Bala Cynwyd, PA Opera Voice Lessons

Julia Dehning in the world premier of the opera The Making of Americans at the Walker Art Center in Minneapolis. She received her Master's degree in vocal performance from The Peabody Conservatory of The Johns Hopkins University, where, upon graduation, she was awarded The Phyllis Bryn-Julson Prize for Commitment to and Performance of 20th and 21st Century Music.

Ms. S. currently serves on the Board of Directors of MATA, an organization dedicated to supporting young composers from around the world. She is also co-founder, along with award winning superstar composers Lisa Bielawa and Aaron Jay Kernis, of Your Music Bus, and is the founder and director of Stone Mason Projects, a boutique production company specializing in endeavors related to new music for voice. She is in high demand as a voice teacher for competitive students and professional singers, and lectures on the social significance of music history topics related to contemporary repertoire.

Pamela has been teaching music and voice for more than ten years. Currently, she teaches voice and music theory at Rutgers University Mason Gross School of the Arts Extension Division for their Young Artist Program, and is on the voice faculty of the College of Saint Elizabeth in Morristown, NJ. Prior to these positions, she was an adjunct lecturer at City College of New York, CUNY where she taught music theory, musicianship, and composition. Additionally, she spent two years as the chair of the voice department at The College of Saint Elizabeth, where she has taught private vocal instruction, as well as lecture courses in music history, music theory, vocal pedagogy, and ear training.

Pamela's students have performed with Paper Mill Playhouse, Continuo Arts Foundation, Assisi Performing Arts Festival in Italy, Carnegie Hall, Opera at Florham, the Baroque Orchestra of New Jersey, In Mid Air Productions, and many other companies around the East Coast and abroad. Her students have placed in vocal competitions including Mid Atlantic Music Festival, Golden Key, National League of Performing Arts festival, and many others. In addition to her work as a teacher of music, Pamela has worked as a Teacher's Assistant at Columbia University's Department of Astronomy, for the class Theories of the Universe: From Babylon to the Big Bang.

Pamela also maintains a private studio of voice students, and is available to give lessons from her home in Newtown, PA. In the past, Pamela worked for Rider University as a private tutor for students in music theory, music history, and French. Pamela was active in the vocal pedagogy program at The Peabody Conservatory of Johns Hopkins University through which she taught voice lessons while earning her master's degree in vocal performance. Pamela has held substitute positions teaching voice and piano at Spotlight Music in Flemington, New Jersey and was on the roster of teachers at Bravissimo Music, a branch of Ivy Bound Test Prep.

*** Lesson Details ***
My teaching is goal oriented but always supportive and encouraging. Students can expect lessons to consist of vocal technique building and repertoire study. Lessons are very individually geared towards each student's unique needs and goals. Students who follow my instruction always see and hear results.

*** Travel Equipment ***
I expect the student to have a piano, or at least a high quality electric keyboard.

*** Specialties ***
classical voice, contemporary music performance

both), I tailor lessons to suit each student's needs. I would like to enable you to meet your musical goals, whatever they may be.

***Lesson Details and Recommendations***

Singing voice: I teach classical vocal technique with an emphasis on the body-mind connection. Through the course of my training, I have studied the Alexander Technique, which is a method that has been used by actors, musicians, and athletes to find optimal body-mind coordination to achieve better results. The voice is the only instrument that is literally your body, so we will be using these tools to improve posture, breathing, and resonance. By learning a healthy vocal technique, you can expect improved tone quality, an expanded vocal and dynamic range, greater resonance, increased agility, improved diction, and more. Healthy vocal technique can be applied to any genre, and I teach students who are studying a wide variety of music, but classical and musical theater repertoire is my area of expertise.

Speaking voice: I have had great success helping students who come to me for help with their speaking voices. As the speaking voice and singing voice use the same set of muscles, the same set of functional principles apply. I work with students to improve their posture, breathing, and breath support when speaking, as well as clear diction, better pacing, and conveying emotion and meaning. These tools also lead to increased confidence when speaking.

