Get to know John

What are you doing in school?
"History with a minor in Arabic and Islamic Studies."
And at what school?
"Penn. The University of Pennsylvania. In Philadelphia. In Pennsylvania. The University."
How long have you been singing in choirs?
“Nine years, I think."
What is your favorite musical memory?
"It's so hard to pick just one, but going to my first professional concert (Chanticleer, circa 2014) was certainly a formative experience."
Do you have any special talents or interests outside of music?
"I make dreadful puns frequently. In fact, it Lux like I might make one right now."
Who is your favorite composer?
"John Tavener? Maybe?"
Who's your favorite non-classical musical artist?
"I listen to a lot of hip-hop so I can stay hip to the kids."
What song have you not been able to stop listening to?
"La La La La by Ari Lennox. The song plays to all of my non-choral musical sensibilities, from the singer's amazing voice to its melodic, nontraditional production style."
Who’s cooler: John Lennon or Mick Jagger?
“Mick Jagger by default, I suppose."
Do you prefer lions, tigers, or house cats?
“Tigers, between Tigger and Hobbes."
What’s your favorite sports team?
"DeMatha Mock Trial."
What's your favorite thing about singing in Lux?
“The shenanigans, I suppose. Also my choir at school does nothing like the kind of rep we do in Lux."
Can you give an example of shenanigans pulled?
"The whole vibe of the group is fairly shenanigan-prone. It's telling that some members of Lux had genuine objections to the group name changing from Singy Thingy, and any group that enjoys playing [the board game] Quelf together is a group that shenags well."
What’s your favorite song you've sung with Lux?
“I'll say A Spotless Rose by Paul Mealor because it's such a lovely piece and, importantly, one we can pull off quite well."
If all of the appliances in your kitchen came to life, which would they elect as their leader? Why?
“Assuming that in such a scenario, a capitalist structure wins out in the end, I believe it'd have to be the garlic press. Much like our bourgeois class, the garlic press offers no utility to the kitchen, and is indeed not a member of the nation, which is naturally comprised of proletarian implements such as the humble knife and sauce pan."
What's the most interesting fact about you?
"I have 21 first cousins."

John Mullan is a nine-season member of Lux Choir. Previously, he sang in the Maryland Boy Choir from 2009-2012, Voices of DeMatha from 2012-2016, Maryland's All-State Chorus from 2013-2016, and All-Eastern Chorus in 2015. He currently goes to the University of Pennsylvania where he studies history (occasionally). He sings there with Penn's Renaissance Choir, Ancient Voices. Besides choir, at school John enjoys spending time with his fraternity brothers and searching desperately for usable pianos on campus.​

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