I love to work in partnership with singers to help discover, develop and foster their unique voices and musical expression. I teach my students to become excellent at non-judgmental self-observation as they learn to sing with good resonance, buoyant breath management and healthy, efficient vocal fold vibration. This creates playful and empowering experimentation that results in increased self-knowledge, technical proficiency, self-confidence and powerful, authentic expression.
I have been a professional singer and musician since 8th Grade where I was a church organist and cantor. I played in a recording session for Capitol Records in High School which changed my life, and then auditioned at Kent State University in Ohio and received a scholarship for the School of Music. I worked my way through college by singing in local places. Perhaps because my voice teachers were inspiring, I wanted to help young singers to prepare for whatever their goals were. That remains my motivation today.
Mezzo-soprano, Layna Chianakas, is known for "vocal talents which are matched by her poignancy as an actress" (Des Moines Register). She has portrayed many leading opera roles including over 15 productions of Carmen, Santuzza in Cavalleria Rusticana, Donna Elvira in Don Giovanni, Amneris in Aida, Angelina in La Cenerentola, Sesto in Giulio Cesare, Suzuki in Madama Butterfly, The Woman in Poulenc's La Voix Humaine, the title role in La Perichole, and countless Cherubino in Le nozze di Figaro.
Having had an active performing career which encompassed opera, oratorio and recital, I am comfortable sharing what I have learned through the years with my students. My goal is always to help each unique student find his or her most free and beautiful voice, and will draw upon a variety of methods to do so. Since my own study focussed on the bel canto approach, that is my first instinct, but I believe in drawing from many different sources depending on individual needs. I love to find answers through the music itself, and enjoy coaching art song and opera above all.
Ms. Jarc is an award-winning, highly accomplished national and international opera and concert performer. Her teaching experience ranges from her private studio to adjudicator and master class instructor. She uses and teaches with the International Phonemic Alphabet, and performs in five languages. She has worked as an LA studio singer.
I am a retired professional opera singer and actress. I teach a method which leans a great deal toward relaxing body tension, and allowing the breath to do its job. I enjoy using humor to make my lessons relaxing and fun, and I love to talk about "the Zen of singing" - finding the deepest places in your body to completely nourish yourself when singing. For more info, please check my website at www.meenmann.com.
Linda Noble Brown, coloratura soprano, has a vast performing history throughout the continental U.S. and Europe, in opera, musical theatre and oratorio. Favorite leading roles include Zerbinetta, Baby Doe, Cunegonde, and Olympia. Equally adept at musical theatre, she has played leading roles in Pirates of Penzance, She Loves Me, Carousel, and The Sound of Music, among others.
Orchestral performances include solo appearances in Poulenc's Gloria, Beethoven's Mass in C, Handel's Messiah, Mozart's Coronation Mass, Vivaldi's Gloria and Faure's Requiem.
I sang professionally in Southern California and the Northwest for 15 years. I have performed Susanna, in The Marriage of Figaro; Pamina, in The Magic Flute; Adina, in Elixer of Love; Eurilla, in Orlando Palladino; Monica, in The Medium. Musical Theater roles include: Valencienne in The Merry Widow; Johanna in Sweeney Todd; Polly Peachum in Threepenny Opera; Anne Egarman in A Little Night Music; Nellie in South Pacific, and starred in Sondheim's Company.
I came to the Monterey Peninsula in 1980 as one of the Bach Festivals hired musicians. In my ten years with the festival I filled a wide variety of solo assignments. Upon moving to the Peninsula I helped establish the Monterey Peninsula Symphony Chorus which is alive and flourishing today. I served on the Carmel Music Society Board of Directors and enjoyed being one of their booking agents. I have had a long and varied musical career as a classical singer and musical theater performer with over 50 leading roles to my credit. My main focus today is my voice studio.