Johnathan Gibbs

Johnathan Gibbs is a choral conductor, tenor, and pioneering content creator whose work bridges classical musicianship, digital media, and cultural advocacy. A graduate of Rust College, Delta State University, and the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, he studied conducting under Zebedee R. Jones and Dr. Maurice Weatherall, voice under Dr. Christopher Meerdink and Dr. Ollie Watts Davis, and piano with Dr. Norman Chapman and Dr. Karen Fosheim.

A seasoned performer, Johnathan has appeared on some of the world’s most iconic stages—including Carnegie Hall, Madison Square Garden, and Lincoln Center—and on broadcasts such as Good Morning America and the VH1 Trailblazer Honors. His career includes collaborations with Hugh Jackman, Demi Lovato, Audra McDonald, Chita Rivera, Alan Cumming, Kathleen Battle, Martha Wash, Peppermint, and Bruce Vilanch, as well as a featured performance at Joan Rivers’s memorial. His choral experience spans ensembles such as the Memphis Symphony Chorus, the Mississippi Boulevard Sanctuary Choir under Dr. Leo Davis, the New York City Gay Men’s Chorus, and The Dessoff Choirs under Dr. Malcolm J. Merriweather, where he currently serves as tenor section leader.

Johnathan was among the first wave of YouTubers, widely recognized as the first Blasian YouTuber, emerging in 2008—before HD video, monetization, or even the term “influencer” existed. His early online work helped define what would become digital identity-based storytelling, amplifying perspectives that were largely unseen at the time. He later hosted the award-winning podcast This QPOC Life, providing an honest, humorous, and community-centered look at LGBTQ+ life through the lens of people of color.

In 2020, Johnathan founded the Black and Asian Alliance Network, an initiative born in response to heightened racial tension between the two communities. Through dialogue, workshops, and media advocacy, the network fostered solidarity and mutual understanding, earning Johnathan recognition with the Brooklyn Free Speech Award for his contributions to social justice and media equity. His insight and leadership have made him a sought-after speaker at conventions and panels, including Pax East, FlameCon, the Asian Mental Health Collective, Nielsen Media, and the Asian Pacific Virtual Showcase.

Today, Johnathan serves as Founder and Artistic Director of the NYC Otaku Choir, a groundbreaking ensemble dedicated to performing music from anime, video games, and Asian popular culture through the lens of choral artistry. Drawing upon his heritage as both Black and Asian American, he continues to use music as a bridge between cultures, fostering empathy, creativity, and representation within the performing arts.

IG @Jonahsahn