Learn Singing your way with a TakeLessons expert

By Stacey S. - Cincinnati Singing Teacher

Contrary to popular thought, the local aspiring singer does not have to move to big cities (such as New York, Chicago or Los Angeles) to get started with a full-time music career. There are plenty of opportunities for all ages and abilities in our amazing city of Cincinnati - otherwise known as "The City That Sings!"

I'm Stacey, and I am a professional, full-time singer and pianist in Cincinnati. I was born and raised in the nearby suburb of Florence, Kentucky, and I am proud to still be an active member of the Cincinnati singing community…which is huge! There are many ways to get involved with this community while taking singing lessons in Cincinnati. Pick one or several, sign up for lessons at TakeLessons, and join in all the noise-making!

Choral singing is a great way to learn and strengthen ensemble skills, work on technique, develop ear and harmony abilities, and have fun with like-minded friends! It is also a great way to get to perform at high-profile and intimidating venues with a whole crew of singing support!

I started singing in my church choir at the age of five. Ask some local musicians to learn how you or your child can get involved in your community of faith! I also sang in the CCM’s Children’s choir now known as the Cincinnati Children’s Choir, in which I often had solo opportunities and great performing opportunities! http://www.cincinnatichoir.org

Have a young boy who likes to sing? Consider having him audition for the Cincinnati Boychoir, the region's prestigious professional boychoir! For adults, there is the very prestigious May Festival Chorus, with whom I was able to make my Carnegie Hall debut! May Festival is the official chorus of the Cincinnati Symphony. There is also the May Festival Youth Chorus for high school students, which also regularly sings with the Symphony! http://cincinnatiboychoir.org http://mayfestival.com

Looking for less of a time commitment and a non-traditional choral experience? Join the Young Professional Choral Collective, a group of YPs that practices and performs in downtown bars! http://ypccsing.org

There are a ton of other choral groups in Cincinnati, thanks in part to our strong German heritage. The Greater Cincinnati Choral Consortium is a group of 44 of the regions choirs! There is a choir for everyone! http://www.cincisings.org

Cincinnati is known as a hub of great local theater. Performing in a musical strengthens stage presence, helps boosts confidence, and is a whole lot of fun! Cincinnati’s Children’s Theater is a local professional theatre that gives amazing professional performing opportunities to children! More info about the upcoming season and auditions can be found here: https://www.thechildrenstheatre.com

CinStages is a great website to stay up to date on local theater productions and auditions! There is always a ton going on from the famous Playhouse in the Park, Cincinnati Shakespeare Company, the Carnegie in Covington, KY, The Incline Theater, the list goes on and on and on… http://www.cinstages.com

Looking for a less formal way to sing? Why not check out one of the many open-mic nights or Karaoke events? Wednesdays at the Northside Tavern you can catch Sexy Time Live Band Karaoke, where yes, you’ll get to sing karaoke with a professional band! To see their schedule around town, visit: http://www.sexytimekaraoke.com

Karaoke Fantastic is a personal favorite of mine, as they have over 16,000 songs available with extremely professional sound equipment and mixing. You’ll sound like a pro, even if you’ve just started your singing lessons in Cincinnati! http://www.karaokefantastic.com

Open-mic nights are a great way to try out a new song and get some performing experience…usually with only a small crowd (i.e. less pressure!). Visit http://openmikes.org to find an event near you! Often, these are held in coffee shops, so are good for the younger crowd!

Not quite ready to perform, and just looking for some good music to listen to? The University of Cincinnati’s College-Conservatory of Music, Northern Kentucky University and Xavier University all have amazing music and theatre programs with tons of free events happening all year round, as everyone who graduates with a performance degree must present at least one free recital! Check out their websites here: http://ccm.uc.edu http://artscience.nku.edu/departments/music/concerts.html http://www.xavier.edu/music/

The Cincinnati Symphony, The Cincinnati Opera, and the Cincinnati Ballet are all world-class organizations right here in the Queen City and those are just a few! Cincinnati Arts Organization is a great place to learn about all the exciting things happening at Music Hall and the Arnoff Center! http://www.cincinnatiarts.org

The Vocal Arts Ensemble of Cincinnati is a premiere professional chamber choir which I have sung with since 2009. For a truly unique concert going experience, check them out at: http://www.vaecinci.org/index.html

With so many great opportunities to make your voice heard in our town, how can you keep from singing?