Larry J Giddens

Style: Opera; Jazz; Gospel; Classical; Pop; Musical Theatre

Title: Lecturer of Voice / Director of Opera

Bio:

Larry Jay Giddens, Baritone, is a native of the Eastern Shore of Virginia where his love of music began. He is passionate about creating meaningful artistic experiences in the performing arts through arts administration, music education, and performance. He has worked as an arts administrator, private voice instructor, and professional opera & musical theater singer for over 20 years. Mr. Giddens obtained his Bachelor of Music in Vocal Performance with a minor in Theater from the University of Colorado Boulder and his Master of Music Education with a concentration in Pedagogy (Arts Administration and Recruiting) from Old Dominion University. He is currently pursuing a Doctor of Music Education degree at Liberty University.

Mr. Giddens has led local and regional arts organizations in Virginia and North Carolina as an Executive Director. In his graduate program at Old Dominion University, he served as the graduate recruiting coordinator for the F. Ludwig Diehn School of Music and graduate assistant for their Community Music Division. He also continues to work as an artist consultant for students, young professionals, and professionals needing career guidance.

As a voice teacher, Mr. Giddens is enthusiastic about identifying and building the best pathways for his students' vocal health, career, and enjoyment. His vocal pedagogy continues to develop as he works with students ages 11 and up. If it is your desire to be a professional or sing leisurely, he's here to provide the highest level of support and instruction, virtually and in person.

As a performer, Mr. Giddens was most recently seen as the bass soloist in the Verdi Requiem with Symphonicity where he was reviewed as having, "a powerful, grounded voice, with deeply beautiful and passionate expression." He is equally comfortable in multiple genres of music having performed with Opera Theatre of Pittsburgh as The Leader in Kurt Weill's Lost in the Stars under the baton of Maestro Julius Rudel. He was praised by the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette for a voice that "commands the ear with a stentorian high baritone that soars magnificently through the spaces of the theatre." Mr. Giddens has performed in the Hampton Roads area as a principal artist with the Todi Music Festival, a Resident Artist with Virginia Opera, and Singer-in-Residence with the Virginia Arts Festival's John Duffy Composers Institute. Here are a few other companies he's appeared with: Sarasota Opera, Opera Carolina, Opera North, Opera Theatre Pittsburgh, Boulder Opera, Ecklund Opera, Edmonton Opera, State Opera, Stagione D'opera, and Staatsoper Hamburg.

Mr. Giddens has toured Europe, Russia, Australia, and New Zealand in the roles of Crown and Jake in Porgy and Bess. His other roles include La Traviata (Germont, Baron Douphol), Faust (Valentin), Fidelio (Don Fernando), Carmen (Morales), Così fan tutte (Don Alfonso) Don Giovanni (Don Giovanni), La Bohème (Marcello), Gallantry (Dr. Gregg), and Dido and Aeneas (Aeneas). Mr. Giddens has performed in concert with Paul Plishka, Douglas Moore, Michael Forest, and members of Three Mo' Tenors. His oratorio credits include Handel's Messiah, Durufle Requiem, Bernstein's Mass, Mozart's Missa Longa in C, Puccini's Messa Di Gloria, Haydn's Lord Nelson Mass, Brahms Requiem, Gospel at Colonus, and Faure's Requiem.

Currently, Mr. Giddens is a resident of Virginia Beach, VA, where he, his wife, and four children have been embraced by the local community. When he is not fully immersed in the arts, he can be found cheering on his children as they compete in local, regional, and national sports competition. He also writes poetry and short stories and does freelance graphic design in his spare time.

Voice Type: Bass-Baritone

Music Styles Taught: Opera; Jazz; Gospel; Classical; Pop; Musical Theatre

Availability: I am available as a performer; I am currently accepting private students; I am available as a clinician or presenter; I accept students through a college or university program

Contact Information