"What maestro John Mario Di Costanzo has done is to, literally, transform the opera’s orchestra to such a high level of playing that it’s hard to imagine these already fine musicians could sound even better .... He “breathes” with his singers, giving them room for ample interpretive moments and deep artistic liberty with Verdi’s riveting music." - Tony Vilecco, Broome Arts Mirror

John Mario, principal tour conductor for Jackie Evancho's Dream With Me and Songs of the Silver Screen tours, has been noted for his exemplary affinity for accompaniment of singers thoughout the Classical and Pop world. His exciting 2012-2014 conducting schedule included appearances with the Atlanta Symphony, Pittsburgh Symphony, Colorado Symphony, Naples Philharmonic, Stockton Symphony, Dallas Pops, Baltimore Symphony, Rhode Island Philharmonic, Long Beach Symphony, Thousand Oaks Symphony, Parma Recording Symphony, Chautaqua Symphony, Marin County Symphony, San Bernadino Symphony, Tacoma Symphony and also notably his Chicago Symphony Center debut. 

John Mario is also a veteran opera conductor serving three seasons as Music Director of the legendary Tri Cities Opera of Binghamton, NY, former training grounds for opera stars such as Richard Leech and Placido Domingo, and also the oldest Resident Artist Training Program in the USA. Besides conducting three opera productions a year, his duties encompassed Resident Artist Training Program classes, workshops, and hosting the local NPR radio show Operalogues. SUNY Binghamton also appointed John Mario as a full-time Visiting Professor of Music for the Masters of Music in Opera program. He is the former Artistic Director of Long Island Opera, where he led LIO's first production of its renaissance--La Traviata in June 2010. From the pit over the past decades, he has led dozens of productions as guest conductor in companies across the US, including Sarasota Opera, Toledo Opera, Syracuse Opera, and Opera Southwest.

In addition to his conducting duties, John Mario performs in recital and is a leading coach of the Italian Opera repertoire in his New York City and LA  studios, preparing internationally-acclaimed singers for their roles on the stages of the world. He has accompanied world-renowned conductors and singers in opera rehearsal and has played in master classes for singing legends Licia Albanese and Renata Scotto. He has served as a judge for several major vocal competitions, including the Liederkranz International Opera Competition of NYC, The Metropolitan International Opera Festival Competition of NYC, and the Belvedere International Opera Competition of Vienna. In 2012, John served as Italian Language Coach for New York City Opera's production of Mose' in Egitto.

After a most highly acclaimed debut season, John Mario begins his third year as music director of Southern California's Temecula Valley Symphony as he also embarks on his second season as Music Director for the Coachella Valley Symphony.