“Michelle’s wonderful gift is her ability to tuck all of her technical understanding of the voice into a package full of love, humor, and the joy of making music. Years after working with her, I still rely on the images she gifted to me as her student.”
– Steven Spraragen, Associate Director, Playwrights Horizons Theater School (affiliate of NYU/Tisch Undergraduate Drama) and Cast Member of Naked Boys Singing!, Off-Broadway Company
Michelle has been an adjunct member of faculty at several acting schools, including NYU and has worked as a private coach for actors and singers in New York City for over 20 years. Most recently she was invited as a guest speaker to UCLA for their MFA Acting Program.
Michelle is the author of the book, Of Course You Can Sing! and has also designed a phone coaching app where you can improve your singing through daily voice mails and texts.
As a performer Michelle has appeared in over fifty musicals and plays including her favorites: Lizzie in Baby, Sister Mary Leo in Nunsense with Georgia Engel, Maria in Twelfth Night and as the world’s youngest Mama Rose in Gypsy.
As a vocal soloist, she has been featured in hundreds of concerts and cabaret shows, including a special presentation for Governor Mario Cuomo back in the day. Most recently Michelle performed for a charity event at the Gardenia in LA. Michelle studied the classics at the British American Drama Academy in London through which she performed at the Royal Court and the Young Vic.
…for singers and actors
I have had a private vocal coaching practice for over 20 years.
Why did I start teaching? I was already busy, busy, busy with several projects at once. But numerous audience members began approaching me after performances asking if I would teach them how to sing. I always demurred, saying I didn‘t have the time. The truth was it just never occurred to me to examine what I did in order to assist others to do it as well. Eventually enough people were asking me that I started to wonder. What exactly was it that made everyone so happy and excited to hear me perform?
Then I started using Julia Cameron‘s book The Artist’s Way with a very diverse group. It is a lovely tool for discovering lost parts of your creativity or redefining what you want to do and be in your life. I was amazed when every single person spoke with great longing for the ability to sing, to sing more, to sing better.
I was even more astounded by how many of them felt that they couldn‘t do it. I was suddenly struck with a question. Is it true? Can only some people sing and others cannot? I have to admit, when I started teaching, I wasn‘t sure.
My practice built very quickly. I started with small groups, moved into private coaching sessions and eventually added performing arts schools from young performers to graduate level drama students.
And now, I can safely say, without any hesitation, after working with students from age 8-80. From Broadway performers to Christmas carolers. From the supposedly tone deaf to the actually blind. From the folk singing guitarist to the Marilyn Monroe impersonator. From people who want to learn a wedding song for that special occasion to the ones who want to sing karaoke well, just once in their lives…
Of course they can sing!”