Artist Partner Spotlight Marcy Richardson

“Whatever your style is, there are people out there whose whole day could be made by your music.”
– Marcy Richardson

Where did you spend your Tuesday night? On your couch watching Netflix? Catching up on work at the office? For Marcy Richardson, Tuesday night was business as usual — performing beautiful arias while suspended upside down from the ceiling, aided only by strips of silk.

Marcy stuns with her aerial act at the Nutcracker Rouge 2016.

An accomplished coloratura soprano hailed by The New York Times for her clear, pealing voice, Marcy Richardson is busy in the opera world, and was most recently heard in Beethoven's Ninth Symphony with the American Classical Orchestra at Lincoln Center. She also is a trained aerialist, and works with a dance company to fuse her acrobatics with music in new and exciting ways. While these two art forms may seem disparate, Marcy's passion and energy course through both, providing a unifying thread from aerials to arias. No matter what her stage, Marcy epitomizes Sing for Hope's belief in the importance of sharing art for all.

What has been your favorite moment volunteering with Sing for Hope so far?
“There was a recent hospital bedside performance [at Henry J. Carter] in particular where I felt deeply connected to the patient. He was so excited and engaged during everyone’s pieces, gleefully moving to the music. As soon as I started singing, he looked me in the eye with a smile and almost started to cry. The other artists joined in and I almost didn’t want it to end. I felt so present and connected to this person. We could have sung for him all day. Making that connection and feeling like you truly reach and uplift even one person is the best feeling.”

Why do you feel that it is important to share your art with your community?
“So often, the arts are looked at as something frivolous or unnecessary. It’s the first thing people think of to cut when budgets are tight. The opposite is true — the arts are an absolute necessity. Art and music have the power to heal, to unite, to connect, to make people feel stronger and happier. What else can you say that about? I truly believe it’s a basic human need.”

What would you say to other artists about getting involved with Sing for Hope?
“If you are an artist, you have something that can enrich and heal others right here, right now. I can’t describe how amazing and liberating it feels to give art to people just for the sake of making THEM feel great. It’s not about you, the people behind the audition table, the audience who bought tickets, the reviewers. It’s about stepping outside yourself and connecting with people who need it. Whatever your style is, there are people out there whose whole day could be made by your music. Volunteering with Sing for Hope is one of the best things I’ve ever done, and I couldn’t recommend it more highly. It’s such an easy and fulfilling way to give back to the community as an artist, and there’s no reason not to just go for it!”

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