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ABOUT US
Mission Statement
To uphold excellent musicianship technique, and to foster a deep love of music in each of our students.
"I believe anyone can learn to sing. Because I have seen it happen. I have seen both my students--and myself--undergo dramatic changes as musicians."
- Christina J. Swanson, Founder
The best part? We undergo dramatic changes of spirit, too.
Christina J. Swanson & Karina C. Parker, Founders
STUDIO PRINCIPLES
Understand the student's musical interests and goals.
Establish a foundational understanding of the voice/instrument.
Build healthy and sustainable technique.
Strengthen the student's understanding of musical theory and reading in an immersive way.
Offer practice techniques, style development, audition preparation, and performance practices.
Guide students in achieving their ongoing musical goals.
INDIVIDUALITY
INCLUSIVITY
WELLBEING
WHO WE SERVE
professional and emerging singers in classical, musical theater, and contemporary styles
beginning singers in classical, musical theater, and contemporary styles
song writers
touring musicians in need of a tune-up
recording artists
young singers
TECHNIQUES
Alexander Technique
Dalcroze Eurythmics
Kodaly Method
Music Learning Theory
and more
CHRISTINA J. SWANSON
Founder, Voice, Piano
Mezzo-Soprano Christina Swanson (she/her/hers) is an emerging artist based in New York City. Swanson recently worked as a Festival Artist with Utah Festival Opera and Musical Theater. She covered the Second Lady in The Magic Flute, Ma Moss in The Tenderland, as well as singing in the Ensemble of both The Tenderland and Carmen. In addition, she was featured as a soloist in Tabernacle concerts and cabarets hosted by the festival. A multi-talented performer, she also served as the Dance Captain for The Tenderland.
Recent performance credits include Orfeo in Orfeo ed Euridice (NYU Opera Theater), Nicklausse in Les Contes d’Hoffman (Hudson River Opera) Siebel in Faust (Hudson River Opera), Arnalta in L'incoronazione di Poppea (Killer Queen Opera), Venus in Orpheus in the Underworld (Opera MODO), and Satirino in La Calisto (Red River Lyric Opera Festival). Chorus work includes Turandot and Vivaldi’s Gloria with the Detroit Symphony Orchestra. In 2023, she will make her debut with Lakeland Symphony in Lakeland, FLA, covering Lola and singing in the chorus of Cavalleria Rusticana. In March 2023, she will perform the role of Idamante in Idomeneo with NYU Opera Theater and in April 2023, she will sing the solo in Mahler's Fourth Symphony with the NYU Orchestra.
Swanson is well-versed in the realms of chamber music and new music. She was chosen to perform in NYU Steinhardt's "Tango Project" where she performed Leonardo Suarez Paz's original compositions and arrangements of Astor Piazzolla's, scored for violin, cello, piano, and voice, receiving coachings from the composer himself. Swanson recently premiered "Under the Gold," a cycle by promising composer Harriet Steinke.
No stranger to sacred music and choral repertoire, Swanson has a wealth of experience as a staff choral singer with Christ Church Detroit and St. Mark's Episcopal in Mt. Kisco, NY. She was formerly the staff cantor at Christ the King Catholic Church in Yonkers, NY. This season, Swanson will join the roster of the New York Philharmonic Chorus.
Swanson recently won First Place in the 2022 NATS-NYC Competition, Adult Classical Division. She placed Second in the NATS-NYC Adult Musical Theater competition. Swanson was a semi-finalist in the 2022 Music International Grand Prix Competition, where she performed at Merkin Hall in NYC. She won Second Place in the 2021 NATS NYC competition.
Swanson received her Bachelor of Music in Vocal Performance from the University of Michigan, where she studied under tenor Scott Piper. She is currently a Masters candidate at New York University in Vocal Performance with an Advanced Pedagogy Certificate, where she is the recipient of a Music Talent Scholarship and works as an Adjunct Voice Instructor at NYU.
KARINA CAMILE PARKER
Founder, Voice, Piano
Karina (she/her/hers) is a Brooklyn-based director, soprano, and teaching artist. Karina received her Bachelor of Fine Arts in vocal performance and her Music Education Certification from Carnegie Mellon School of Music. She now directs, performs, and teaches in New York City's five boroughs.
Karina is a multi-disciplinary performing artist, with a special interest in early music, folk music, and musical theater. Karina has performed with organizations such as NBL, The Italian Academy, Con Vivo Music, Pittsburgh Resonance Works, Pittsburgh Festival Opera, Oberlin School of Music, and The Laguna Beach Playhouse. Some of her operatic highlights include: Chilltown Boogie, A Historic Opera (Director)* by Alon Nechushtan, Being Ariodante (Associate Director)* by Jonathon Dawe, L'incoronazione di Poppea (Director) by Monteverdi, La Calisto (Calisto) by Cavalli, and Alcina (Oberto) by Handel. In addition to operatic repertoire, Karina specializes in choral and chamber music. Her past choral work includes performances under the direction of internationally renowned conductors Manfred Honeck, Gustavo Dudamel, Gary Wedow, Andrés Cárdenes, Harold Rosenbaum, Eph Ehly, and many more. Karina has had the honor to work with Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, UN Symphony Orchestra, and The Canticum Novum Singers
Karina is an active teaching artist, currently working as an Associate Conductor for National Childrens Chorus and is the Vocal Arts director at New York City Charter School for the Arts. She has worked with numerous non for profit organizations in New York and Pittsburgh including Young Audiences New York, Jamaica Center for Arts and Learning, and Pittsburgh Festival Opera. She also runs a private voice studio, offering individualized lessons and coachings.
* premiere
ACCESSIBILITY & ACCOMMODATIONS
We are committed to our community. If you require any accommodations, please get in touch. We will be happy to help.