Pianist José Meléndez is in demand as a vocal coach, conductor, and collaborative artist. He holds a full-time position at the Academy of Vocal Arts in Philadelphia, where he is assistant to the music director, vocal coach. He has held professional positions with Glimmerglass Opera, Opera Philadelphia, Opera New Jersey, Hawaii Opera Theatre, Ocean City (NJ) Pops Orchestra, Connecticut Grand Opera, Bay Area Summer Opera Theater (Conductor), Westminster Opera Theater (Music Director), Indianapolis Opera, and Opera de Puerto Rico. He has worked with the Castleton Music Festival, Curtis Institute of Music, L'Académie Internationale d'Été de Nice (France), Casals Festival, Francisco Viñas International Voice Competition, and Operalia. He holds a Bachelor of Music degree in Piano Performance from the Conservatorio de Música de Puerto Rico and a Master of Music degree in Piano Accompanying and Coaching from Westminster Choir College of Rider University, where he studied with Dalton Baldwin, José Ramos Santana, and J.J. Penna.