Dr. Ian Hodges specializes in:
- Guitar – classical, jazz, rock, blues, country, folk
- Electric Bass – Jazz and commercial styles
- Banjo – Old Time Jazz, folk styles
- Mandolin – Classical & folk stylesComposition, songwriting, arranging, music theory
Biography
Dr. Ian Hodges is one of Canada’s most versatile musicians, performing professionally on classical and jazz guitar and in commercial music settings. His professional career began in the 1980’s as an electric guitarist with jazz, fusion, rock, blues and country bands (The Ron Paley Band, Cathy St. Germain and the Rage, The Angela Kellman Band, Vertigo, the Chapparells, The Budding Messiahs, Deja Blues, and many more). His versatility has been on display in professional Musical Theatre Productions including “Stardew Valley – Symphony of Seasons” (Centennial Concert Hall), “Mama Mia” (Rainbow Stage), “Mary Poppins “& “Annie” (Flin Flon), “A Little Bit of Love” (Gas Station Theatre). Ian has performed all over Canada and the US and is still an active performer.
Performances as a classical guitar soloist, chamber musician, and guest soloist with the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra and other top professional ensembles led the Winnipeg Free Press to hail Ian as “Manitoba’s Premiere Classical Guitarist” (November 2001). CBC Radio featured many of his live performances in national broadcasts, and the CD “Canciones” (with soprano Charlene Pauls) received airplay across North America.
Dr. Hodges composes and performs music for the concert stage, film and theatre, including National Film Board documentaries (the Peabody award-winning “Fat Chance” in 1994; “and so to Bed” in 1999), independent films (“Haunts of the Black Masseur – the Swimmer as Hero” in 2004), and shows for Prairie Theatre Exchange (“The Birds & The Bees” 2017, “Butcher” 2015, “The Valley” 2014, “December Man” 2011).
Ian holds multiple degrees in guitar performance, including Doctor of Musical Arts (University of Minnesota), Master of Music (Florida State University), Bachelor of Music (University of Manitoba), and is a member of Pi Kappa Lambda, America’s National Honorary Musical Society.