Frederick Cassiddy is a musician, opera singer and music teacher based in New Orleans
Frederick, or “Freddy,” is a vocalist and instrumental musician and songwriter who has been performing diverse styles of music since he was a New Orleans teenager. He has been a singer in the New Orleans Opera for 22 years, and has performed classical music in an array of settings, from venerable arts venues like the Mahalia Jackson Theater and the Marigny Opera House, to bars like BJ’s Lounge, which had never hosted classical singing before Freddy sang there. Although opera is a big part of Freddy’s life, it’s in his popular style, influenced by 80s pop music as well as soul, jazz, and classical, where his warm voice and musical color get a chance to really shine. His new album, “Love and War” showcases nine original songs performed by Freddy on vocals and guitar, with guest musicians that are all local musical talent from New Orleans.
Education
Freddy began singing in high school, and made the all-state choir at the ages of 14 and 17. Although he had no plans for a music career at that age, he stood out amongst his peers for his warm tenor voice. In his senior year, he started to get noticed by several colleges and was awarded scholarships. He decided to stay in his home city of New Orleans and attend the University of New Orleans (UNO) on a vocal scholarship. After graduating from UNO in 2005, he got his first job as a music teacher. He taught music in several elementary and middle schools in Texas and Louisiana, until starting his current position in his current school, in 2016. He is noted for guiding students into the prestigious and competitive New Orleans Center for Creative Arts (NOCCA) arts conservatory, widely considered the most elite high school for the arts, including music, in the state of Louisiana. In addition, he has also started a Concert Chorus at his current school, and hopes to nurture and grow the talent of the kids he teaches alongside working on his own music.