Vocal

I have 18 years of experience teaching children and adults in jazz, rock and pop music. I am supportive and patient, helping students to find their own voice and teaching them how to master their instrument with passion. I have written,recorded, arranged and produced my own songs and just finished my third CD " For The Time Being". I teach from my studio in Berkeley which is equipped with proper amplification, up to date recording technology and computer programs. I emphasize the joy of singing and support my students in their choice of music.

Margaret Secour is a classically trained opera singer. She studied in the Opera Program at California State University, Long Beach. As a singer, she has performed with San Francisco Opera Chorus, San Francisco Symphony Chorus, San Francisco Lyric Opera, Lamplighters, and Oakland Civic Theatre; toured nationally with Pasadena-based Opera a la Carte, a Gilbert and Sullivan company; and appeared internationally with Master Chorale of Orange County. Ms.

Ms. Howitt seeks to provide the highest quality vocal training possible to her students. Using appropriate materials and adjusting her teaching style accordingly, Ms. Howitt works with students of diverse ages and backgrounds to find greater vocal freedom and technique. Ms. Howitt strives to create an atmosphere in which students feel safe to explore their creativity and express themselves fully.

Got diva?
Highlights from my broad range of appearances in opera, recital and concert include most of Mozart’s heroines, Handel's evil sorceresses, and Verdi's Lady Macbeth with Donald Pippin's Pocket Opera; Four Last Songs of Strauss with LiederAlive; and Britten’s War Requiem in San Francisco’s Davies Hall.

I have the great pleasure of teaching a wide variety of students including active professionals, local singing teachers, young artists auditioning for major music schools, training programs and festivals, beginners and dedicated amateurs. My students have achieved the highest honors of the performing arts, are performing with major opera companies, Broadway Theaters and National Tours and include Tony Award Winners, Major Motion Picture Stars, International Pop Artists and Cabaret Singers. I teach in a large, fully equipped studio centrally located in San Francisco.

Ellen Glikbarg Shea, Soprano, returned home to the Bay Area after receiving her Bachelor of Arts in Music from Pitzer College, and her Master of Music in Vocal Performance from the University of Southern California. She has performed roles with West Bay Opera, Pocket Opera, Berkeley Opera, the Lamplighters, Golden Gate Opera and Opera San Jose. She has also performed with San Francisco Opera chorus, the Community Music Center Orchestra, and manages and sings with The Merrie Olde Christmas Carolers, the oldest and largest professional caroling organization in the country.