New Work for Baritone and Orchestra
Written especially for baritone Richard L. Hodges, this new 25-minute work for voice and orchestra is a journey through _________. Each song contrasts with the rest and the set is designed to showcase both the nuance and power of Hodges’ voice.
About Charles Halka, composer
Charles Halka’s music spans the broad space between “energetic” and “crazed” (New York Times) and “haunting” and “reflective” (Houston Press). With performances and commissions from the Cabrillo Festival Orchestra led by Marin Alsop, Alarm Will Sound, Mivos Quartet, counter)induction, Callithumpian Consort, and ÓNIX Ensamble, among many others, his works have been heard internationally at venues and events such as The Kennedy Center, Carnegie Hall, Palau de la Música Catalana, ISCM World Music Days, and Foro Internacional de Música Nueva.
Recent honors include a Barlow Endowment General Commission and the Copland House Residency Award, as well as residencies at MacDowell and the M.K. Sarbievijaus Cultural Center in Kražiai, Lithuania. Further support has come from the Aaron Copland Fund for Music, the U.S. Fulbright program, and the Nevada Arts Council.
Halka earned degrees from The Peabody Conservatory and Rice University, and is Associate Professor of Composition and Theory at Western Washington University.
About Richard L. Hodges, baritone
Richard L. Hodges, is a native of Greensboro, N.C. Dr. Hodges 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 Friend/Ensemble in the revival of Anthony Davis' X: The Life and Times of Malcolm X with Detroit Opera. Most recently he performed at The Metropolitan Opera and Seattle Opera respectively. Other roles include Lawyer Frazier and Undertaker in Porgy and Bess with the Greensboro Opera Company and the Preacher in Sweet Land with The Industry L.A., Dr Hodges has also appeared as Michele in Il Tabarro, , and Hamlet in the opera Hamlet, Frank in Die Fledermaus, Porgy from Porgy and Bess and Peter in Hansel and Gretel, respectively. 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. Dr. Hodges has been a featured soloist and recitalist performing with Opera Noire, 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. Dr. Hodges continues to give masterclasses and performs with other local and regional organizations. Some of his recital 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. Dr. Hodges’ upcoming performances and presentations include a performance sponsored by the Jesse Norman School of the Arts and a presentation at the Nebraska Music Educators Conference in November.
Although best known as a performer, Mr. Hodges has been writing, directing and composing for quite some time. His most recent work, Black Swan Radio Hour with Vegas City Opera is Dr. Hodges first fully realized work from concept to show. Some of his other works include Women of the Black Panthers which premiered with Vegas City Opera and featured his new composition “Be Proud” in which he wrote the poem and music. This work was also be featured as part of Vegas City Opera’s 2020 Song Cycle Project. In collaboration with Vegas City Opera, Dr. Hodges has also created the playwright book for 2 other shows, Coretta Scott King, Sojourner Truth and Harriet Tubman.
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 a Bachelor of Music from North Carolina Central University. He currently serves as the Director of Voice Studies at Western Washington University.
Work Details
• Score and parts will be available by October 1, 2026.
• The work will be available for programming after _______, 2026, the date of the work's first performance.
• The projected instrumentation is 2-2-2-2; 4-2-2-1; timp + 2 perc, hp, pno, strings
• Duration: ca. 25 minutes
Examples of Charles Halka’s Music
Fever Dream (2019) for sinfonietta (excerpts)
Tsakapa Chatashu (2014) for tenor saxophone (or bass clarinet) and percussion
Por la fuerza las tierras (2010) for flute, clarinet, violin, cello, and piano
Scherzo (2008) for orchestra
Son of Scherzo (2023) for orchestra (excerpts)