An Interview with Martha Wingfield
With flexibility and talent, Martha Wingfield has pursued a multifaceted career while traveling the globe as a military spouse. By making room for her true passion - singing - Martha joyfully performs and teaches her way through multiple moves.
MilspoFAN: Tell us a little about yourself, your journey as a military spouse, and where you are today.
Martha: I grew up in Muscatine, IA. I was raised in a church without musical instruments, other than the voice, so singing has always been a priority and part of my identity. I went to college in a small town in Nebraska, where I met my husband, Ben. He is four years younger, and we married after his Sophomore year. It was then we decided that him graduating from a private school was no longer most beneficial for the future we wanted. He went to work full time at a prison. It was during this time he had his interest sparked in the military, and so we started the journey of a lifetime!
We went from midwest kids in Nebraska to Okinawa, Japan on an A1C salary, and high hopes. I had two bachelors from York University in Nebraska, which I used and went to work at a number of jobs, as Ben finished his Bachelor’s and was accepted to commission as a hospital administrator.
In 2017, Ben went to OTS and I went back to the midwest and family to prepare for our next station at Maxwell AFB in Montgomery, AL. During our time in Montgomery, Ben finished his masters and continued to rise. I opened an aerobics center. I also went to work at a local college as a Student Accounts Representative. It was also here I started performing again. Then Covid.
Ben began his next station at Tyndall AFB in July of 2020. I worked as a sub for a while, again deciding what direction I wanted to take with employment. After playing in a community theater, I was approached about running a music program for a local dance studio. This program grew, as did my private lessons. I have now worked for numerous companies in the area as musical director (currently at Spotlight and Stars! - a wonderful, enriching children’s theater), and have begun doing professional theater when opportunities arise. I also now teach private lessons and ear training for Gulf Coast State college.
MilspoFAN: How did you become a vocalist?
Martha: I have always wanted to sing. My parents were both talented singers. My dad had more confidence and would often sing to and with people around him, in church, with his family, and anywhere he went! Since my first memories of knowing my likes and desires, I knew I had to sing. It has been a drive that I can stifle for a time but will always come back. Sometimes you just know what you’re meant to do! That is singing for me.
MilspoFAN: How has your role as a military spouse impacted your work as a painter- creatively, logistically, or otherwise?
Martha: I have been influenced by my experience as a military spouse from the large range of locations, opportunities, and people. Every place we have gone has brought new connections, new opportunities, new relationships, and experiences. I did not have a plan for how I was going to use my degree, as the military was a new life trajectory. I molded and went with the flow until these experiences gave me a vision for what I wanted and provided the skill sets to walk the path I had not known for which I was headed. Every place we have lived has brought a new pool of job opportunities.
Living in rural Nebraska, before the military, there was a Jazzercise center that was very popular. Because I love to perform, I quickly decided to train as an instructor. This gave me constant stage experience and conditioning to use my voice while dancing, or just moving. I have continued instructing until a couple of years ago.
Okinawa, being a completely new place and knowing no one, I stuck with my education (my bachelors in music). Voice instructors have been very limited everywhere we have lived. On island, I was the only American voice teacher. This made my studio very large and very busy. This kept my singing voice in constant use, as I was using it all day, every day. As this grew, I was contacted about being a chapel music director which utilized another facet of my training. It was in Okinawa that life shifted and eyes were opened to a bigger view of the world, and what I wanted.
As most military spouses have experienced, a new station often means starting over your career and connections. As your spouse ranks up and has a path set before him/her/them, you have gone back to the drawing board. I had worked so hard and accomplished a lot in a short amount of time, that the idea of restarting musically, repeating the same pattern, was not something I wanted. After I opened a Jazzercise studio, I found an office job. Again, because of where I landed I was again presented with opportunities and people who shaped my path, as well as my belief in my talent/skill. Working at a private college in Montgomery, I was approached to start performing again, which is the reason I had chosen Vocal Performance as a degree. I loved the magic of production but professionally had lacked confidence. I sang for a very nourishing mentor who helped mold my self image - someone I never would have known if we had not been stationed there. I was able to be a part of some successful musicals and performance opportunities. These gave me confidence to start pursuing what I wanted to do with drive, rather than hide from fear of failure.
However, a spouse starts over professionally at the next station, but I knew the excitement that would come with the right direction presented itself. I subbed for a while and decided to do a community theater show. At this time, my dancing, my singing, and my (dramatic self) acting were matured and exercised so I was able to make connections quickly. I was approached about starting a music studio with a dance company. Here I was able to direct small singing groups, musically direct stage productions, and give voice lessons again. It was contributing to the performing arts community that again got my name out and I quickly was offered other, musical direction opportunities, was past full voice lessons, and eventually was offered to teach at Gulf Coast State College.
MilspoFAN: What’s next for you?
Martha: Currently I am working with Spotlight and Stars and Gulf Coast State College as musical director as they prepare to take stage with Annie and the Drowsy Chaperone. We are part way through the rehearsals now and am looking forward to continuing watching the shows take form.
I have a regional professional audition coming up in March and am hopeful this will present more avenues for performance. These auditions will determine the next steps for me. I may be joining a company with professional theater, or I may be continue working and growing the local arts scene. I have been contacted to do music for a couple of plays over the summer, and will continue with private lessons until next school year.
