The English-born tenor, Ricky Goodwyn Jr., Goodwyn graduated from Windsor High School and the Governor’s School of the Arts in 2017, and is a former student of Shelly Milam-Ratiff, Mary Matthews-Garrett and Kevin McMillan. Prior to entering college, he gave his first-ever solo recital in Smithfield for Christ Episcopal Church’s classical music program, Sundays at Four. He obtained his Bachelor of Music degree in Vocal Performance from James Madison University (2018-2022). At JMU, he was the only freshman selected for a paid position at Otterbein United Methodist Church, where he has been a soloist with the choir for the past five years, and where he gained his first experience as a choral director. Since August 2022, he studies for his Master of Arts degree in Vocal Music and his Master of Music degree in Choral Conducting at JMU. In July 2023, he has been named the new choral director of the Staunton Choral Society. He gave his graduate recital at JMU in May 2024. In 2023 he married a JMU classmate, Anna Valentino, who is a choral director with Harrisonburg City Public Schools. |