Biography
Richard L. Hodges, is a native of Greensboro, N.C. Richard is a 2019 nominee for Best Lead in a Musical with the Las Vegas Valley Awards for his role in Gianni Schicchi with Vegas City Opera. His other recent roles include the Preacher in Sweet Land with The Industry L.A., Michele in Il Tabarro, , and Hamlet in the opera Hamlet to name a few. Some of his other roles include Frank in Die Fledermaus, Porgy from Porgy and Bess and Peter in Hansel and Gretel. He is an Emerging Artist in the Institute for Young Dramatic Voices program and has received several awards. Most notable he was a finalist in the American Institute of Musical Studies, Meistersinger Competition. He was also one of the 2018 UNLV Concerto Competition Winners. He has been featured in numerous orchestral and chamber concerts which include performances of various operatic arias and scenes as well as master works such as Here and Now by Christopher Theofanidis with the UNCG Orchestra and combined choirs and the Messiah by Handel. Mr. Hodges has been a featured soloist and recitalist performing with Angels Vocal Arts, The Industry LA, Vegas City Opera, Opera Las Vegas, Henderson Symphony Orchestra, the UNLV String Orchestra, the famed UNLV Wind Orchestras, Greensboro Opera Company, North Carolina Opera Company and other organizations throughout his career. Mr. Hodges continues to give masterclasses and performs with other local and regional organizations. His upcoming performances include the show Harriet Tubman with Vegas City Opera and a Recital of Black Composers sponsored by St. John’s in the Village, NYC.
Although best known as a performer, Mr. Hodges has been writing, directing and composing for quite some time. His most recent work, Women of the Black Panthers was premiered with Vegas City Opera and featured his new composition “Be Proud” in which he wrote the poem and music. This work will also be featured as part of Vegas City Opera’s 2020 Song Cycle Project. In collaboration with Vegas City Opera, Mr. Hodges has also created the playwright book for 2 other shows, Coretta Scott King and Sojourner Truth. A new work about the life of Harriet Tubman will be premiered this summer in Las Vegas as well as other collaborative projects happening in the upcoming seasons.
Richard received his Doctor of Musical Arts from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, Master of Music at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro and Bachelor of Music from North Carolina Central University. He currently serves as the Director of Voice Studies at Western Washington University.
