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Vocal course >

MCI Vocal Course

Lesson 9: The Case for Professional Instruction

In this lesson, you will learn how why and when it makes sense to engage the services of a voice teacher - and how to find one.

Print off the handout: The Case for Professional Vocal Instruction (PDF) and read it through. It also provides a letter you can give to a prospective voice teacher to explain what skills a cantor in our church most needs.

In addition to the organizations and websites mentioned in the handout, I am pleased to announce that we now have THREE cantor / choir directors who are also experienced voice teachers, and willing to provide vocal instruction to cantors both in-person and online.

Andrew Skitko is cantor for St. Mary's Byzantine Catholic Church in Trenton, NJ, director of Theoria Chamber Choir, and holds degrees in vocal performance and vocal pedagogy from Westminster Choir College. We performs regularly with Opera Philadelphia and numerous professional emsembles and teaches singers of all levels. For more information, contact him at (610) 220-3479 or andrewskitko@gmail.com.

Deacon Timothy Woods studied at the Guild Hall School of Music in London, and holds degrees in both music education and conducting. He is the founder and director of Lincoln Chamber Productions (since 1992) and has taught vocal music to students of all levels. He is also willing to conduct singing workshops for eparchial or parish groups. For more information, contact him at (779) 216-0521 or deacontimwoods@protonmail.com.

Lisa Edwards is the lead cantor and choir director at Ascension of Our Lord in Williamsburg, VA. She earned her bachelors in Music Education and Voice and her Masters in Speech-Language Pathology with a Voice specialty. Her passion lies in care of the professional voice and has worked with singers, public speakers and professional voice users on creating and maintaining their most healthy and sustainable voice. Lisa is available in person or online for individual or group sessions and would love to speak with you, your parish or your Eparchy about healthy voicing! She can be reached at 412-596-0350 or LisaCVoice@yahoo.com.

All three are highly recommended.  (Other experienced voice teachers who would like to be added to this list can contact me at mci@archpitt.org.)