This story originally appeared on the Gents Cafe Newsletter. You can subscribe here.
Meet John Daugherty (@johndaugherty90), a professional opera and operatic voice teacher living in Jacksonville, Florida, where he is an Assistant Professor on the voice faculty of the University of North Florida. He is also the Opera Program Director at the university.
What are your main passions and how do you cultivate them?
My passions are currently in a state of intentional flux. Over the last year, I’ve been working to refocus my life on three core pillars: exercising, reading, and practicing my art form. I found myself getting a bit distracted by “hobbies”—things like craft coffee and collecting bourbon—which are enjoyable, but don’t quite reach the depth of a true passion. Now, I am centering myself around the trio of reading, physical movement, and singing.
To cultivate these, I hold myself accountable through a weekly grading system. Each Sunday, I look back and give myself a mark for each category. For example, last week I earned an “A” in exercise and an “A” in practice, but a “C minus” in reading; and to improve that grade, I need to change my environment, leaving my phone in another room in the morning and going straight to a book before I do anything else.
For me, consistency is the foundation. If I am simply consistent, I give myself a “B.” If I am both consistent and the quality of the work is high, then I get an “A.” I’ve found that if I focus on showing up every day, the quality of the passion follows naturally.
I’ve found that if I focus on showing up every day, the quality of the passion follows naturally.
How did you first develop an appreciation for style?
For me, style is a broad term; it is an appreciation for the finer things in life as a whole. I grew up in a household steeped in art. My mother is a painter and an art teacher who founded a school centered on music, literature, dance, and fine arts, where my nieces and nephews go to school today. That upbringing gave me a foundational love for art and music, but my personal sense of “style” crystallized in a somewhat unexpected way.
It sounds a bit cliché, but the turning point was seeing Skyfall in the theater with my best friend. I remember looking at James Bond and thinking he looked fantastic, yet I couldn’t recall a single specific item he was wearing. Nothing was loud or obnoxious; it was just skillfully crafted.
What stood out to me more than the clothes, though, was the curation of atmosphere. There is the scene in the National Gallery where Bond sits with Q, and they discuss the future while looking at J.M.W. Turner’s painting, The Fighting Temeraire. The painting of that derelict steamship was the perfect visual metaphor for their conversation about the challenges ahead. It made me realize that being a stylish gentleman isn’t about being a “fop”. It’s about being classic and intentional. That movie inspired me to look at how every element of one’s life can be curated to reflect a deeper narrative.
What does “being well-dressed” mean to you?
To me, being well-dressed means that when you leave a room, everyone remembers that you looked excellent. It is about a cohesive whole rather than a collection of loud individual pieces. I would much rather be remembered for the general impression of being well-dressed than have someone say, “Oh my gosh, do you remember his shoes?”
Lately, I’ve begun to experiment slightly more with the concept of sprezzatura. I like the idea of introducing one small, uncultivated detail—a hint of “studied carelessness”—to provide an air of personality. However, I keep this very minimal. The goal is always to achieve a look that feels natural and effortless, where the clothes serve the man rather than the other way around.
What’s an artwork that profoundly impacted your life, and how did it change your perspective?
It’s undoubtedly a production of Mozart’s Don Giovanni that I saw at Opera Southwest in Albuquerque, New Mexico, when I was only seven years old.
Growing up as the son of an officer on United States Air Force bases, I was surrounded by a very specific brand of masculinity. It was the “Top Gun” archetype, made of stoicism, ice in the veins, and a certain glint in the eye. I never felt particularly well-suited for that world. But when my mother took me to see that opera, suddenly everything changed.
The sound the character made was incredibly masculine and virile, yet it was also intrinsically beautiful, more than anything I had ever heard. That was the first time it occurred to me that masculinity could be creative and elegant. I remember thinking, “I think I might be good at that”. Within six months, my mother had bought me a collection of CDs featuring great male opera singers, and by the age of eight, I knew exactly what I wanted to do for the rest of my life. I fell in love with the richness of the male operatic voice and the Italian language, especially the way it fits the physicality of music. No other artwork has changed the trajectory of my life quite like that Don Giovanni did.
How do you find inspiration in your work?
It can be tricky when your life’s passion becomes your daily job. On days when the thing you love most is being stubborn or things aren’t working out as planned, finding a source of inspiration becomes vital. For me, that source is my students.
The driving force behind my work is that specific moment when a young person, who may have never truly experienced the grandeur of classical music, gets that first gleam of realization in their eye. I’ll be the first to admit that I’m not a naturally entrepreneurial person; I often require external motivation to keep moving.
The fear of failure, and specifically the fear of failing to be a proper model for my students, is a more powerful motivator for me than any internal sense of ambition. On the days when I’m simply “not feeling it,” the responsibility I have toward them pushes me forward. I truly don’t think I would be as good at what I do if I didn’t have them to answer to.
What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever received, and who gave it to you?
The best advice I ever received came from my father. He isn’t a musician, but the moment I told him, at a very young age, that I wanted to be an opera singer, he didn’t bat an eye. He saw how serious I was, even though no one in our family had ever pursued anything like it.
Right before I left for school to study opera, he sat me down and said: “There will always be someone more talented than you in anything you do. There will always be the hot shot. So, the only choice you have is to make sure that absolutely no one can outwork or outlast you.”