Piano: I am also an established piano teacher and have had much success teaching beginning and intermediate students from ages 4 to 91 in various styles of music. I believe it is important for students to learn how to read and interpret written music as well as understand the structure behind it, so in addition to learning musical basics, I incorporate music theory into lessons. I encourage my piano students to learn how to read lead sheets and create chord accompaniments as well, which opens the door for comfortably playing in all sorts of styles sooner than would be possible by classical approaches alone. I also work on improvisation and songwriting with my piano students, if desired.

***Lesson Recommendations***
I offer lessons in 30, 45, and 60 minute increments. These are the *minimum* lesson lengths recommended. Longer lessons are more beneficial, except in the case of children with smaller attention spans. A 60 minute lesson is the best choice for serious students (teenagers or adults).

Voice:
Ages <12 years: 30 minutes
Ages 12 and up: 45 minutes

Piano:
Ages <7 years: 30 minutes
Ages 7 and up: 45 minutes

Combination Lesson:
Ages <12 years: 45 minutes
Ages 12 and up: 60 minutes

*Please note: I do not reserve regular lesson times in my schedule for students who cannot commit to weekly lessons. With students who wish to take less frequent lessons, I recommend the flex plan, with lessons to be scheduled as we go at our mutual convenience.

***Educational Background***
Elizabeth holds an M.M. in vocal performance from West Virginia University, where she was featured in numerous WVU Opera Theatre productions and was the soprano soloist with WVU Choirs in Faure's Requiem and Handel's Lord Nelson Mass. While at WVU, Elizabeth resumed taking lessons at the piano, which she had previously studied for many years, and exceeded the piano proficiency level required by the university. She also holds a B.A. in music and international studies from Emory University. Elizabeth has studied and performed internationally, both at the American Institute of Musical Studies in Graz, Austria, where she was the recipient of the Lemmonds Scholarship, and at the Bel Canto program in conjunction with L'Arena di Verona opera company in Verona, Italy.

As a graduate assistant at WVU, Elizabeth taught voice lessons to music education and performance majors as well as a course on vocal pedagogy. After graduating, she served as adjunct faculty, in which capacity she taught vocal repertoire and opera theater. She has maintained a private studio since 2005, in which she instructs students in voice and piano. She has also held past teaching positions with the Meridee Winters School of Music and Woodland Country Day School.

***Active, Professional Singer/ Actress***
Elizabeth was most recently seen as Joanie in The Full Monty at Candlelight Theatre in Delaware. Other recent performances include June in Musical of Musicals: The Musical and Peaches/ Baby Jane in Jerry Springer: The Opera with Bootless Stageworks in Wilmington, DE, solo performances with the New Voices Cabaret at the Society Hill Playhouse in Center City, and Woman 2 in My Way: A Musical Tribute to Frank Sinatra with Mainstage Center for the Arts in Blackwood, NJ. She has performed numerous leading roles with Philadelphia area Gilbert and Sullivan companies, most notably appearing as Angelina in Trial by Jury with The Savoy Company, winning Best American Production at the 2011 International Gilbert and Sullivan Festival. Her G &S performance credits include the roles of Patience (Patience), Yum-Yum (The Mikado), Rose Maybud (Ruddigore), Phyllis (Iolanthe), and Fiammetta (Gondoliers). Additionally, she has pioneered roles in new operas, including Gwendolyn in The Crowded House at the 2010 Philly Fringe Festival and Zelda in Black Horses with OperaDelaware at the 2009 Wilmington Fringe Festival.

n ballo in maschera with Concert Opera Philadelphia, in March 2013. She will also sing the title role in Suor Angelica with OperaOggi NY in 2012/2013 season. Her most recent roles include Donna Anna in Don Giovanni (New York Lyric Opera Theater), Fiordiligi in Così fan tutte, Nedda in I Pagliacci, Mimì and Musetta in La Bohème, and Lauretta in Gianni Schicchi. Some of the other roles are Violetta in La Traviata, Tatiana in Eugene Onegin, the title role in Iolanta, Marfa in Tsar’s Bride, Pamina in Die Zauberflöte, and Konstanze in Die Entführung aus dem Serail.

