Virginia Hart Pike
Founding Artistic Director
I’m a composer, music director, Lecturer in Musical Theater, voice teacher, audition coach, and lover of home-cooked Italian food. I especially love working with the younger generation—they bring out my fun side! My favorite projects have included: as a composer/lyricist/bookwriter: Songs for Women (in-progress), a song cycle that highlights specific complex stories and situations of women of various ages and backgrounds; The Fury of His Love (also starred in), written with Dr. Robyn Kassas and Pastor Nathan Kassas and the creative team of Times of Refreshing Christian Center (TORCC-NY) about a victim of Satanic Ritual Abuse (someone needs to do it!); and as a musical director: A Pound in Your Pocket, the first musical ever written by musical theater legends Charles Strouse and Lee Adams (of Bye, Bye, Birdie fame), which I got to produce and musically direct in its NYC premiere with The King’s College; and Floyd Collins, also with The King’s College, for which I also got to interview my personal fave composer, Adam Guettel.
Some other credits of mine include: Broadway: Amazing Grace the Musical (music assistant/keyboard sub); James Joyce’s the Dead (Keyboard 2); The King’s College (producer/music director): Songs for a New World; [title of show] (reading); The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee; and Ordinary Days. I've also conceived and co-written two devised musicals with the students of The King's College, and directors Misti Wills and Frank Mihelich, respectively. In addition, I've musically directed concerts and readings around town at venues like 54 Below, Joe’s Pub, the New York Theater Barn, and the NYMF Festival. Other works I’ve written, or am writing, include City of Dreams, a musical about people living in and coming to New York City, with Nathan Kassas and Dr. Robyn Kassas; and First and Fairest, a song cycle of Elizabeth Barrett Browning poems written for an all-female choir and soprano soloist.
It is also my great joy and privilege to sing and lead worship with the Collide band led by Nathan Kassas every week at my church, Times of Refreshing Christian Center, NY (TORCC-NY). I also do a lot of vocal coaching and have had a number of students who have landed leading roles on Broadway in shows such as MJ the Musical, The Lion King, Anastasia, and Amelie, as well as Fire Shut Up in My Bones at the Metropolitan Opera. My passion is helping young artists discover their vocal instrument, connect to great material, and communicate that connection with their audience.
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For more info about me, or to listen to my original music and/or purchase my sheet music, visit my artist website at virginia-hart-pike.com!
