Barbara Hendricks facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Barbara Hendricks
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A 2016 portrait of Hendricks
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| Born | November 20, 1948 Stephens, Arkansas, U.S.
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| Alma mater | University of Nebraska, Juilliard School of Music |
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Barbara Hendricks is an amazing American singer. She is known for her beautiful voice as a lyric soprano. She also helps people around the world as a UNHCR Goodwill Ambassador.
Barbara was born in Arkansas, USA, in 1948. Before becoming a famous singer, she studied science and math! She has lived in Europe since 1977 and is now a citizen of Sweden.
Contents
How Did Barbara Hendricks Start Her Journey?
Growing Up and Discovering Music
Barbara Hendricks was born in Stephens, Arkansas. Her father was a preacher, and her mother was a teacher. Because of their jobs, her family moved a lot. Barbara grew up surrounded by rich black musical traditions.
When she was in high school, she sang in a choir. She also babysat for a jazz musician's children. This helped her discover and love jazz music.
From Science to Singing
Barbara first went to Lane College. Then, she transferred to the University of Nebraska. She graduated at age 20 with degrees in mathematics and chemistry.
While at the University of Nebraska, she sang in the University Singers. A lucky chance in a singing competition led her to the Aspen Music Festival and School. There, she met a famous singer named Jennie Tourel.
Tourel encouraged Barbara to apply to the Juilliard School. This is a very famous music school! At Juilliard, Barbara studied with Tourel. She also took special classes with the legendary soprano Maria Callas. Barbara earned her music degree in 1973.
Barbara has two children, Jennie and Sebastian. Their father is her former husband, Martin Engstroem.
What Is Barbara Hendricks's Musical Career Like?
Opera Performances Around the World
In 1974, Barbara Hendricks started her professional opera career. She performed in Europe at the Glyndebourne Festival. She also debuted in America at the San Francisco Opera.
Since then, she has sung in many famous opera houses. These include the Opéra National de Paris and the Metropolitan Opera. She also performed at the Royal Opera House in London and La Scala in Italy.
In 1998, she sang in a special performance of Turandot. This show took place in the Forbidden City in Beijing, China. Barbara has performed over twenty different opera roles. She has recorded twelve of these roles.
Barbara Hendricks in Films
Barbara Hendricks has also appeared in movies. She played Mimì in the 1988 film La bohème. In 1995, she sang in the Swedish film Rucklarens väg. This movie was based on an opera by Stravinsky.
In 2007, she was in the film Disengagement. She also recorded music for this movie. The main theme was from Mahler's Das Lied von der Erde.
Exploring Jazz and Chamber Music
Besides opera, Barbara Hendricks also loves jazz music. She first performed jazz at the Montreux Jazz Festival in 1994. Since then, she has sung at many jazz festivals worldwide.
She also enjoys chamber music. This is music played by a small group of musicians. Barbara has even organized several chamber music festivals.
In 2004, she created a new role in an opera called Angels in America. This was in Paris. In 2006, she started her own music label, Arte Verum. She records her music only for this label.
In 2018, Barbara sang the French national anthem, "La Marseillaise." She sang it with the Choir of the French Army. This was for a special ceremony for Simone Veil.
How Does Barbara Hendricks Help Others?
Barbara Hendricks grew up in Jim Crow-Era Arkansas. This was a time when laws treated people unfairly based on their race. This experience inspired her to do a lot of work helping others.
Working with the United Nations
Since 1987, Barbara has been a UNHCR Goodwill Ambassador. This means she helps raise awareness for refugees. She is the longest-serving UN Goodwill Ambassador! In 2002, she was named Honorary Lifetime Goodwill Ambassador. She is the only person to have this special title.
As an ambassador, she has traveled to many countries. She has visited Africa, Asia, and Europe. She performs at events to help refugees.
Promoting Peace and Reconciliation
In the 1990s, Barbara gave concerts in war-torn cities. She performed in Dubrovnik and Sarajevo in the former Yugoslavia. In Sarajevo, she sang with the local opera chorus and a jazz musician.
In 1998, she started the Barbara Hendricks Foundation for Peace and Reconciliation. This foundation helps people come together after conflicts.
Since 2000, she has been part of the Foundation for the Refugee Education Trust (RET). This group helps refugee youth get an education after primary school.
In 2001, she performed at the Nobel Prize ceremony in Oslo. She was invited by Nobel Peace Prize winner Kofi Annan. In 2002, she sang at the Independence Day Ceremony for East Timor.
What Awards Has Barbara Hendricks Received?
Barbara Hendricks has received many honors for her music and humanitarian work.
- In 1986, she was made a Commandeur of the Ordre des Arts et des Lettres. This is a high honor in France.
- In 1992, she became a Chevalier of the Légion d'honneur, another major French award.
- In 2000, she received the Prince of Asturias Award for the Arts. This is a very important award from Spain.
- In 2001, she got the Lions Clubs International Award for her foundation's work.
- In 2015, her old university, the University of Nebraska–Lincoln, gave her an honorary degree.
See also
In Spanish: Barbara Hendricks para niños