In oratorio Ms. S. has performed as a soprano soloist in the Lord Nelson Mass and Theresa Mass of Haydn, Handel’s Messiah, J. S. Bach’s Magnificat, and the Neue Liebeslieder, Opus 65 by Brahms. Her recital and chamber repertoire include songs and song cycles by Schubert, Schumann, Brahms, Tchaikovsky, Rachmaninoff, Mussorgsky, Prokofiev, Shostakovich, Dvořak, Manuel de Falla, Poulenc, and Messiaen.

Ms. S. has been the recipient of several awards and scholarships which include Washington International Competition in Washington DC, Center for Contemporary Opera Competition in New York, Giulio Gari Foundation International Vocal Competition in New York, New York Vocal Artists Competition, Peabody Conservatory Graduate Performance Diploma Scholarship and grant, and Mayor’s Scholarship from the University of Pennsylvania where Galina received her undergraduate degrees in music and computer science engineering. Galina has also been chosen to participate in the International Music Competition of the ARD in Munich.

Galina is a graduate of Peabody Conservatory of Music where she received a Master’s Degree in Vocal Performance, and University of Pennsylvania, which she finished with a Bachelor’s Degree in Music and Computer Science Engineering.

Ms. S. is a dedicated and enthusiastic voice teacher, who has been teaching for the past ten years. Many of her students have become soloists in their schools’ musical productions, and several went on to continue their studies at major conservatories. She has taught at Cabrini College, Settlement Music School, and is presently teaching at Leopold Mozart Academy. She also offers lessons out of her private studio at her home.

*** Lesson Details ***
My style of teaching is very straight forward. Students will first learn a proper breathing technique which is essential to good vocal production. The lessons always start with simple vocalizations, followed by repertoire appropriate to each student. The development and progress will greatly depend on students initial level and the time they spend practicing at home.

*** Studio Equipment ***
Steinway Grand Piano, Music Stand, Vocal Literature. Large room with hardwood floors, which provides wonderful acoustics for singing.

*** Travel Equipment ***
The student must have a piano or keyboard. I will bring music books.

*** Specialties ***
I have the most experience teaching classical voice - bel canto style of singing which concentrates on proper breathing technique and production of healthy unstressed sound.

s in Early Childhood and Elementary Education at West Chester University.

I served on the faculty of Suburban Music School for 17 years where I taught voice, piano and recorder lessons. I also directed the Children’s Choir and the Women’s Choir. I was formerly on the faculty of Delaware County Community College where I taught courses in the Music Department; and of Temple Music Prep where I instituted, developed and maintained a vocal program at Temple University’s Ambler Campus.

In addition to teaching I was employed for eleven years as a chorister at Christ Church Christiana Hundred in Greenville, DE where I have had the opportunity to sing for such notable conductors as John Rutter, Sir David Wilcox, Sir Philip Ledger, Stephen Cleobury, and James O’Donnell. Previous choral work has included singing for Dr. Ifor Jones and for Michael Korn. I perform in solo and chamber music recitals throughout the Philadelphia area and in Cape May, NJ and with a Celtic group called Celtic Women and Friends.

*** Lesson Details ***
Voice Lessons

When you study voice with me, you will start with the basics - posture, breathing and tone production. If you have studied before, we will review these areas and brush up on anything that needs work. The next step is to learn some vocal exercises to warm up and develop your voice. When the exercises are going well, we will begin to work on songs. You will need to learn some classical songs because they help to develop your voice, but we will also work on the kind of music you like best. In addition to songs, we will work on solfege (do, re, mi, etc.) which helps to train your ear and to improve your sightreading ability. If you don't know how to read music I will teach you that. If you read music but have some gaps in your knowledge, we will fill those in.

