“I enjoy performing so much and the joy that I feel every time I collaborate with others, makes me want to share music with as much of the world as I can.”
–Richard Hodges
How did Bellingham become your home?
I was offered the position of Director of Voice Studies at WWU. Over the years it has truly become Home.
Tell us about your journey to becoming a singer?
I have been singing all of my life, ever since I was a little kid. When I was 14 years old I went to a summer opera camp and immediately became hooked. After that I was singing and performing everything from gospel to classical, enjoying every moment I could.
Do you remember a time when you were young and something musical just grabbed you?
Yes, GOSPEL. As a kid, I grew up in church and gospel really spoke to me in so many ways. I lived and breathed music during that time. All I want to do was listen, learn and sing music.
How did you decide to make a life in music?
I can’t explain how I made the decision but I am very aware that it was the right decision for me. I enjoy performing so much and the joy that I feel every time I collaborate with others, makes me want to share music with as much of the world as I can.
Where did you complete your musical studies?
I received my BM from North Carolina Central University, my Master’s from The University of North Carolina, Greensboro and my DMA from The University of Nevada, Las Vegas.
Are there any musicians or teachers in particular who have played important roles in forming your thoughts as a musician?
Yes there are so many. I grew up with 2 aunts that ran the church choir. One was the choir director (Margie Thompson), the other the Minister of Music (Sheilda Wallington). Both of them took me under their wing and taught me how to work. My undergrad teachers (Annette Daniels and Richard Banks) were both very special to me and gave me a strong foundation. My doctoral teacher (Dr. Alfonse Anderson) really gave me the confidence to move forward. I would be remiss if I did not state my mentor, Elvira Green, who has been such an inspiration in my life. She is one of the reasons I am the person I am today.
What are some of the musical moments that have most inspired you? Performances you’ve watched or been involved in or both?
I think that I was most inspired when I stepped on the stage opening night at The Metropolitan Opera for a performance of X: The Life and Times of Malcolm X in 2023. It was beyond words and feelings. Opening night felt like a dream and the performance meant so much to me. It has changed me forever.
What are your (current) favorite classical pieces with and/or without voice?
Favorite pieces/operas:
Rigoletto – Verdi
Songs of Travel – Vaughn Williams
Anything Ravel
Il Tabarro – Puccini
What was a most unusual performance you were involved in?
I had the pleasure of being cast in the opera Sweet Land with a company in L.A. called The Industry. This opera was composed in parts by 2 different librettists and composers. The opera was set in a park with 2 cylindrical structures. In one the audience set on the outside of the circle with the action happening on the inside, the other the audience set on the inside with the action happening on the perimeter. This was the most unique opera I had ever been apart of and it still impacts my thoughts about what opera is to this day.
Tell us your thoughts on the art of chamber music?
Chamber music is beautiful and wonderful. The ability to collaborate with other musicians and create something singular in that moment. I feel that vocalists have lost the ability to embrace chamber music. The amount of storytelling that is allowed to happen when the voice joins the different colors of other instruments is unmatched, in my opinion.
What do you love about teaching?
The moment when you watch someone find the confidence in themselves to become more than what they thought they could become. It is not enough to talk about change, it is when you see change that true growth begins to happen.
What keeps you artistically inspired?
My students inspire me. The more I watch them grow and perform the more it makes me want to pave the way for them to be the best they can be.
How do you spend your time outside music? Other interests?
I am a big fan of food. I love all types of food. I also love Bowling. When I am not singing I am usually bowling in some capacity.