Melissa has over fifteen years of voice training and performance experience. She is a graduate of the American Musical and Dramatic Academy's Musical Theatre Integrated Program and received her Bachelor of Fine Arts (B.F.A.) from The New School University. When not teaching, she is currently working on her Master of Science (M.S.) in Communicative Sciences and Disorders at New York University (NYU), with the aim to become a singing voice specialist who can work with both healthy and injured voices. She has been performing steadily Off-Broadway, including principal roles in productions at the Manhattan Repertory Theatre and Times Square Arts Center.

Melissa's training is grounded in voice science and health. Her lessons are specifically tailored to meet each individual singer's needs and goals. Melissa completed all three levels of certification in Somatic Voicework : The Lovetri Method for Contemporary Commercial Music. This system of pedagogy draws from classical vocal pedagogy as well as acting, dance, speech pathology, and Alexander Technique . She has had the privilege to work with some of the top singing teachers in the country, including a NYSTA workshop with international vocal coach Joan Melton and master class with Broadway voice teacher Jeannette Lovetri at Berklee College of Music. Melissa regularly attends vocal pedagogy courses to continue her knowledge of the science and art of singing.

Professional Affiliations:

-National Association of Teachers of Singing (NATS)
-New York Singing Teachers' Association (NYSTA)
-Somatic Voicework Teachers' Association
-The Voice Foundation
-National Student Speech Language Hearing Association (NSSLHA)
-New York State Speech-Language-Hearing Association (NYSSLHA)

Research:

-Honors Master of Science Thesis: "Voice Patients with Acid Reflux: Students' Perceptions of the Efficacy of Lifestyle Changes" with NYU faculty advisor Dr. Celia Stewart, CCC-SLP (In-progress)

Services Offered:
-Singing Technique
-Song Coaching
-Acting - Monologue Selection and Coaching
-Speech Coaching - Voice Enhancement, Accent Modification
-Audition Prep for Colleges, Musicals, and Plays