Choirs under Ohrt’s direction have performed in some of the world’s most famous venues and for many heads of state. Recognized widely for their impeccable performances, his choirs have been honored by musical organizations with invitations to perform at the American Choral Directors Association’s State, Eastern Division and National Conventions, the American Guild of Organists National Convention, and the American School Business Officials International Convention. Ohrt has prepared children’s choruses for performances with Curtis Institute, the Mostly Mozart Festival at Lincoln Center, the Opera Company of Philadelphia, and for an internationally released recording with the Voices of Ascension.
Dr. Ohrt serves as a mentor to many young composers and contemporary artists. He appeared on MTV, has frequently been quoted in magazine articles, and sang backup in the choir for Barbra Streisand’s final concerts at Madison Square Garden. He has sung professionally in opera in the United States and Italy and has performed with many of the world’s leading orchestras as a member of the Westminster Choir. Ohrt is a member of Pi Kappa Lamda National Music Honor Society and is listed in Who’s Who in America and multiple consecutive editions of Who’s Who Among America’s Teachers. He served on the American Choral Directors Association of Pennsylvania Board of Directors for several years as the Repertoire and Standards Chairperson for High School Choirs and Male Choirs.
Dr. Ohrt holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Westminster Choir College, the School of Music of Rider University
Doctor of Musical Arts degree from the University of South Carolina.
He has also earned a teaching certificate from the Kodaly Musical Training Institute at the University of Hartford
Artist/Teacher Diploma from the Choral Music Experience Institute at Northern Illinois University.
He has been under the tutelage of master teachers Joseph Flummerfelt, Frauke Haasemann, Margaret Hillis and Dennis Keene.
He has served as an adjunct faculty member at University of South Carolina. There he taught on the choral and music education faculties as well as at the Honors College. He is the founding conductor of the university’s Honors College Choir and African Chorus.