Deanna Hudson

Dea Hudson developed her passion for teaching music first in St. Louis, achieving a Bachelor of Music Education from Webster University. While there, she was a member of WU’s Concert Choir and Madrigals, performed Cosi fan tutte, Carmen, Merry Wives of Windsor, and Euridice with WU’s Opera Studio, and completed a senior recital with works from Schumman’s Frauen-Liebe und Leben, Granados’ La Maja Dolorosa, and West Side Story. 

Throughout her college career, Dea also worked as an Ensemble Assistant with the St. Louis Children’s Choirs. Over several years she started with the 4-6 age group and ended with the nationally-traveling group of eighth-twelfth graders. This provided her the opportunity to study under music directors in the St. Louis area on practices in conducting, repertoire choice, parent connections, rehearsal schedules, and preparations for concerts at St. Louis’ Powell Hall.

Upon graduating, Dea began her first position at Christ Light of the Nations, teaching general music to pre-k through second grade, recorders to third grade, beginning band and choir to fifth and sixth grade, and beginning music theory to seventh and eighth grade. In addition, she co-ran a full after-school program including: advanced rock band (who performed at concerts, pep rallies, mass, and festivals), intermediate band, beginning guitar and bass, intermediate choir, and beginning keyboard.

In order to continue her education, Dea came to Arizona to work toward a Masters of Music Education at Arizona State University. With a focus on the social and emotional development of students in a music classroom, she joined the ASU’s Concert Choir, Gospel Choir, performed in Die Zauberflöte with ASU’s Opera Studio, and collaborated in the New Composers series for three semesters. On the tail end of her degree, she decided she’d fallen in love with the mountains and needed to stay. 

Over her time with Notre Dame, the choirs have earned Tier One Superior and  Excellent ratings and Tier Two Excellent ratings through the Arizona Music Educators Association Solo and Ensemble competition. In addition, students have had the opportunity to audition for multiple festivals, including AZMEA’s All-Regional Honors Choir, AZMEA’s All-State Honors Choir, and Carnegie Hall’s Honors Performance Series. Students have performed at various community centers in the area, attended an ASU Gospel Choir performance with the opportunity to talk to the director and singers, and, with the gifts of the entire Fine Arts department, participated in winter and spring Fine Arts Festivals each year. 

I teach at the students' pace with the energy of self-discovery. In order to be a strong soloist, a student should know how to sight-read and pay attention to their own body in order to diagnose issues with their vocal system. The voice is a muscle and it is a culture of habit-building that truly creates a spectacular artist.

 I guide students to get to know their own voice and pay attention to how their body feels while learning the traditional foundations of solo singing through repertoire they enjoy.

However, I am also available for short-term lessons with focus on audition repertoire.