Changing voices, changing lives

Peggy Hughes simply glows when she talks about singing.

A friendly woman 67 years young, Hughes is fulfilling her dream of teaching others how to sing.

"My mother was not able to nurture and encourage me," Hughes said. "It was by no fault of her own, she just didn't know how. But overcoming difficult times in my life as a young woman, I know happened so I could encourage others."

Those "difficult" times Hughes' life were the untimely death of her father when she was 11 years old, and an abusive marriage with her first husband.

Hughes, who recently moved to Dayton from San Francisco with her husband, Fox, was mortified at her first audition for the New York Metropolitan Opera, which was hosting a two-week workshop.

"If I had a clue, I would have never had the nerve."

They auditioned hundreds of vocalists, Hughes was one of 30 to make the workshop.

"It was an incredible experience and a period of heightened awareness and growth for me," she said. "It launched me into a lifelong pursuit of learning and teaching others of the wonderful things I was being shown."

Hughes, who was born and grew up in Modesto, Calif., studied with Dr. Robert McKnight at Modesto Junior College and had private instruction with Louis Quilico, Madame Vera Rosza and the late Terry Yee of San Francisco.

She performed with San Francisco conductor Gregg Tallman for more than 10 years throughout the Bay area and Western United States. As well as opera, her repertoire includes spiritual, classical, popular and new age.

"I can teach any voice, any style. The same technique applies for any style of singing."

In addition to offering private voice lessons, Hughes will hold two free workshops at the Brewery Arts Center in October.

She has five daughters from her first marriage; Robin in Modesto, Karen in Reno, Barbara in Minden, Babette in Hidden Valley, Calif., and Julie in Sparks. She has been married 24 years to Fox, who has two sons, Graham and Brock, both in Canada, and a daughter, Shannon, who is deceased. There are 12 grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.

"Our life is so full. I love Fox," Hughes said, her green eyes appearing to sparkle when she talks of him.

"We work great together. And the minute we moved here, everything opened up for us, especially for Fox. It's been wonderful.

"All the delays in my life just honed me. I now want to pass on that knowledge to a novice. Why not?"

Hughes said her workshops are very casual. But she wants singers to know a lack of knowledge can hurt their voice.

"It's been my dream to do teach," Hughes said. "I would have never been able to do this had I become an opera singer.

"Teaching is a rewarding profession. It is such an honor to participate in a student's discovery of so many wonderful things that not only change their voices, but their lives."

Contact Rhonda Costa-Landers at rcosta-landers@nevadaappeal.com or 881-1223.