Charles Wood

Charles Wood enjoys a diverse career as teacher, recitalist and soloist.  Currently, he teaches private voice and serves as director of the UM Opera Ensemble. Under his direction, the UM Opera Ensemble mounts an annual Opera Scenes Concert as well as full productions of opera. Examples of past productions he has directed and conducted include Mozart's COSI FAN TUTTE and THE MAGIC FLUTE  Englebert Humperdinck's HÄNSEL AND GRETEL is scheduled for spring of 2009.  Dr. Wood also serves as musical director of the biannual music theater production which is produced with the Division of Theater and Department of Music combined. Past productions have included A CLASS ACT, SIDE SHOW, and Stephen Sondheim's COMPANY.

 Personal performance highlights include solo oratorio appearances with the Dallas Symphony Orchestra in Mendelssohn's ELIJAH and Orff's CARMINA BURANA.  Other highlights include Bach’s ST. MATTHEW PASSION with the Nashville Symphony, Bach’s MAGNIFICAT, numerous performances of Handel’s MESSIAH, several masses by Beethoven, Franck, and Mozart as well as REQUIEM MASSES by Fauré and Duruflé. 

 As a recitalist, Dr. Wood recently performed Bach’s solo CANTATA BWV 82 with strings and oboe in recital at UM.  In recent years, he has appeared in solo recitals at Shelton State Community College, McMurray University, Abilene Christian University, Texas A&M University-Commerce, and Texas Tech University.  His operatic experience includes recent appearances with Alabama OperaWorks in concert as well as their productions of Jack Beeson’s SORRY, WRONG NUMBER.  He has sung leading roles with the Des Moines Metro Opera, Longview Opera, Amarillo Opera and with the Brooklyn Performing Arts Center in New York.  His leading roles include appearances in Puccini’s MADAMA BUTTERFLY, Mozart’s DON GIOVANNI and DIE EMPFÜHRUNG AUS DEM SERAIL, Britten’s PETER GRIMES and ALBERT HERRING.  He sang the lead role of Franco Bellini in the world premiere of BELLINI’S WAR composed by Steven Paxton, libretto by William Wenthe.  Dr. Wood was a winner in the Vera Scammon International Voice Competition and a top ten finalist in the Dallas Opera Guild Competition. 

 Dr. Wood holds a Ph.D. in Fine Arts/Vocal Music Performance from the School of Music at Texas Tech, a Masters of Music and Bachelors degree in Music Education from Texas A&M University-Commerce.  He was named Alumni Ambassador at Texas A&M University-Commerce in 2004.  He is s a member of the National Association of Teachers of Singing, College Music Society,  Music Educators National Conference, and has been inducted into  Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society, National Scholars Honor Society, and the Golden Key Honor Society.