About
I have sung many different musical styles: from Broadway to Jazz to Opera on concert series from the Northeast to San Francisco. My many operatic roles include Rosina in Barber of Seville; Susanna in Marriage of Figaro; Pappagena in Magic Flute; Dido/Dido and Aeneas; Estella/La Perichole; Senta (Flying Dutchman) opposite David Rae Smith of New York City Opera, Gingerbread Witch/Hansel and Gretel(Connecticut Opera and Opera Theatre of Connecticut) . Oratorio roles included opposite Jennifer Larmore and Jacques Trussel in Judas Maccabeus; Soloist in Faure Requiem, Haydn's Missa Brevis, Vivaldi's Gloria; Handel's Messiah, and the premiere of Fanny Mendelssohn's Faust. I was a soloist on Public radio and TV in Boston, San Francisco, in Connecticut, in Carnegie Hall, and as a Connecticut Commission on the Arts Touring Artist. I also directed/coached musical theatre, winning Best Musical Director for "Into The Woods" with my high school students. I was an AGMA chorister/soloist at Connecticut Opera for 6 seasons and Stage hand for the Met Boston and Boston Opera. My 30+ years as Church Soloist and Music Director/organist included King's Chapel and Arlington St. Church/Boston, St Anthony of Padua (Litchfield), Church of the Good Shepherd, (Hartford) St. John the Evangelist (Watertown), St Anthony (Prospect).
First, it is important to have the students feel that you care and want to open their talents. Next, doing exercises together to learn diaphragm breathing and see the joy as they realize they can make a lovely vocal sound. Watching them Find their true voice through an open throat is almost like magic. Discovering how the cheeks and bones move and open producing a radiant sound adds much more to learning to sing. Finally, feeling the entire body resonating as a singer-actor opens a world of music. I have been teaching voice for 30+ years, from classical to broadway, and all forms of contemporary. I began teaching traveling to people's homes, and was so fortunate to have many requests and so created a home studio. I was asked to also teach in several towns. I loved and still love teaching and the students themselves. I want the lessons to be a fun and exciting process. I want them to learn. I have taught at University of Connecticut, Hartford Conservatory, Hartt Community Division and several other places.
. Elected to Pi Kappa Lambda, Who's Who in America, Women in the World and Lifetime Achievement Award, I hold a B.Music degree from New England Conservatory, M.M from The Hartt School, and a Ph.D. from the University of Connecticut. Won the National Association of Teachers of Singing Artist Award, I was very fortunate to receive 5 grants to research Fanny Mendelssohn, Amy Beach, and Barbara Strozzi, resulting in feature journal articles, publication of 60 scores, and lecture/recitals throughout the world including Venice, Boston, and New York.
I want the lessons to be a fun and exciting process. I love working with ages 11-85 and try to accommodate and feel how their singing becomes more and more joyful. Singing scales, breathing at times against a wall, moving arms and singing with joy, all help students enjoy and create the sound and rhythms they are comfortable with. I always encourage students to believe in their talents and choose repertoire they love! Feeling the sound of the voice in their face and learning to sing words naturally creates a studio full of fun. Discovering that memorizing is fun and finding places and people to sing for brings in growth and more self-esteem. All of this progress is so much fun for me too!