YSA DREAM TEAM
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​Who are YSA Voice Educators?

"Educate" means "to draw out". YSA Voice Educators draw out the inherent knowledge and strength that lies within all students, using a discovery-based approach and positive reinforcement.  Educators are hand-picked after a rigorous vetting process that includes a singing audition, writing sample, multiple interviews, demo lesson and a teaching observation. They participate in our monthly YSA Professional Empowerment Program and are personally trained by Vielka in her method.
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They were chosen for their
love of children,
outstanding energy,
creative and inspired teaching,
top-tier performance degrees,
and commitment to lifelong learning. 


YSA Early Childhood Voice Educators
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Nursery - Grade 2 (3-7 years old)

The best time to start singing lessons is now to foster healthy habits and an "I'm a singer" mindset from the start!
Expect nursery rhymes, game songs and movement in addition to your child's favorites. Dress up and stuffed animals are welcome! 
loves hiking, being silly, and writing pop songs
​on guitar, ukulele, and piano!
loves to bake, sew and spend time on her boat!
loves cooking, hiking, and Grey's Anatomy!


YSA Lower School Voice Educators
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Grades 3-5 (8-10 years old)

Whether you're daring to start lessons or taking the stage,
you will gain the foundational skills you need to level up and be your best!
loves sunshine, writing, and learning new things!
loves traveling, cooking, and popcorn.
loves cooking new recipes, reading in the park, and biking around NYC!


YSA Middle School Voice Educators
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Grades 6-8 (11-13 years old)

Auditioning for performing arts high schools?
Love to sing and ready to learn how to make it easy and free?
Whether you're getting serious, having fun or both, we have you covered!
loves sunshine, writing, and learning new things!
loves harmonizing, podcasts, and bagels!
loves cooking new recipes, reading in the park, and biking around NYC!


YSA Upper School Voice Educators

​Grades 9-12 (14-18 years old)

Auditioning professionally and/or for college?
Ready to take your craft to the next level and deepen your performance?
We're here to make the process fun and effective!
loves sunshine, writing, and learning new things!
loves harmonizing, podcasts, and bagels!
loves cooking new recipes, reading in the park, and biking around NYC!


​YSA Guest Artists

Teaching Highlights:
  • Vocal Director for Count Me In program, Carnegie Hall​
  • Mentor Teaching Artist for Arts Bootcamp, Lincoln Center
  • Co-Director of Young Singers Choir, Trinity Church Wall Street
  • Educational Concert Emcee, Carnegie Hall & Nationwide

Performance Highlights:
  • Carousel at Lincoln Center w/NY Philharmonic
  • Al Carmine's Christmas Rappings, Off-Broadway

Shanna

YSA Facilitator

Shanna Whitney is a singer, actress, educator and mother who was bit by the singing bug in 4th grade and has been involved with music ever since. Her jobs give her so many things to love, like getting to meet students, teachers and artists from all over the world. She loves cooking, getting dressed-up, and fitness!


Fun Fact: Vielka & Shanna are long-time work friends from Carnegie Hall and The Juilliard School! 

Molly

YSA Drama Specialist

Molly Ranson is best known for starring in the revival of Carrie the Musical, for which she was nominated for Drama Desk, Drama League and Lortel awards. She made her Broadway debut in the Tony Award-winning production of August: Osage County and also appeared on Broadway in Jerusalem alongside Mark Rylance, and in Larry David’s Fish in the Dark. Off Broadway credits include Roundabout’s Bad Jews for which she received her second Lortel nomination, Linda at MTC, and the Burnt Part Boys at Playwrights Horizons. She is a graduate of LaGuardia High School where she now regularly serves on audition panels. Molly is certified to teach Vocal Yoga and is currently training in the Libero Canto approach to voice. She loves yoga, road trips, and breakfast sandwiches.

Fun Fact: Molly was Vielka's first voice student many moons ago!
loves writing music, animals (especially dogs and cats)
​and dessert!
We work together with speech therapists and regularly seek advice to make sure our singers are consistently and effectively practicing new habits not only in speech therapy, but through the joy of singing.

Maria

Speech Language Pathologist
​MA, CCC-SLP, TSSLD

Maria creates an energetic, fun, and functional learning environment. She uses a holistic approach (including parents, caretakers, PT/OT, and teachers) to promote growth and carryover of strategies and skills.

With 12 years of SLP experience and 17 as an educator, Maria is experienced with school-aged children through adulthood addressing language and literacy delays and disorders, reading comprehension, articulation delays, fluency, social communication, and executive functioning skills (attention, memory, problem solving, planning, organization). She loves listening, socializing and being a mom.


YSA Administrative Team

 loves hiking, reading and her 2 dogs...and sometimes hikes with her dogs! 
A Los Angeles native, Kristine’s background is in merchandising for Skechers and finance for industrial supplies.
​She is a UCLA graduate with a degree in English Literature. 

Fun Fact: Kristine is Vielka's BFF from high school!
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