Broadway Vocal Coach

"No one treated me normally. I was either championed, like,  'I support you. I am pro-women. I'm an ally!' Or it was, 'You gotta be kidding me, I don't wanna work under a woman. Absolutely not.'" In episode 6, Cynthia shared what led her from a career as a classical pianist to a bona fide Broadway conductor and music director. Today, we're diving deeper...

What does it take to get a new musical off the ground? And what is it like to originate a role that was written just for you? Today we’re joined by composer Madeline Myers and actor Samantha Massell for an episode about the development of a new musical ( Double Helix ), the magic of collaboration, and how to take charge of your career and make things happen! "Asking for what you want, is mayb...

"Very likely, people that you don't think are taking note, are! And it's good reason to  keep putting one foot in front of the other." In episode 7, Chelsea shared her experience as a BFA student, her journey to Broadway, and what led her to help co-found BVC as we know it.  Today we're diving deeper into Chelsea's Broadway career as a vocal coach, working on producti...

Cynthia remembers Bre's University of Michigan audition as one of her favorites of all time. It stands out because it wasn't polished, it wasn't overly trained - she was just a raw vessel of talent.  She is proof that you don't need years and years of expert training, classes, and experience to get started in this industry. Among Bre's many credits, she's most recentl...

Today we're chatting with BVC intern and (nearly) college BFA grad Emily Baggarly, and she's sharing the five things she and her family did to make the college audition process easier! Because let's be real–there is a lot that goes into applying for college musical theater programs. You need support around your singing and acting, audition material that fits you perfectly. Plus audi...

Can you imagine booking your Broadway debut from a single self-tape? For so many actors, it often feels like sending in tapes is sending them into the void. But Delphi Borich is a testament to what great audition work over time can lead to. "It wasn't just one tape that got me the job. It was years of them seeing me in completely different capacities." Today's conversation is a...

Perhaps one of the greatest myths singers grow up hearing is "belting is bad for you!" If that were true, how could so many incredible musical theatre singers make decades long careers out of belting on stage, eight times a week? Granted, belting is a highly demanding style of singing, and there are certainly things to avoid if you want to do it well and have a lasting singing career. To...

"I actually know my songs are good. I believe that for myself, independently. I had to tell myself: you're allowed to start saying this to yourself. It's not arrogance, it's not even confidence, it's just knowing, it's peace." After 20 years in the industry, this is what Gavin Creel finally starting saying to himself.  "I spent a lot more time getting my val...

Applying to musical theatre programs can feel like a never-ending roller coaster. It’s completely overwhelming! So it’s not uncommon that some essential parts of the process get overlooked. Today we’re shining a light on 7 things families and students overlook during the musical theatre college audition process. And we're joined by our head coach for BVC Aspire, Julie Kavanagh! BVC Aspire is...

This conversation with Emily Kristen Morris is all about tackling limiting beliefs, pursuing a side hustle you love, and of course, what it's like to fly during Defying Gravity! Emily Kristen Morris is an NYC-based actor, singer, dancer, vocal instructor, and popular online content creator (1.6 Million followers on TikTok). Emily is currently the Elphaba standby on the Broadway national tour...

There's a classic saying in our industry that if there's anything else you love to do as much or more than theater, do that. In my opinion, that advice is outdated. We've seen time and time again that some of the most successful performers are multi-passionate multi-hyphenates. They wear a lot of hats. Today we're talking about the benefits of having interests, hobbies, and eve...

"I really feel like I had two choices in that moment. And the first choice is to, you know, just panic and run off stage. And the second option is to just roll with it and realize you've already shown up." This is what Broadway, National Tour, and West End star Desi Oakley thought to herself just before the curtain went up on her West End debut, only hours after landing in London an...

When it comes to working on a rock/pop song, especially for auditions, there's some common questions we hear all the time. How do I act this song? Should I move and groove or just stand there and sing? And how much style should I sing with? And then it usually ends with comments like, I just don't know where to start, and I just feel so awkward! Don't worry, we've got you.  Tod...

