As a kid growing up in Central Jersey, James Valenti dreamed of a future on the basketball court. Instead, his talent leapt from the court to the stage of the Metropolitan Opera in New York City and other opera houses around the world. Valenti, enjoying international acclaim as a tenor, found his voice at North Hunterdon High School where a performing arts requirement landed him in the freshman choir.
“I knew a little bit about music,” he recalled, “but … I wanted to be the next Michael Jordan." Today, the 48-year-old Valenti has built an international reputation for his elegant performances, commanding 6-foot-5 stage presence, and warm voice. He credits his first choir teacher at North Hunterdon, David Lockhart, who died suddenly several years ago, for nudging him down this path.
