Stage Director, Master Teacher
I’m really excited, and, honestly, give a lot of credit to you. I don’t feel nervous in my auditions since I started coaching with you. I know exactly what I sing and why I sing it. It’s such a relief to enjoy auditions again! Thank you, thank you, thank you!!! -J.R.: Soprano, NYC
For those who haven’t had the opportunity to work with Chuck Hudson, the following interview gives a glimpse of why he is one of the most sought after coaches and directors around; he has an incredible gift in helping both emerging and established professionals bring their physical presentation to life, both in the audition room and in performance. It is a great pleasure to offer this interview covering the work one should (or must!) do to prepare your audition arias: part II, covering Chuck’s thoughts on the singer’s relationship with their stage director, will come next week. Enjoy! -Julie Baron, YAP Tracker Interview.
It was a terrific masterclass. I really appreciated what I learned (and reviewed!) as an observer and as a participant. I especially appreciated that you were instructive while supportive. Often masterclasses are very stressful for the singer because the teacher feels the need to demonstrate that they know more than the singer, rather than just sharing their knowledge and ideas. It’s always the teachers that have talent and KNOW it that just make everyone improve while looking good. bravo! -R.B., Counter-tenor.
I got into the Santa Fe opera young artist program! I’m very excited about it, and feel that I owe thanks to you for helping me prepare…Not only did I feel like I could make a clear statement about who Mimi is in this aria, but also, having an understanding of what was going on in every moment allowed me to be more present (and less nervous!) than I have been in previous auditions. A huge thank you! -S.H., soprano.
Thank You for a tremendous afternoon. You never fail to amaze me with your inventiveness and humor and insight into your singers and the lives of our characters. -L.B., soprano.
Anyone who has ever worked with Chuck knows that he asks exactly the right questions to take the drama to the next level. -Jennifer Petersen, Music Director, OperaMission.
Chuck, Thanks for all the help and guidance on my arias! I knocked them out of the park and won the Met’s Gulf Coast Regionals! -D. K., Mezzo-soprano.
Best in the biz for singers: two words–Chuck Hudson. A phenomenal acting coach who has worked for several young artist programs and is also a director. Can’t go wrong. -classicalsinger.com
(Chuck) is amazing. I have never felt as confident in auditions as I did this year after working all of my audition arias with him. Call him. -T.B.: Soprano, Los Angeles
I just wanted to thank you for all the help you gave me on my arias. I am convinced that if I had not worked with you, I would not have had the confidence to jump into those European auditions, nor would I have had the same results. In short, I did three auditions and I got three jobs out of it. -D.G.: Counter-tenor, NYC.
You have been one of the most positive highlights in my development as a singing actress. I learned so much from you and it feels so good to be able to grow from that, I just wanted to thank you. -M.P.: soprano, Miami.
It’s very exciting to get work! It’s amazing what happens when you learn how to present your arias in dramatically coherent manner. Thank you, thank you, thank you! -I.D.: Soprano, NYC
Chuck, I think you’re fantastic and I really like your ideas and your energy. I was amazed at how much my singing freed up once I was dramatically engaged and confident in my demeanor. -S.D.: Soprano, Miami.
I think Chuck Hudson was the answer to my problem. The three auditions I did following my coachings with him all had positive outcomes. I’m happy about that. -L.J.: Soprano, NYC
Your enthusiasm and inspiration make it so easy and suddenly the endless years of scary energy about this aspect of auditioning have disappeared… I’m on my way and very grateful for you! -K. R.: Soprano, Seattle / London.
I just worked all of my audition arias with Chuck Hudson, and I am so confident now going into the audition season. -S. C.: Soprano, NYC.
Coaching with Chuck is truly energizing. He has so many tools to help you bring your role into your body in a way that is so rare in the theatre. I’d do it again in a second. -M.M.M.: Actor, NYC
They say you only see twelve great shows in a lifetime. I suspect that may be true. I have seen Chuck Hudson direct three shows that left me in a state of transport, and I do not praise easily. -Joann Farias, Playwright
It is very true that you help actors become physically alive on stage … Just the 5 weeks we worked, you gave me a whole new world to explore and new ideas and ways to move my body. -C. H.: Actor, North Carolina
Chuck was a really great guy to work with, as he had so much fascinating information which he presented with real purpose, but also great humor! -Tiffany, Actor, NYC
Making relationships between characters visible, giving physical shape to thematic relationships and their dramaturgical significance, even asking the audience to reconsider the information given in the score…are all part of the task. Anyone who has ever had the pleasure of doing a production with you knows the performers are both comfortable and challenged, which is what we all want! Comfortable enough to utilize all they have spent years learning, and challenged to add to that almost daily in rehearsals and on stage at night. -Kamal Khan, conductor of Cape Town Opera, quoted from an online discussion