Award-winning Opera and MT performer with 12 years experience developing singers who succeed! M.M. Voice from New England Conservatory

Learn more about Audrey

• When did you first develop a passion for music and your favorite instrument?

  My parents enrolled me in piano lessons at the age of five and I’ve loved music ever since. At ten, I started studying with an amazing teacher who introduced me to Bach and helped me believe I could play it. I took off! I found a lot of success as a pianist, but once I stepped on stage and sang I love knew I found my home. I am a storyteller through music and can’t imagine my life without singing!

• Is there a particular type of music or artist that you listen to on a loop without it driving you crazy?

  I could (and frequently do) listen to Classical guitar forever. Also, have you heard the young jazz singer Samara Joy yet? She’s incredible.

• Explain to us the most difficult or riveting course you could personally give to a student of music.

  The most difficult course would probably be post-tonal music theory - if that sounds interesting, I might be the teacher for you! Discovering a classical singer’s true voice is always the most thrilling journey as a teacher!

• What do you think is the most complicated instrument to master and why?

  I think the voice is the most difficult instrument to master because the instrument is the human body! Not only does it change year-to-year, each day brings new physical, mental and emotional challenges for a singer. But that’s part of why good singing is so exciting for the musician and the audience! On a side note, I am amazed at Classical Indian music and the level of study it takes to gain even a basic understanding of Talas and Ragas!

• What are your keys to success?

  Curiosity, Practice, and Patience! You can get somewhere with one, far with two, but you need all three to truly succeed.

• Name three musicians you dream of meeting in your favorite bar in the early hours of the morning. Explain why.

  Pauline Viardot - Viardot was good at everything, an opera singer, composer, scientist and femme fatale of the 19th century. I want to know what really happened between her, Chopin, and Liszt.
  Adele - Who doesn’t want to hang out with Adele?
  Tom Lehrer - a genius songwriter who always makes me laugh. He’d help us rally to finally go home!

• Provide a valuable anecdote related to music or your days at music school.

  Years ago, I was discussing casting choices with a famous opera singer, worried that I wouldn’t succeed without getting starring roles in my undergrad education. They took me through every role they had performed throughout their undergrad, masters, and advanced degree programs - not a single significant role. Their professors didn’t see potential in them as a young student, but this artist believed in themself, worked hard, and had succeeded in the end. The tortoise beats the hare almost every time.

• What are the little touches that make you a Superprof in music?

  My primary goal as a teacher is to make myself unnecessary for mystudents. Music is an essential part of life and the greatest gift I can give my students is the knowledge and skills to take full ownership of their musicality, creativity, and expression. My lessons involve more listening, self-analysis and conversation than most teachers. The tools I give aren’t effective if you don’t know the why you’re practicing them, or what they’re for. As you improve, your interests, priorities and even genres may change.
  We’ll continue to examine the road ahead, evolving our approach to match who you are as a musician now, not who you were when you began. This is ultimately why most of my students stay for years and wind up in some form of performing as a hobby or profession!