korean President's official watch, a rare and prestigious gift that is not widely available. The watch and its box bear the name of President Yoon Suk-yeol, further adding to the significance of this honor and symbolizing deep recognition of Maple's artistry and diplomatic efforts. 

Recently, Maple performed at the United States-Korea Conference (UKC) in San Francisco, an event focused on "the next era of science, technology and entrepreneurship with AI." The audience, which included Nobel Prize Laureate Thomas Südhof, was treated to a performance that seamlessly blended Italian and Korean songs, including the classic "Con te partirò," demonstrating Maple's ability to mix cultural elements in a single performance. 

In September 2024, Maple performed "We United" at the Democratic Peaceful Unification Advisory Council's 21st Overseas Regional Conference (America) at the Grand Walkerhill Seoul, a high-level gathering of advisory members from 20 consultative bodies across 25 countries in the Americas, further underscoring his growing influence as a cultural bridge-builder of international renown. 

Maple has become a staple performer and competition judge at the famed KoreaFest in North Carolina, further solidifying his position as a bridge between Eastern and Western musical traditions. 

In a historic achievement, Maple was selected from applicants across 42 countries to represent the United States as one of 12 finalists in the prestigious Kgagok Superstar competition. He performed "연 (Yeon)," a beloved Korean art song, at KBS Hall with the Millennium Symphony Orchestra—marking his first classical music performance in a public venue in 10 years outside of his multiple Handel's Messiah performances in NYC. This milestone event was filmed as part documentary, part musical broadcast throughout his time in Seoul, and was broadcast in over 100 countries, reaching tens of millions of viewers. Following the finals, Maple embarked on a 2-day concert tour, performing at Lotte Concert Hall in Seoul and Dangjin Culture & Arts Center in Dangjin, Korea. 

Maple's solo concert "Before I Knew the Words: An African American Balladeer's Journey into Korean Song," presented as part of the Sound and Talk series at the Korean Cultural Center of New York, offers audiences an intimate look at his transformative journey. The performance traces his evolution from the moment he first heard a Korean ballad echoing from a friend's New York City apartment—not understanding a single word but feeling utterly captivated—to becoming one of the most beloved interpreters of Korean song worldwide. Through timeless Korean ballads, personal storytelling, and original music, Maple invites audiences into a spiritual homecoming that celebrates cultural connection and demonstrates how music transcends language. 

In November 2025, Maple will perform his original composition "We United" at the United Nations, offering his message of reunification in one of the world's most fitting and prestigious venues for cultural diplomacy. 

Educational Impact and Masterclasses 

Beyond his university teaching, Maple has conducted masterclasses worldwide, including "Kpop for Foreigners" and "A Practical Guide to Vocal Pedagogy." His educational engagements include a crossover vocal masterclass at the prestigious Peabody Conservatory and multiple masterclasses at CAP21/Molloy University. 

Maple's expertise is increasingly sought after in the competitive music world. He has served as an adjudicator for several national and international singing competitions, bringing his unique perspective to the evaluation of emerging talent. With artist residencies at institutions such as Simpson University in Northern California and masterclasses hosted in the U.S., China, and South Korea—including at Namseoul University and the Theateracademy August Everding in Munich—Maple continues to shape the global musical landscape. 

Legacy and Future Projects 

Jamon Maple's career is a testament to the power of music to transcend boundaries. As one of the few artists successfully navigating multiple musical worlds—from classical to contemporary, Western to Eastern—he continues to innovate and inspire through performances, collaborations, and education. 

In 2026, Maple's story will reach new audiences as he is featured in two documentaries set for release. 

Through his ongoing performances, teaching, and cultural diplomacy, Jamon Maple exemplifies what it means to be a global artist in the 21st century. His ability to connect with diverse audiences through multiple languages and musical traditions serves as an inspiration for artists and music lovers alike, demonstrating the universal power of the human voice to build bridges across cultures and create understanding in an increasingly connected world. 

Maple's journey is far from over. With each performance, each class, and each cultural exchange, he redefines the role of the modern vocal artist. He is not merely a singer or a teacher, but a global ambassador of music, using his voice to unite diverse audiences and inspire a new generation of artists to embrace the full spectrum of global musicality. 

In Jamon Maple, we see the future of vocal artistry—a future where boundaries dissolve, traditions blend, and the human voice becomes the ultimate instrument of cultural understanding and artistic expression.