GARRETT MCGALE
Staff Writer
Many students searching for their choice occupation will switch majors countless times until they find their niche. This was the case with Pepperdine’s esteemed Fine Arts Division Professor Henry Price.
Dr. Price started his professional life at University of North Texas in 1965. Majoring in English at the time, he took part in the school choir. Opera pieces were part of the group’s criteria and it was here that Dr. Price fell in love.
“I used to make pop music back in Nashville,” said Dr. Price, 63. “I wanted to learn to write music, so I took opera choir.”
Under the guidance of Eugene Connelly, his mentor tenor at University of North Texas, he started to become serious. After being recommended to a singing workshop in New York by an esteemed Metropolitan Museum of Art affiliate he decided to pursue his dream performing in opera. At that the young, happening age of 23 he moved across the country with his new wife, Martha.
“I was never raised to be very adventurous,” said Mrs. Martha Price. “But I have always supported my husband in his singing and that has taken us all over.”
After getting some training in New York through private voice coaches, Dr. Price was ready. In 1970 he started touring with small opera companies performing the classic Italian libretto, “La Traviata” or “The Woman Who Strayed.” All it took for the accomplished tenor to get his foot in the door was a good connection. After crossing paths with the late Beverly Sills, who passed away last year, Dr. Price became a young star living and performing in Mainz, Germany, and Linz, Austria.
“We call those the good old days,” said Price. “My wife was hired as a secretary in New York and sometimes she would work as an assistant tour manager when we were traveling.”
It was during this time that Price gained popularity. Among other accomplishments he appeared on two nationally broadcasted operas in two years and even won a Grammy for his work with Sills in a 1978 recording of “The Merry Widow.” With his can-do dynamic he also sang roles on tight show schedules in both the Miami Opera Company and the Opera Company of Philadelphia.
Recently he was informed about a rerelease of his work with Sills from the “Live From Lincoln” footage.
Last summer, Price sang at the Hawaii Performing Arts Festival. It featured excerpts from his old roles such as Tamino who is featured in the German opera “The Magic Flute. Since the days of his own career he has found that his passion is teaching opera.
“Teaching is a huge time commitment,” said Price. “ You can only hope to pass down to your students the passion for the art.”
His exuberant contribution to the music department has been monumental helped start the program 15 years ago. The Professor’s directed The Fine Arts Division’s production of “The Bartered Bride” that premiered last month.
“Dr. Price is an active recruiter for the vocal department,” said Dr. Emelio, colleague and professor of Music.
Price’s pupils include Jessica Rivera, who premiered in Vienna, Italy, with the Peter Sellers’ directed “A Flowering Tree.” Other former students advanced to the graduate music program at Julliard and various touring international opera companies. His influence in teaching is now a worldwide legacy.
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