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Paul Hodgins

Paul Hodgins was born in Canada, where he studied piano at the Royal Conservatory of Music and became a professional accompanist by the age of 20. Hodgins worked widely in Canada, the U.S. and the U.K. as an accompanist and music professor at Simon Fraser University, the Banff Centre for the Arts, Nonington College (Kent), Eastern Michigan University, and many festivals. He moved to the U.S. to pursue graduate studies in the 1980s and has lived here ever since, completing his doctorate in musical composition at the University of Southern California. Hodgins was a professor of music at the University of California Irvine from 1985 to 1992, where he served as music director of the dance department and founding director of the Gassman Electronic Music Studio. After freelancing as a classical music critic at the San Diego Union-Tribune, he became an arts journalist and critic for The Orange County Register, where he wrote principally about theater and later about dance and classical music. In addition to his expertise in the performing arts, Hodgins has written extensively about jazz, architecture, interior design and urban planning. For the last decade he has written a regular column about wine, beer and spirits for the Register. Hodgins has written two books. Music, Movement and Metaphor, a study of dance-music relationships in 20th-century choreography, was published in 1992. The Winemakers of Paso Robles came out in 2017. Hodgins remains active as an educator. He has been on the journalism faculty at California State University, Fullerton since 2001. He has also taught journalism at Cal State Long Beach and UCLA Extension. Hodgins and his wife have lived in downtown Huntington Beach for 20 years. Some day he will learn how to surf. Languages spoken: English Areas of expertise: Orange County, theater, dance, music and arts issues.

No Ivory Tower for This Composer

Arts & Culture

By Paul Hodgins | November 15, 2019

Cal State Fullerton professor Pamela Madsen writes music that addresses the concerns of the contemporary world.

After 40 Years of Humbugging, O.C.’s Scrooge is Hanging Up His Top Hat

Arts & Culture

By Paul Hodgins | November 1, 2019

Hal Landon Jr. will play Ebenezer Scrooge for the last time this season at South Coast Repertory. He is the only actor cast to play the role during the entire 40-year annual holiday run of “A Christmas Carol” at the theater.

Segerstrom Center’s New Leader is a Risky but Intriguing Choice

Countywide

By Paul Hodgins | October 19, 2019

BREAKING NEWS: Casey Reitz has been named the new president of Segerstrom Center for the Arts. He comes from Second Stage Theatre in New York, replacing Terry Dwyer who abruptly left the post in February 2019 after a 13 year tenure at the Center.

Irvine Barclay’s Star-Studded Season Includes Chick Corea, Performing This Friday

Arts & Culture

By Paul Hodgins | October 2, 2019

Under the leadership of Jerry Mandel, the Irvine Barclay’s season includes a bevy of top not jazz performers. With the recent success of Laguna Dance Festival, we hope he also finds space for more world-class dance.

South Coast Repertory’s New Leader Aims to Balance Its Past and Future

Arts & Culture

By Paul Hodgins | September 20, 2019

David Ivers talks about his plans as SCR opens its first season under his management.

One Year On, VOC’s Arts & Culture Looks Back and Ahead

Arts & Culture

By Paul Hodgins | September 6, 2019

Launched one year ago, Voice of OC’s Arts & Culture section proved there’s an audience and an appetite for what we cover.

For Pacific Symphony, Carl St.Clair was the Right Man at the Right Moment

Arts & Culture

By Paul Hodgins | August 30, 2019

Now marking his 30th season with the orchestra, the conductor arrived when its future was uncertain and has made connecting with the community a hallmark of his tenure.

Chapman Professor is Developing a Docu-Series Aimed at Stopping Child Prostitution Before it Starts

Arts & Culture

By Paul Hodgins | August 16, 2019

Kelly Galindo has devoted several years to investigating the whos and whys of global sex trafficking. Originally, “our approach was rescue and reintegration. Now it’s more about prevention. If we can prevent it, we are saving not only years of turmoil for the victim, but also the taxpayers’ money. It takes a lot of money to restore a kid.”

Can an Orange County Piano Competition Thaw U.S.-China Tensions?

Arts & Culture

By Paul Hodgins | August 2, 2019

A new O.C. master class event and competition will showcase some of China’s best young pianists.

At UCI, Portable Shakespeare Has Permanence

Arts & Culture

By Paul Hodgins | July 26, 2019

New Swan Shakespeare Festival wasn’t meant to last, but in it eighth season it’s more popular than ever.