Rick Hale: Biography

Baritone Rick Hale believes that music is one of the most fundamentally powerful mediums for communicating human emotions and stories. Opera, in his opinion, is the best-equipped method to communicate the human experience.

From Sharon, Pennsylvania, a former steel town turned home for artists, Rick was exposed to the transformative power of the arts at an early age. Growing up in a town that had once felt like it was left behind by time, now drawing crowds of thousands to celebrate the arts, Rick was encouraged to sing from an early age. He found statewide and national recognition for his singing, including being invited to join a professional young artist choir on their European tour. While also excelling in mathematics and the sciences, he pursued a Bachelor of Science in Mathematical Economics at Gettysburg College, focusing on quantitative analysis and experimental economics. He continued to immerse himself in music-making opportunities at Gettysburg, including participating in the college’s select ensembles, winning regional NATS competitions, and making his operatic debut as Dr. Falke in the college’s production of Die Fledermaus. 

After graduation, Rick worked at Kepler Group, where he developed his marketing acumen. He recently completed his Master of Music in Vocal Performance at Carnegie Mellon University, where he studied with Daniel Teadt. 

Along with music, Rick enjoys keeping up with professional basketball, learning about the brain, and spending time in Pennsylvania’s state parks with his family.