It’s that special Panther Pride time of the year when the Georgia State community bands together to salute its 40 Under 40 list of distinguished alumni. From the College of the Arts, the 2024 cohort includes School of Music tenor John Irvin (B.Mu. ’10) and associate attorney Brittanie Browning (B.A. ’10, J.D. ’14), who received her undergraduate degree in film and video followed by a Juris Doctorate from the College of Law.
The 40 Under 40 program, led by the Georgia State Alumni Association, celebrates 40 influential and accomplished Georgia State graduates under the age of 40 who embody the values of the university and have made impactful contributions to their fields and communities.
John Irvin, praised for his “golden sound” and “elegant wit,” is establishing himself as a tenor in a diverse array of repertoire from the obscure early romantic works of Méhul to delightful comedies and epic tragedies of Rossini. Garnering reviews for his “irresistibly charming, commanding, clarion tenor,” Irvin has made several notable debuts in the U.S. and in Europe. Among his credits include L’Opera de Nice’s concert production of Berlioz’s classic, La Damnation de Faust, under the baton of John Nelson. He was lauded for his interpretation of the doomed Faust, creating a character both “distant and moving,” whose voice “blossoms with golden sound with the progression of the drama.” Irvin debuted as Pirro in Rossini’s Ermione with Teatro di San Carlo and the tenor soloist in Mendelssohn’s Lobgesang with the Warsaw Philharmonic. He is also an alumnus of The Patrick G. and Shirley W. Ryan Opera Center at Lyric Opera of Chicago.
Associate Professor (Voice/Opera) Richard Clement at the School of Music noted that since graduating from GSU, John has made a distinguished opera career for himself, of which is not easily done. He has performed at the Metropolitan Opera and Salzburg Festival, as well as with opera companies and symphony orchestras in Wiesbaden, Warsaw, Stuttgart, London, São Paulo, Los Angeles, Chicago, and Rome, amongst many others.
College of the Arts Interim Dean Chester Phillips adds, “We are thrilled for John and proud of all he has accomplished in his career. We look forward to his continued success and celebrating his current and future achievements. Go Panthers!”
After graduating with a bachelor’s degree in film and video, alumna Brittanie Browning chartered a new path into the legal sector with a Juris Doctorate from the GSU’s College of Law. Browning, an associate attorney at Akerman LLP, a leading full-service national firm across the U.S., is the current president of the Young Lawyer’s Division (YLD) of the State Bar of Georgia. She has been recognized as a “Super Lawyers: Rising Star” since 2022 and “Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch” since 2021.
Passionate about food security issues, Browning supports the Atlanta Community Food Bank helping with the statewide annual Legal Food Frenzy to generate donations to support food banks during the summer months for over seven years. She is equally passionate about being a member of the Panther Athletic Club, a Panther football season ticket holder, and a volunteer with the College of Law, serving on panels and counseling students on becoming legal practitioners.
“Congratulations to Brittanie for this much-deserved honor,” says Interim Dean Phillips. "It is always exciting to see someone with a background in the arts transition to a new discipline and setting a high bar in their industry. Bravo!”
The 40 Under 40 ceremony takes place on March 22 at the Georgia State Convocation Center, 455 Capitol Ave. SW, Atlanta, from 6 to 9 p.m. The event is open to the public. For tickets and sponsorship information, or to learn more about this year’s honorees, visit alumni.gsu.edu/40under40.