Judith Farris returns to her roots: A lifetime of music and mentorship in Cape Girardeau

Cape Girardeau native Judith Farris has embarked on an unexpected journey for more than 50 years.

From starting college at Southeast Missouri State University as a music education major to becoming an opera singer and well-known vocal coach across the country, her career came about from one required vocal class that changed her path.

Farris said she remembered being initially reluctant and embarrassed about singing in front of peers, then discovered a newfound passion for singing. Encouragement from others led her to pursue opera.

“I thought at the time that I could not sing in front of the class. It was embarrassing. I ended up enjoying it so much that I ultimately changed my major to voice. I always played in church, and God says, if you use one gift, he will give me more. And so I suddenly became a singer,” Farris said about her time in the vocal class.

From there, her singing career and her first public performance in Cape Girardeau started with the Christian Arts Council, now known as The Arts Council of Southeast Missouri, which sponsored a full recital at First Baptist Church, now the Alumni Center on Broadway. At the recital, she was accompanied by a piano and a pipe organ.

Reflecting on the journey from piano major to opera singer, the importance of community support and opportunities for personal growth was evident, she said. Education and encouragement played crucial roles in continuing with her talent.

After graduation, Farris took a leap of faith and went to New York, where she lived for five decades. She said she had not been in New York long before she auditioned for the Marian Anderson Award. She had to make a list of songs she could offer and was asked to pick one. She chose one of the two Brahms songs she had offered. The judges chose the other Brahms. This choice made her think she did not do well with her choice, if they wanted to hear a second song by the same composer. She was very wrong.

“Cut to about a week later, I got a phone call out of the blue, and it was from that competition, and they were pleased to announce that I had won. The first words out of my mouth were ‘I don't believe you have the right phone number’, and I honestly believed that surely this was a mistake,” she recalled.

From this point on, along with her professional singing career, Farris worked hard to provide private vocal instruction to professional singers, actors, dancers and public speakers with quick, positive results making her one of the most sought-after teachers in New York City for the theater community, she said.

Some of her more well-known students have been Betty Comden, Adolph Green, Tyne Daly, Marilu Henner, Cheryl Ladd, Matthew Broderick, Donna McKechnie, Victor Garber and Tony Goldwyn. Farris’ students have performed principal and chorus roles in Broadway productions of "Cabaret", "Beauty and the Beast", "Chicago", "The Producers", "Movin’ Out", "Annie Get Your Gun", "Sweet Smell of Success", 'Gypsy" and many others.

“The best ones come with a strong need but no understanding of the difficulty of singing. Their need has always been as an actor in film, to be the lead in a Broadway show. They come to you. They're going to listen to everything you say, and they're going to take it seriously,” Farris said.

She said that she told her students they had to quit drinking and smoking if they wanted to study with her, because she knew the physical dangers.

“I feel if you have been given a gift, it is a huge responsibility, whether it is in music or not. If you've been given a gift, I believe it's a God-given gift and the miraculousness of the human voice. I think that's one of the optimal gifts you can get," Farris said.

River Campus

In 2005, the Department of Theater and Dance at SEMO invited Farris to become an artist in residence to help with the River Campus and building of the musical theater major. An article by the Southeast Missorian in 2012 said she was one of the reasons the university’s theater program gained a reputation among musical actors and actresses.

"Judith has played an integral part in the overall growth and success of the Department of Theater and Dance," SEMO officials said. "This department is filled with talented professionals, and having someone of Judith's stature and experience really adds another layer to our reputation in the field."

Throughout her life, Farris has been drawn back to her roots of Cape Girardeau. From teaching a master class in 2003 to share her knowledge with the community for free, her art of residency at the River Campus, to her teaching at SEMO, she has been a known staple in the musical theater grapevine.

“Without Cape Girardeau and the loyalty of its citizens and the pride they had in me, I couldn't fail. That's why I came back to start the program at River campus. And I was it was an honor to be a part of founding that whole program,” Farris said.

One of her favorite articles written about her was a column in the Southeast Missourian by Sam Blackwell in 2003, "Letters From Home: Rember How It Feels To Sing". In his column, he talks about how he attended Farris's master class in 2003 and watched as she taught.

“Watching Farris teach singing was like watching a faith healer in action” and “but at the end of the class, when all those woofers sang 'My Country Tis of Thee' together, the forgotten joy of singing flooded my heart”, Blackwell wrote.

“I thought the article was the most brilliant thing, that said everything about why I was teaching, why I do what I do. I keep it framed and hung on the wall,” she said.

Farris has recently moved back to Cape Girardeau for what she hopes is her last move and lives at Chateau Girardeau. She said she enjoys living at the faith-based facility.

“It was love for my community, for the people who are still here and for those who are no longer with us. The support from this town was always phenomenal," she said

She plans to teach a master’s class soon, as well as start vocal lessons for those who might be interested. She is also going to collaborate with a local dance school.

Her future master's class will be free of charge and open to the community as a way to both give back and introduce herself once again to Cape Girardeau.

When asked how she envisions her master's class she said the following.

“I would probably just start with a little warm-up. You know, let's all do an exercise together. Let's get loosened up. Let's learn how to breathe because that's everybody, no matter what. Let's learn good posture. Let's learn good breathing. So they'd have the beginning of several voice lessons, and then they have a piece of music, they can get up and be critiqued," she explained.

While Farris has worked with many famous and well-known names in her time, her favorite lessons are with those who have not had any previous training before.

“My favorite thing is to teach people who have never sung a note. Right away, I'll hear if they have an ear for it or not,” Farris said.

She said she often tells people she knows little other than singing.

"The human voice is the only instrument that is not manmade. One should learn to take care of it because you can never buy another one or replace it," Farris said.

To learn more about Farris or to learn more about her vocal lessons, visit https://judithfarris.com/ or email her at pitchhappens@aol.com.