Choral Arts Initiative Welcomes Paul Hodgins to Board of Directors
- Choral Arts Initiative
- 2 days ago
- 3 min read
Irvine, CA — April 21, 2026 — Choral Arts Initiative (CAI) is pleased to announce the appointment of Paul Hodgins to its Board of Directors, bringing with him a distinguished career spanning music, journalism, and arts advocacy. Hodgins is the founder and publisher of Culture OC, a leading digital publication dedicated to covering the vibrant arts landscape of Orange County. A respected voice in arts journalism and criticism, Hodgins has spent decades shaping public discourse around theater, dance, and classical music.
Born in Canada, Hodgins began his career as a pianist, studying at the Royal Conservatory of Music and becoming a professional accompanist by the age of 19. His early work as an accompanist, composer, and educator took him across Canada, the United States, and the United Kingdom, where he collaborated with leading dancers and choreographers. He held academic positions at institutions including Simon Fraser University, the Banff Centre for the Arts, and Eastern Michigan University.
After moving to the United States to pursue graduate studies, Hodgins earned his doctorate in music from the University of Southern California. He served as a professor of dance at the University of California, Irvine from 1985 to 1992, where he was music director of the dance department and founding director of the Gassman Electronic Music Studio. In 1993, Hodgins transitioned into journalism, joining The Orange County Register as an arts critic. Over a 25-year tenure, he became a trusted authority on the performing arts. Following his time at the Register, he joined the faculty at the USC Thornton School of Music, where he taught until his retirement in 2023.
In addition to his work in the performing arts, Hodgins has written extensively on topics including wine, jazz, architecture, and urban planning, with bylines in publications such as Variety, American Theatre, and The Sondheim Review. His contributions to arts journalism have been recognized with numerous honors, including a 2019 National Arts Journalism Award. Hodgins is also an accomplished author. His book Music, Movement and Metaphor (1992) helped establish the field of choreomusicology and continues to be widely cited. He has also authored three books on California wine.
“I’m thrilled and honored to become part of the CAI family,” said Hodgins. “I can think of no other American choral group that has done more to encourage and celebrate the work of living composers. In Southern California’s competitive musical landscape, they have established a unique and valuable reputation as bold champions of important new music for voices.”
“Paul is a fantastic addition to the Board of Directors, and we are excited to welcome him to CAI”,” said Hannah McMeans, Chairperson of the Board. Brandon Elliott, Artistic & Executive Director added, “His deep experience in the arts, particularly within Orange County, alongside his passion for storytelling and advocacy, brings invaluable perspective, insight, and energy to our organization. We look forward to the impact of his voice as we continue to champion new choral music and the composers who create it.”
To learn more about how you can partner with Choral Arts Initiative, visit www.choralartsinitiative.org.
About Choral Arts Initiative
We believe that we have the opportunity to be a living metaphor that celebrates unity. We believe that fostering and embracing the music of emerging composers is critical to our art form. We believe that our community deserves to hear the greatest performances of new choral music. We believe that passion and sincerity should be at the forefront of all musical endeavors. We are Choral Arts Initiative.
Founded by Artistic Director Brandon Elliott, Choral Arts Initiative is a non-profit 501(c)(3) choral organization comprised of some of the most talented and passionate new music vocal artists in the Southern California region. Widely recognized as a champion of new music, Choral Arts Initiative has been praised as "gracefully lyrical" (Tim Mangan, Voice of OC), hailed as one of Orange County’s "Best Choirs" (CBS News, Los Angeles), and noted for its "sublime" and "triumphant" performances (Ron Schepper, Textura). Winner of the American Prize in Choral Performance, recipient of the ASCAP/Chorus America Award for Adventurous Programming, and Winner of the San Francisco Classical Voice Audience Choice Awards for Best New Music Performance, Choral Arts Initiative continues its commitment to musical innovation. Their inaugural album, "How to Go On: The Choral Works of Dale Trumbore," ranked #6 on the Billboard Charts (Traditional Classical Albums), and #4 Best Seller on iTunes Classical Charts. Their second album, "From Wilderness: A Meditation on the Pacific Crest Trail" charted for three weeks on Billboard and was the #1 Best Seller on Amazon and iTunes. Their third album released on March 8, 2024, and quickly soared to #1 on the Billboard Charts (Traditional Classical Albums). Their passion for new music has led to the commission of twenty-five compositions and the premiere of over one hundred works.
For more information, please contact:
Jonathan Kwok
Social Media & Administrative Coordinator
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