I teach what is called bel canto (beautiful singing). It is a healthy vocal technique that will help you avoid vocal problems. When you learn to sing with this technique, you can sing any style of music you want. After a few months of study, you should be able to tell that your voice is growing stronger, that you have better breath control, and that your range is increasing.

Although I have high expectations of my students, I am relaxed and friendly. If you love to laugh, we will enjoy that together!

Piano Lessons

When you study piano with me you will enjoy playing a variety of songs from your lesson book. As you advance, we may add a repertoire book which increases the number and variety of songs you play. There are many excellent piano methods. I use different methods for different students, depending on their needs.

Lessons will include posture and proper hand position, warm-ups, songs and music theory. Music theory is the study of notation and how music is put together. You will have a workbook with exercises for this study. If there is a particular style of music you would like to play, we will look for music at your level to add to your lesson. After a few months of study, you should know how to read basic notation and be able to play a number of songs. You will also have increased your knowledge of musical notation and harmony.

I expect my students to practice in preparation for their lesson every week. I am relaxed and friendly, so that should help to put you at your ease.

*** Studio Equipment ***
Piano, music stand, stereo equip, seating for parents

*** Specialties ***
I specialize in teaching the bel canto style singing. With this technique, a person can sing any style of music she or he chooses.

d rave reviews for her “musically impressive” and “soaring” performance from The News Journal. Alexis will be staring

In theater, Alexis has played both comic and serious roles, including a striking female interpretation of E. K. Hornbeck in Inherit the Wind. Alexis has also worked in film, recently completing the production of Dead on Delmarva, a zombie-comedy-thriller produced by Arkham Productions.

In addition to her acclaim as a performer, Alexis gained recognition for her work as a choral conductor, working at the New Ark United Church of Christ and the Church of the Advent in Kennett Square, as well as vocal coaching with The Tatnall School. was the music director for the production of Les Miserables at Mt. Pleasant High School. Alexis currently works at the St. Anthony's Cathedral in Wilmington.

When speaking of her career, she comments, “Performing music and drama is not just a passion for me; it’s my sense of purpose. Whether I am working on a role, singing in an opera, developing a character, teaching a student, whatever the artistic avenue. It completely fulfills me. ”

*** Lesson Details ***
Alexis teaches proper singing technique and support through the Bel Canto philosophy of vocal production, and specializes in Classical, Opera, Musical Theater, and Jazz singing styles. Sight singing skill work is also offered and will cover basic music theory in addition to solfege music reading techniques. Alexis offers audition preparation services such as audio recording and transposition for her current voice studio students, for an additional fee.

In addition to vocal lessons, Alexis is pleased to offer beginner piano and music theory lessons. The piano lessons are geared towards singers who would like to learn to accompany themselves, or would simply like to be better at piano for rehearsal purposes. Music Theory lessons will be presented at the individual students level and will cover everything a student desires to learn, from basic rhythm and pitch reading through compositional theory.

*** Studio Equipment ***
Living Room: couch, computer desk, piano, studio bookshelf, room for parents to sit in on lesson

*** Specialties ***
Opera voice, musical theater acting and voice, jazz voice, classical voice, safe stage combat acting, diction and speaking, Alexander Technique, sight singing and music reading, basic music theory, audition preparation

Musical "Mamaleh". Sandra has performed in over fifty productions of Musicals, Operetta, and Opera. Some of her favorite roles include: Aldonza (Man of La Mancha), Desiree (A Little Night Music), Marguerite (The Scarlet Pimpernel), Antonia (The Tales of Hoffmann), and Lauretta (Gianni Schicchi).

Most recently, she has performed the role of Lynn Fontanne in Ten Chimneys at Old Academy Players, and played one of the principal roles in Jacque Brel Is Alive And Well and Living In Paris at The Steel River Playhouse.

