Join Miss Be Haven on Monday, 3/31, from 6-7 p.m., as she speaks with Dr. Marcus J. Rhodes, who is a music professor and a performing artist.
He is a native of Little Rock, Arkansas who received a Bachelor of Arts degree from Grambling State University, Grambling, LA, a Master of Music degree from the University of Louisiana at Monroe, LA, and a Doctor of Musical Arts degree from the University of Florida where his research focused on expanding entrepreneurial skills amongst music artists and professionals. Dr. Rhodes is currently the Director of Choral and Vocal Studies at the Huston-Tillotson University in Austin.
He has performed various genres of music as a Bass-Baritone soloist, in recitals and opera productions performing compositions by Mozart, Bizet, Puccini, Gershwin, Handel, and many others. In 2021, Dr. Rhodes was featured in the premier Opera Film “The Golem of Prague” in which he starred as “Rabbi”. Dr. Rhodes is the former conductor of the Grambling State University Choir. During his tenure, the choir toured extensively throughout the United States and globally including a presentation in the Republic of Trinidad, West Indies. Under his direction, the choir shared the stage with some of the gospel industry’s legendary artists such as Smokie Norful, Robert Ray, Dorothy Norwood, and R&B soulstress, Kelly Price.
He also formerly taught at Florida A&M University as an assistant professor in the voice area and founded the Southside Arts Complex 501 (c) 3 not-for-profit organization to promote opportunities for vocalists and other types of artists. Dr. Rhodes was selected to be a National Conductor for the 105 Voices of History National Historically Black Colleges and University Choir at Washington D.C., Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts from 2008-2012. He is a member of the National Association of Teachers of Singing, the American Choral Directors Association, and the National Association for Music Educators.