If you're like many actors, chances are you get anxious when thinking about how to show up online. Do I need a website? What should be on it? What about social media? Will people think I'm bragging when I talk about career stuff? What are casting directors finding out about me online? We've got a simple game plan for you to follow in today's episode. We're talking all abou...

One of the biggest fears for actors is singing overdone audition material. Second to that is having a book full of repertoire that simply doesn't suit them, and we get it. Your song choices say a lot about you. What if performing your audition material felt as good as slipping into your favorite outfit? It all starts with finding the right material for you. Today we're giving you 11 crea...

We’re back for part two of our discussion about college musical theatre auditions. In episode 12, we talked about how and when to get started with the college audition process. Today we are diving deep into audition material: the songs, monologues, and dance requirements that you’ll need to prepare to successfully audition for college musical theatre programs. Plus we’re talking about how you can...

As an actor, you know that one aspect of making it in the business is about who you know, but how can you leverage your existing relationships and create new ones without feeling icky? Today, we're talking about what networking really is, why it's necessary, and how to do it without feeling icky. 📱Connect with  @bwayvocalcoach and @chwils 👩‍💻Submit for Office Hours here 💌 Get Chelsea...

For many families, the process of applying to college musical theater programs is equal parts thrilling and terrifying. Navigating prescreens, choosing which schools to apply to, finding audition songs and monologues, and sorting  out potentially dozens of different application requirements can feel entirely overwhelming. We get it! We’ve been on both sides of this process and we’ve got you covere...

Studies show that 80-90% of us will not keep our New Year's resolutions!  With that rate of failure, it seems like maybe it’s worth considering a different way to go about setting goals for the new year.  Those of you who have read any of our Broadway Vocal Coach email newsletters know that I am a big fan of the book “Atomic Habits” by James Clear.  Today we are talking about some of the main...

Is clearing my throat bad for my voice? Will dairy make my voice crack? Is belting going to give me nodes? If you’re a singer I’m sure you’ve heard some of these before and wonder, is there any truth to that? Today we’re dispelling vocal health myths and sharing what voice care practices actually makes a difference in your voice and your overall wellness.  Chelsea's Warm-Up Series: use code &...

If you've ever been in a musical, you know there's several cooks in the kitchen. A director, a choreographer, a music director, producers, and more. And for singers, sometimes the direction you receive can be confusing at best and totally conflicting at worst! We get it! We are literally a Broadway music director and a voice teacher, and we help singers navigate a fair amount of confusin...

Whether you are a beginning singer or the most experienced of Broadway stars, all singers need a voice teacher or coach to support them. But how do you find the one that's right for you? Today we're talking all about what the difference is between a voice teacher and a vocal coach and who you should be working with. 📱Connect with  @bwayvocalcoach and @chwils 👩‍💻Submit for Office Hours...

We’re back for part two of our Meet Your Hosts episode series! This time we’re diving into Chelsea’s experience as a performer turned voice teacher, the surprising turns her career has taken, and what her favorite musical is and why it's CATS. Find Chelsea on Instagram: @ chwils Gift one month of the BVC Membership (for 20% off!) here. Offer expires December 31! Register for BVC Academy, our...

We've told you that we know what it takes to make it on Broadway because we've been there ourselves. Well, today we're telling you those stories! We're diving into how we began our careers, what we still want to accomplish, and what Cynthia's favorite musical is and why it's The Lion King. Welcome to Part One of our "Meet Your Hosts" episode series! Find Cyn...

We recently polled our Broadway Vocal Coach community to learn what their dreams are and what challenges they face when it comes to reaching their goals. The number one challenge we heard from professional and aspiring professional actors? Not enough money for lessons, classes, new headshots, etc. And the second? Not enough industry know-how, and not knowing where to begin. If you’re a professiona...