As a director, Sandra has staged operas for Center City Opera Theater, the Delaware Valley Opera Company, Boheme Opera New Jersey, and the New York Metro Vocal Arts Ensemble. She is currently singing concerts with the vocal group "Touch of Classics", and can be seen in commercials for Time Warner, Cuisinart, The Skooter Store, and Aspercreme.

*** Lesson Details ***
Our lessons will be relaxed and informal. My goal is to make you the best you can be. We will work on giving you a solid vocal technique so that you can approach any style of music with a good foundation. We will also work on learning to read music, and most importantly work on songs that will bring out the actor in you.

*** Studio Equipment ***
Small studio, keyboard, seating provided (couch), street parking

*** Specialties ***
I specialize in musical theater, classical, and opera. I can also teach German and Italian diction. My acting experience is mainly in musical theater.

test virtues of a music teacher are passion, patience, understanding, and communicating. You will experience this in the studio. Give yourself a treat of two months of lessons and I promise you will be playing and/or singing better than you expected.

Member of MTNA (Music Teachers National Association), NFMC (National Federation of Music Clubs),
NJFMC (NJ Fed. of Music Clubs). MENC (Music Ed National Conference),

*** Lesson Details ***
I am generally easy going and laid-back and will work with you to obtain specific goals such as a piece you would really like to learn. I can be strict if assignments are not followed or if there is no progression; we need to analyze why that is. I use many teaching methods as there are many different learning styles. The series I am currently using are Faber, Alfred, and Celebrate Piano! for pianists. Many singers are in Broadway, Disney, and/or English Reliquary and Italian Arias. There are so many wonderful choices! I can guarantee after three months you will be playing some music you like, and you will be reading music, and able to perform if you wish (starting small). With singing you will have basic knowledge of proper posture, breathing, and increased range. I also so enjoy people and communicating so you will feel comfortable taking lessons, and I believe that is one major factor of success in learning an instrument: the student-teacher relationship And second for children, especially the young, is the parent-teacher relationship .

*** Studio Equipment ***
Studio: Yamaha baby grand piano, Kawaii studio upright and keyboard, Yamaha keyboard, recording abilities, computer software, couch and two chairs, parents can sit in on lesson. Also have computer programs for note learning, composition, as well as giving you apps to download.

*** Specialties ***
Different methods for different students. Piano: mostly Faber and Alfred series. "Prodigy": Aaron/Thompson series. I've also had graduate study in teaching the Adult Beginner! As I was a church music director 1994 till last September, I am very familiar with traditional and contemporary sacred music, learning and performing. If you also wish to combine singing and accompanying yourself on piano or guitar lessons can be tailored.

er Center. Last summer, she understudied Sybil Vane in Loehmann’s The Picture of Dorian Grey. In 2013, she performed the role of Suor Osmina in their production of Suor Angelica, and covered the roles of Fortuna and Venere in their production of L’coronazione di Poppea. She also portrayed Pamina, La Contessa, Ilia, Anne Truelove and Laurie Moss in their various scenes programs.

Rachel completed her Bachelor’s of Music at Mannes College in 2012. There, she performed in their Opera Scenes Workshop and their Rise of Modernism Festival, singing Canciones populares Españolas by Manuel de Falla.

aching privately and in ensemble settings to children and adults, including beginners and more advanced students. I particularly love working with passionate children, teenagers, and young adults who want to take their musical pursuits to another level, such as to audition for performing arts schools, or become more comfortable and adept in using their constantly growing voices!

While I'm a stickler for perfection, I work in music primarily because I think it's a lot of fun. I strive to foster a learning environment that is enjoyable for my students and prefer teaching methods that are constructive vs. destructive (I don't believe in "building you back up" after tearing you down)! I prioritize HEALTHY use of the voice whether my student is fifteen or fifty: every stage of life poses challenges (and benefits) to the vocal instrument and my specialized study and performing experience aids in me recognizing the good and bad in every singer to help them grow.