He was absolutely right. Those who are remembered as great aren’t always the ones who started with the most natural flair; they are the ones with the endurance to stay the course. You see it in every field. In American football, Tom Brady wasn’t the initial hot shot, but he became the greatest of all time through sheer work. Even a legend like Pavarotti had to outwork and outlast a field of incredibly talented singers to become the icon he is today.
Those who are remembered as great aren’t always the ones who started with the most natural flair; they are the ones with the endurance to stay the course.
What’s a place that holds significant meaning for you, and why?
If I had to pick one place to disappear into—to give up my car, my phone, and never travel again—it would be Santa Fe, New Mexico. I love traveling and have found something to admire in every city I’ve visited, but Santa Fe is different. It is a place where three cultures collide: the spirit of the old American West, the architectural remains of Spanish colonialism, and the ancient Native American spirit. In the United States, we rarely experience that sense of layered history, but in Santa Fe, it is tangible.
It feels like a place full of ghosts and stories. The cathedral there dates back to the 1600s, which provides a sense of novelty and gravity that I never tire of. It’s also where my wife and I were married this past March, adding another layer to my connection with the city.
Beyond the history, Santa Fe is fundamental to my art form. My parents took me to the Santa Fe Opera, one of the world’s great opera houses, right after I decided I wanted to be a singer. Later in life, I had the privilege of working there for six summers. There is nothing quite like being in that outdoor opera house, watching the sunset as the conductor begins the music, with mountain ranges in the distance and lightning flashing on the horizon as the performance unfolds.
Whenever I go back to New Mexico to visit my parents and siblings, I make a pilgrimage to the city. I lived and worked there during those summers, and I miss it terribly. I don’t think I’ll ever stop missing it.
I would never sell my…
My Tissot watch. It was a wedding gift from my two oldest and best friends, given to me during a trip we took right before I got married. They flew me down to Texas and rented three incredible sports cars for a weekend in the Hill Country—a region known for its tight, winding, and narrow roads.
We spent three days in a cabin, driving through the countryside and enjoying the absolute freedom of the road. On the final day, they surprised me with this watch. I could own a dozen Rolexes, and I would sell every single one of them before I ever considered parting with this Tissot. It represents a lifetime of friendship and a specific moment of joy. It is forever for me.
What are your three favorite books and why?
First is War and Peace by Leo Tolstoy. Many people are intimidated by its sheer size, but by the fifth page, you realize it’s a genuine page-turner. It changed my life because of what it reveals about the inner workings of the human mind. To Tolstoy, Napoleon and the war are merely backdrops; the real interest lies in the exploration of character and what truly happens beneath the surface of our interactions.
Second is The Two Towers, the second volume of the Lord of the Rings trilogy. While I love the entire saga, this book is my favorite because it’s where the bonds of fellowship are stretched to their absolute breaking point, and yet, they hold. It is heartbreaking and uplifting in equal measure, capturing the gravity of friendship in a way that feels incredibly personal despite the grand scale of the world.
Finally, I have to choose The Three Musketeers by Alexandre Dumas. When I was fourteen, this book meant the world to me. It sparked a lifelong hope that I would eventually find my own “Musketeers”—a group of friends to get into adventures with and rely on completely. Fortunately, I did. My two friends from the Texas car trip, along with a third who makes violin bows in Baltimore, are my guys. They all know each other now, and having that brotherhood in my actual life makes the book even more significant to me.
I almost chose Isaac Asimov’s I, Robot (allow me to have it as a wild card) because I love how science fiction uses technology to probe human nature, but the enduring spirit of camaraderie in Dumas ultimately holds a more permanent place in my heart.
What are your three favorite brands and why?
First is Tecovas. They started as a cowboy boot company and have since expanded into clothing and hats. Their boots are incredibly high-quality, so much so you’d expect to pay $600, but they offer them for nearly half that. Beyond the product, their service is legendary. I once took a pair in for a minor repair, and the staff was so embarrassed that a relatively new boot had an issue that they simply handed me a brand-new pair, poured me a glass of whiskey, and sent me on my way. That kind of integrity is rare.
Next is Four Roses Bourbon. I became a bourbon enthusiast during my doctoral studies at the University of Michigan. As a student, Scotch was a bit beyond my means, so my roommate and I began experimenting with bourbon and realized it was just as complex and rewarding, yet far more accessible. Four Roses is a staple for me because of its consistency. Whether you are at a high-end lounge or a hotel bar by the airport, you can find Four Roses, and it’s always good, from their standard label to their top-tier releases.
Finally, I have to mention Suitsupply. It’s a household name, but for good reason. They offer a modern twist on classic tailoring that feels relevant for a younger man without losing its timeless appeal. More importantly, they are one of the few places where you can find a half or full-canvas suit jacket for less than a thousand dollars. A canvassed jacket drapes better and lasts significantly longer than cheaper, fused alternatives. Combined with their international presence, knowing I can get a suit serviced in London just as easily as in San Francisco, it’s a brand I’ve come to rely on completely.
One final thought?
I would like to say that, as we move further into this century and technology begins to occupy more of our mental space, I believe the live performing arts will become our essential sanctuary for authentic, mindful, and engaging experiences.
If you ever find yourself feeling as though “there is nothing new under the sun,” or if the digital world feels a bit too hollow, I encourage you to visit your local ballet, symphony, or your nearest opera company. There is something profoundly grounding about witnessing what a human being is truly capable of when there are no microphones, no digital enhancements, and no second takes. It’s a reminder of our own humanity in an increasingly automated world.
