John Hodges, Conductor
John Mason Hodges is a conductor, lecturer, composer, and writer. He has conducted orchestras and choruses since finishing graduate studies in music at Indiana University in 1983. He also has fourteen years experience conducting, composing, and arranging music for churches. He has lectured in this country and in Europe and South America on the subjects of aesthetics, education, and music, and writes occasional articles for various publications on the arts. He held the position of Associate Professor of the Arts and Culture at Crichton College where he taught classes in worldview, history of the arts and reader’s theater; directed theater productions; and was founding director of the Institute for the Arts and Cultural Apologetics.
John was a conducting student of the legendary American composer Leonard Bernstein. In the Ukraine, he served served as a guest conductor at the Prokofiev Conservatory in Donetsk, for the Kharkov Symphony Orchestra, and the Rivne Symphony Orchestra. Closer to home, John has served as Director of Music at Second Presbyterian Church (1999-2009), Founder and Director of Music for Ars Nova Chamber Orchestra (1989-1993), Director of Music for the Germantown Symphony Orchestra between 1986 and 1994, Director of Music East Side Church (1985-1988), and Music Director for the Memphis Symphony Youth Orchestra (1983-1988). He was a Co-founder of the Germantown Arts Alliance, founded the Memphis Arts Group and was co-founder of Westminster Academy.
Most recently John has founded and directs the Center for Western Studies. He lives in Memphis with Day, his wife of 31 years, and has one son, Mason, who is in graduate school.
John was a conducting student of the legendary American composer Leonard Bernstein. In the Ukraine, he served served as a guest conductor at the Prokofiev Conservatory in Donetsk, for the Kharkov Symphony Orchestra, and the Rivne Symphony Orchestra. Closer to home, John has served as Director of Music at Second Presbyterian Church (1999-2009), Founder and Director of Music for Ars Nova Chamber Orchestra (1989-1993), Director of Music for the Germantown Symphony Orchestra between 1986 and 1994, Director of Music East Side Church (1985-1988), and Music Director for the Memphis Symphony Youth Orchestra (1983-1988). He was a Co-founder of the Germantown Arts Alliance, founded the Memphis Arts Group and was co-founder of Westminster Academy.
Most recently John has founded and directs the Center for Western Studies. He lives in Memphis with Day, his wife of 31 years, and has one son, Mason, who is in graduate school.
