“The voice is not complex, it is misunderstood. Mastery comes from understanding the relationship between body, breath, and mind.”
Origins
Born into sound, shaped by two worlds
John Sawaya Tracy is a Lebanese-Canadian tenor, pianist, composer, and vocal coach based in Montréal, and one of the most distinctive voices at the intersection of classical training, Arabic vocal tradition, and modern music education.
Born into a family of musicians, composers, and painters, John’s relationship with sound began before formal study ever did. He started piano at six, and what followed was a lifelong pursuit of mastery: conservatory training in Opera and Jazz in Paris under renowned pedagogue Prof. Yves Sotin and Prof. Georges Beckerich, and a second degree at McGill University in Montréal under Prof. Stefano Algieri.
Over a career spanning more than two decades, John has performed on prestigious stages including the Palais de l’UNESCO in Paris, Place des Arts in Montréal, the Théâtre Impérial de Compiègne and the Salle Bourgie. As a recording artist, he has released original compositions blending Pop, Jazz, and classical forms, earning press coverage and radio placement across Canada.
As a vocal educator, John has built a reputation for cutting through the noise. His philosophy is precise: the voice is not complex, it is misunderstood. Mastery comes from understanding the relationship between body, breath, and mind, then training that relationship with consistency and intention. Knowing is mastering.
That philosophy now reaches well over 100,000 followers across YouTube, Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook. His dual-platform approach, The Voice Guru for English-speaking audiences, and سمعنا صوتك for the Arabic-speaking world, has made him one of the rare vocal coaches operating credibly across both Western and Eastern musical traditions.
Whether on stage, in the studio, or behind a camera, John Sawaya Tracy brings the same conviction: every voice has a story worth hearing and the right technique to tell it.
1M+
YouTube Views
130K+
followers across platforms
400K+
TikTok likes
25+ years
of coaching and performing
3
Worlds
3
Languages
The Three Pillars
Everything I create, everything I teach
Each platform is a doorway into a different dimension of my work. Explore the one that speaks to you.
The Voice Guru
Vocal coaching, singing tutorials, free resources, and booking for online and in-person lessons in Montréal.
“All my life I thought I was studying the voice. I’ve come to realize the voice was studying me.”
Canada
Voice Program, Opera
McGill University ( Montreal, Canada) 2013-2016
France
Voice Program, Opera & Vocal Jazz
Conservatoire à Rayonnement Régional (Saint-Maur, France) 2005-2009
Voice Program, Opera
Conservatoire à Rayonnement Régional (Boulogne-Billancourt, France) 2003-2005
Vocal Jazz
Ariam Ile-de-France (Paris, France) 2004-2005
Piano studies
École Normale Alfred Cortot (Paris, France) 2003-2004
Lebanon
Voice & Piano studies
Université Saint-Esprit de Kaslik (USEK) | Kaslik, Lebanon 2001-2003
Voice & Piano studies
Lebanese National Higher Conservatory of Music 1995-2001
Other
Communications & Marketing studies
McGill University (Montreal, Canada) 2019-2022
What I Bring
Available for the right invitation
Whether you’re producing an event, hosting a podcast, running a festival, or simply looking for a rare voice, I want to hear from you.
Keynote & Conference Speaker Talks on the voice, performance psychology, and identity across cultures. For conferences, universities, and corporate events.
Guest Artist & Live Performance Vocal performances for galas, private events, weddings, and concerts. Solo or with ensemble, in English, French, or Arabic repertoire.
Podcast & Media Guest Conversations on voice, music, bicultural identity, and the business of building a bilingual creative brand.
Vocal Workshops & Masterclasses Hands-on sessions for choirs, music schools, and corporate teams. We’ll cove technique, breath, and performance confidence.
Brand & Cultural Partnerships Collaborations with brands seeking authentic connection to bicultural audiences.
Studio & Vocal Direction Arranging, vocal production, and direction for recording artists and composers.
