Education

I have trained privately for years in voice, piano, dance, with additional extensive training in music theory, composing, and classes in guitar, percussion and acting. I have my Bachelor of Music in Applied Voice from Northwestern University School of Music and studied the Certificate Program in Film Composing from UCLA Extension. In May, 2022, I graduated with Distinction with a Master of Voice Pedagogy with an emphasis in Music Theatre from Westminster Choir College of Rider University.

I have also had the great honor to have some wonderful mentors guiding me along the way.

Professional Affiliations & Memberships

  • AFM
  • SAG-AFTRA
  • ASCAP
  • ASMAC
  • NATS
  • MTAC
  • NSAI
  • AFM
  • SAG-AFTRA
  • ASCAP
  • ASMAC
  • NATS
  • MTAC
  • NSAI

“I do not remember my life without music, dance and the arts. Starting on stage at age 3 with dance, singing at age 5 and piano shortly thereafter; I knew by the age of 8 that I wanted a life in the arts. When I am on stage, all of life’s worries seem to fade…it is about the music and sharing with the audience. I try to tell a story, share an emotion, or just have fun and share the joy.”

Stage & Live Performance

Perhaps the best training has been from years of performance experience on stage, in concert, private parties/gigs, night clubs, piano bars, hotel lobby’s and lounges, retirement communities and hours in the recording studio with some television background as well. Some highlights of my career have been:

  • numerous shows at the famed Catalina Jazz Club in Hollywood,
  • opening act for Joan Rivers at Carlos N’ Charlies,
  • VIP private opening of the Paris Casino – Las Vegas,
  • solo evening concert at the Crystal Cathedral,
  • Featured Singer/Pianist for Herbie Wiere (of the Wiere Brothers from film fame and live concerts),
  • featured act at Playboy Club and Aragon Ballroom – Chicago
  • and numerous concerts with Bob Ralston (of Lawrence Welk fame).
  • Venues have included major hotels and clubs – The Ritz Carlton, Century Plaza Hotel, The Gardenia – Hollywood, Lunaria – Century City, Dazzle Jazz Restaurant and Lounge Showroom – Denver, and for numerous communities and senior retirement communities including City of Los Angeles, Beverly Hills Active Adult Club, City of Albuquerque @ Palo Duro Senior Center, Del Webb Alegria, City of Fort Collins Senior Center, and various Sunrise, Belmont Village, Atria communities as well as numerous others.

 

Dance

With dance being my first introduction to the stage, I have never lost my passion for its many forms. As a soloist, my strength lies in tap; but with others, I have fallen in love with ballroom. My husband and I took up ballroom dancing in 2008 and have since learned over 19 different types as well as competed in numerous competitions, and I have woven it into many of my themed shows that I present. I also had the honor to be a principle dancer (waltz) in an episode of NCIS-LA, with some of LA’s finest dancers.

Artistic Influences

My interest in poetry and lyrics started as a young child when my father read to me the classics of Shakespeare, Robert Frost and Edgar Allen Poe as bedtime stories. A continued dialogue with my dad through original poetry, coupled with my music training and eclectic range of music, inspired me to start composing and experimenting with musical arrangement. I composed the music for several musical fairy tales for Santa Monica City TV, have done music direction and arranging/composing for celebrity fashion shows, and many other events, music groups, written several songs and self-produced two CD’s on my own record label.

Along this entire personal journey, I have been teaching and coaching… over 40 years in voice and close to 30 years in piano. I was on the voice faculty at the American Musical and Dramatic Academy (AMDA-LA) for close to 6 years. Besides studying vocal pedagogy while attaining my Applied Voice Degree, I have gleaned great knowledge and vocal tips from my private teachers and well-respected voice masters including Norman Gulbrandsen, and the famed Ron Anderson. Norman Gulbrandsen started mentoring my teaching skills by having me sit in on lessons of older experienced singers and would point out any problem areas and how to fix them. The very important skill to be able to recognize, analyze and give correction possibilities started early. I got further skills in learning to bridge classical technique with the modern demands of current repertoire while studying many years with Ron Anderson.

A continued dialogue with my dad through original poetry, coupled with my music training and eclectic range of music, inspired me to start composing and experimenting with musical arrangement.

My interest in poetry and lyrics started as a young child when my father read to me the classics of Shakespeare, Robert Frost and Edgar Allen Poe as bedtime stories. A continued dialogue with my dad through original poetry, coupled with my music training and eclectic range of music, inspired me to start composing and experimenting with musical arrangement. I composed the music for several musical fairy tales for Santa Monica City TV, have done music direction and arranging/composing for celebrity fashion shows, and many other events, music groups, written several songs and self-produced two CD’s on my own record label.

Along this entire personal journey, I have been teaching and coaching…over 40 years in voice and close to 30 years in piano. I was on the voice faculty at the American Musical and Dramatic Academy (AMDA-LA) for close to 6 years. Besides studying vocal pedagogy while attaining my Applied Voice Degree, I have gleaned great knowledge and vocal tips from my private teachers and well-respected voice masters including Norman Gulbrandsen, and the famed Ron Anderson. Norman Gulbrandsen started mentoring my teaching skills by having me sit in on lessons of older experienced singers and would point out any problem areas and how to fix them. The very important skill to be able to recognize, analyze and give correction possibilities started early. I got further skills in learning to bridge classical technique with the modern demands of current repertoire while studying many years with Ron Anderson.

Artistic Influences

A continued dialogue with my dad through original poetry, coupled with my music training and eclectic range of music, inspired me to start composing and experimenting with musical arrangement.

Teaching and Coaching

With my piano, musicianship skills, and performance skills as well as acting training and background, I am able to comfortably switch smoothly back and forth between the technical pedagogy knowledge of a teacher to the knowledge, repertoire and performance guidance of a vocal coach.

Expectations & Delivery

I request my students to strive to be not only great singers, but to be complete musicians as well. If they don’t know how to read music, we work on those skills as well. My students have gone on to not only win many competitions, awards, roles, and be accepted into top programs and universities; but have built their own careers, composed music, tour, and release their own recordings. Others have very successful business, law or medical practices, but continue to keep music in their lives.

Teaching and Coaching

With my piano, musicianship skills, and performance skills as well as acting training and background, I am able to comfortably switch smoothly back and forth between the technical pedagogy knowledge of a teacher to the knowledge, repertoire and performance guidance of a vocal coach.

Expectations & Delivery

I request my students to strive to be not only great singers, but to be complete musicians as well. If they don’t know how to read music, we work on those skills as well. My students have gone on to not only win many competitions, awards, roles, and be accepted into top programs and universities; but have built their own careers, composed music, tour, and release their own recordings. Others have very successful business, law or medical practices, but continue to keep music in their lives.

For bookings,
instruction, recordings,
or more information,
please call:
323-377-1790
or
Send us an Email »
Ask Me About Online Teaching
For bookings,
instruction, recordings,
or more information,
please call:
323-377-1790
or
Send us an Email »
Ask Me About Online Teaching