Steve Hobe
Steve Hobe
Class Year
’15
Current home
Chicago, Illinois
Major(s)
Biology (Paleontology Track) and Musical Theatre
Current Position
Senior Coordinator of Education at Adler Planetarium and Supplemental Chorister at Lyric Opera of Chicago
Knowing he wanted to pursue both the sciences and arts in college, Steve Hobe ’15 decided that Carthage was the right choice for him. He now uses his experience in museums and paleontology to design educational programs at the Adler Planetarium. In addition to being a Supplemental Chorister at Lyric Opera of Chicago, he also frequently performs in local and regional roles in musical theatre and opera.
At the Lyric Opera of Chicago, Mr. Hobe has performed in “Ernani” and “Don Carlos.” He also played as Captain Corcoran in Gilbert and Sullivan’s H.M.S. Pinafore with the Gilbert and Sullivan Opera Company on Chicago’s south side. He was recently awarded 2nd prize in the North Shore Choral Society’s Donald Chen Young Artist Award Competition.
What have you enjoyed most about your career?
“One of the most enjoyable parts of my career is learning how performing artist communities are like small towns: everyone is connected. I’ve performed with folks from across the country in many different places and most everyone knows each other. Everywhere can feel like home when you are a part of this great community.
“One of the more recent successes I’ve found in my career is balance. Being a performing artist is a very turbulent career, with constant auditioning and work coming in waves. I’ve recently made the decision to stay in Chicago instead of traveling, which has lead to my success in the chorus at Lyric Opera. I’m currently able to work a wonderful day job in a field I studied that is flexible and allows me to continue performing at venues like Lyric Opera.
“While it can be wonderful to travel and explore new places and share in the artist community, I’m really enjoying the stability that comes with being in one place, where the rest of the community I’ve made traveling can come see me when they come to town.”
How did Carthage prepare you?
“At Carthage, I spent most of my time either in the Hedberg Library or in a practice room, working on my thesis about dinosaur growth or learning new music. I would learn a few songs a week, and that ability to consume music quickly has aided me very much in having to prepare for roles in a short amount of time.”
Why did you choose Carthage?
“Carthage first came on my radar at the Illinois High School Theater Festival, where I took a workshop with Professor Corinne Ness. She analyzed students’ vocal production based on their manipulation of anatomical structures, which was of great interest to me because I was interested in pursuing both a science and an arts degree. When I learned that I could dig, prepare, and study fossil bones in a lab; hone my performance craft; and play hockey all close to home, attending Carthage was an opportunity I couldn’t pass up.”