A contemporary, no pretense approach to traditional training sets the tone at this studio. There is no magic. The successful student learns the mindset, does the work and comes to the lesson prepared. The teacher is the hired eyes and ears, intuit and knowledge source.
Patricia Shanks focuses on helping the student find or re-establish vocal practices that
4 build a foundation technique
4 allow for art to emerge when technique is ready to support it
4 center on the singer's formant
As a professional chorister, Patricia has performed with the Los Angeles Master Chorale (under the baton of Roger Wagner and Michael Tilson Thomas), the Los Angeles Music Center Opera Association (Deutsche Oper Berlin, singing in productions with Placido Domingo and Teresa Zylis-Gara, among others) and Opera Pacific (John Mauceri, Gian Carlo Menotti, Diana Soviero, Jerry Hadley, Italo Tajo, Maurice Allard, others). She has also served as section leader, hired gun or all-purpose singer with South Coast Choral Society, Los Robles Master Chorale, Los Angeles Premiere Chorale, Camerata of Los Angeles and other small and large groups - including an emergency stint for a major bar mitzvah replacing a male voice in a 5-voice, choreographed a cappella ensemble, The Quintessentials.
A veteran performer, Patricia has sung in virtually every church and religious setting from massive High Holy Days services, to intimate Russian Orthodox Church cantoring, to Christian Science soloist, to section leader/soloist at the Crystal Cathedral with the televised Hour of Power Choir.
Patricia has recorded background vocals for pianist Roger Williams and she is one of the voices on the pre-recorded Crystal Cathedral Glories of Christmas and Easter. She has also performed live as a back-up singer in Las Vegas, and in an eclectic mix of cabaret-style performances in restaurants, clubs and private homes, singing old standards, contemporary hits, musical theater, operetta and opera and classical selections.
Patricia is the former director of the Amadeus Boys and Girls Choirs (now combined as the Los Robles Children's Choir) and several other church-based or secular choirs and vocal ensembles. She has taught voice for the Gold Coast Theater Conservatory, the Crestmont Conservatory of Music in San Mateo, California, and for the conservatory at CSU, Dominguez Hills. She has served as musical director and chorus master for regional musical theatre productions, and she has coached beauty pageant contestants on their singing technique and songs - with winning results.
Patricia is an accessible person who does not present herself as the one true authority on the vocal mechanism or as the last remaining disciple of beautiful singing. Each and every student is an individual and an important client.
In addition to her teaching, Patricia is an active
voiceover talent. She has also written, produced and hosted a weekly television
arts and entertainment news segment. For three years, she was an arts and
entertainment columnist/reporter for the Simi and
Professional Affiliations:
AGMA, AFTRA, NATS, MTAC, SCVA, VASTA, Media Alliance of Orange County and Media Communications Association International, Orange County Chapter (board of directors)
Teacher's Training:
Voice Teachers and Coaches:
Natalie Limonick, Nina Hinson, Lila Stuart, Marion Cooper, Dietrich Erbelding, Suzetta Glenn, Gabrielle Robbins, Esther Andreas, Charles Ross-Perlee, others.
Master Class Active Participant:
Festival of Learning and Performing at
Acting studies:
Charles Conrad Studio,
Steve
Eastin Studio, South
Teacher's Statement:
Caveat: I am a teacher of technique. I am not a repertoire coach. We work on song material from the perspective of insuring that it is technically sound. While I do help singers select music, learn notes and prepare songs and arias for performance, my main focus is on seeing to it that the voice is functioning as it should for optimal vocal ease, quality and longevity.
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