Broadway Star JJ Niemann Inspires Columbia College Students in Voice Masterclass
JJ Niemann, left, with Harmony Nielsen, a junior studying Musical Theatre. 
JJ Niemann watches, listens, and critiques Columbia voice students. 
The audience and student performers pose with JJ Niemann at the October 22 masterclass. Columbia College Chicago students experienced an unforgettable afternoon of mentorship and musical theatre this October when Broadway performer JJ Niemann led a voice masterclass on campus. The event, jointly hosted by the School of Audio and Music and the School of Theatre and Dance, brought Niemann on stage with four standout Columbia vocalists, each performing a musical theatre selection.
In front of the packed house of students, Niemann offered lively, personalized tutorials that transformed each performance in real time. Students on stage and in the audience learned from someone who lives and breathes the craft of musical theatre.
“If someone's willing to come and talk to us about what his day-to-day process in life is like, that gives us a clue in how we can succeed when we get there,” says sophomore Ambrose Velasco Jenkins, a double major in Musical Theatre and Design and Production who attended the masterclass. “Seeing the realness behind it is so refreshing; growth is not a straight line.”
Niemann: Making His Mark on Stage and Social Media
Niemann, a social media darling among theatre lovers, made his Broadway debut in “The Book of Mormon” and later joined the original Broadway cast of “Back to the Future” and appeared as Charles Lee in Hamilton on Broadway. Offstage, Niemann has earned the nickname “King of Theatre TikTok” from “BroadwayWorld,” “Backstage,” and “Theatrely,” thanks to his humorous, behind-the-scenes social media content for performers and theatre fans.
“We all love JJ because he’s such a kind, dynamic artist,” says Kelci Kosin who, as associate director in the School of Audio and Music and coordinator of vocal studies, helped coordinate the event and introduced Niemann. “And that’s exactly what we want for Columbia students: artists who are true to their artistry.”
Guiding Students With Positivity and Perspective
During the event, each of the four students on stage performed a song from a show, received feedback from Niemann, and then put Niemann’s advice to work by incorporating it into a second performance of the song, with audience members commenting on differences.
The vocalists included Harmony Nielsen, a junior earning her BFA in Musical Theatre; Joel Arreola, a senior working toward a BA in Music; and Xander Ramirez and Lillian Urresti, both seniors getting their BFAs in Musical Theatre.
“It was so incredible,” Ramirez says of the experience. “I’ve been following JJ for as long as he's been doing this and seeing him in person was crazy. Then, being able to perform for him … I mean, I was freaking out silently.”
During the session, Niemann praised the students’ enthusiasm and openness. “I love how supported this room is,” he said. “The energy is amazing.”
Niemann provided both compliments and tips to all the student performers who braved the stage.
“You hit the notes beautifully, but when we take away some of that acting and intention, we disconnect,” he said to Nielsen after she performed “Summer in Ohio” from “The Last Five Years.”
“Let’s keep that emotional goal in focus,” he advised.
By the end of the afternoon, everyone left the theatre inspired, reminded that great performances require more than just technique but authenticity as well as heart.
“It was a fantastic and very meaningful collaboration,” says Kosin. “I was beyond thrilled to have a guest like JJ work with our incredibly talented vocalists.”