Nancy Hinshaw Curtis
Soprano Nancy Curtis enjoys a multifaceted career as a singer of opera, oratorio, symphonic repertoire and recitals.
She has been invited to sing for many of our nation’s leaders including former Presidents George H. W. Bush, Bill Clinton, Ronald Reagan and Texas Governor Greg Abbott.
Curtis is also a member of the internationally acclaimed choral group, Conspirare. As a member of this outstanding ensemble, Nancy has been featured on the Grammy Award winning recording, The Sacred Spirit of Russia, as well as other Grammy nominated recordings and a nationally televised PBS special.
Originally from Texarkana, Nancy now lives in the Houston area with her husband and two sons.
What is your favorite Texarkana memory?
I have two favorite Texarkana memories. My first favorite memory is getting together with family on holidays. Much of my extended family still lives in the Texarkana area. Every holiday, we would get together at our house, my grandmother’s house or at my aunt Joy Dale Peek’s house. The food was amazing and the fellowship even better! My second favorite Texarkana memory is Friday night football games. My family would always walk together to the stadium to cheer on the Razorbacks!
Were you a Hawk, Leopard, Razorback or Tiger?
I was a proud Razorback! Favorite rivalry story: Perhaps I shouldn’t admit this, but I threw many an egg during the THS/AHS game week! And of course, there were the attempts to paint the THS tiger red. It was always fun to decorate our cars with streamers and shoe polish and drive through town honking our horns.
Where was your favorite place to eat in Texarkana?
Hands down, my favorite place to eat was Bryce’s Cafeteria. When I was a child, we would frequently go there on Saturday nights for a special family meal. When I left Texarkana to go to college and then later moved away, Bryce’s was always one of my first stops when I returned. I will never forget their chicken and dumplings or chocolate pie. It was a sad day in my life when they closed!
What do you love about Texarkana?
I love the people. Although I’ve lived and studied in several different places, I’ve never met people as extraordinary as the citizens of Texarkana. There’s a warmth and sincerity to the people and I’m honored to call it my hometown.
What is your nickname for Texarkana?
T-Town
What would you change about Texarkana?
I WOULD BRING BRYCE’S BACK!
Who is someone from Texarkana who impacted your life?
There were many people who had a profound impact on my life, I would like to give a shout out to a very modest and unassuming lady named Clara Garner. She was one of my childhood Sunday School teachers at First Baptist. Thanks to her, I have a wheelhouse of scripture that I can call upon to get me through the difficult times of life. Although she has passed on, I will always appreciate what she taught me and the love and kindness she showed me.
What do you miss about Texarkana?
I miss my many friends and family members who still live there. I miss the warm feeling that I get when I return. I miss time with my family. I miss my childhood home. I miss my mom, dad and sister.
What words do you live by?
I try to live by Philippians 4:6-8 “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God which transcends all understanding will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” I also always try to remember that “Love is an act of will, both an intention and action.”
Anything we haven’t asked about that you would like to share?
Texarkana is truly a great place. I feel blessed to have grown up there and am thankful to the many people who touched my life along the way. And I would be remiss if I didn’t say, Go Hogs!
What do you think makes Texarkana famous?
Twice as nice. Scott Joplin. Smoky and the Bandit. Ross Perot, The Federal Courthouse. Perot Theatre. It’s a great place for a pit stop for those heading north.
What was the teen hangout when you lived here?
When I was a teenager, I was very active in the youth group at First Baptist Church. Most of my weekends were spent at a church event or at someone’s home in the youth group. We also spent a lot of time at Central Mall.
Where was your favorite place to shop in Texarkana?
My favorite place to shop when I lived in Texarkana was Martha’s Corner on Kennedy Lane. Although I loved shopping there, I have to admit that Martha scared me a bit!
How do you describe Texarkana to your friends?
I describe Texarkana as an amazing place to grow up. The people are unmatched, and I learned some of life’s greatest lessons in Texarkana… lessons about hard work, kindness, generosity, and love.
TXK Roots is Texarkana Magazine’s forum to highlight and honor Texarkana natives who have accomplished big things in the world. These folks may have relocated, but they took the values, education, work ethic and creativity instilled in them by growing up in this unique border city and used these qualities to blaze extraordinary trails. We asked them to share their thoughts about growing up here. No matter how far from Texarkana they may find themselves, we will always consider them our neighbors and we are proud to claim them as forever members of our extended Texarkana community. After all, “everyone is famous in their hometown!”
