About the Laura Bernay Studio for Voice Tuition

“Singing is a basic form of human expression”
Kenneth Phillips

Students are all ages from young voice to adults. Tuition is offered both in the traditional method (ages 8 to adults) and additionally in the Suzuki program.

Lessons are one on one or in singing classes depending on the age and program chosen. Many types of lessons are offered.

We are a happy microcosm of the community comprising me, my students and parents and older teenagers to young adults and adults.

The type of song repertoire covered ranges from folk songs, classical art song and opera, music theatre and jazz to modern depending on the voice and age of the singer.

In my studio you will gain experience in performing when you are ready. You will benefit from my love of and expert skills in languages. Lessons are fun and conducted in a beautiful peaceful environment.

We really are all about discovering the joy of singing!

  • love for one's own voice
  • love for the repertoire (songs)
  • controlled relaxation - good posture (ie. knowing how to relax the jaw, arms, neck, shoulders etc)
  • awareness of support and breath intake
  • vowel formation and consonant articulation
  • the correct onset of sound
  • range extension and resonance
  • sound knowledge of singing in all the major languages
  •  stagecraft (how to perform and interpret songs)

These factors are of prime importance in the contribution to good phrasing, diction and musicality producing...

BEAUTIFUL SINGING!

About Laura Bernay

American-born Laura Bernay is a versatile performer with talents as a multi-lingual singer, flautist and pianist. She is a graduate of the Victorian College of Arts where she studied voice and flute and later completed a Graduate Diploma in Education (Melbourne University). She also has qualifications in the Suzuki and Orff methods of teaching.

A performer and teacher of many years experience, her work as a singer, pianist and flautist took her all around Australia, Japan, the Middle East, USA and Europe. Perhaps owing to her French Canadian descent Laura has a special interest in French vocal music, is married to a Frenchman and is fluent in French. She majored in French at UWA and holds a Diplôme de Langue from the Alliance Française.

In March 08 Laura performed with her brother Diesel (aka Mark Lizotte) and Jimmy Barnes in the Lizotte family-inspired event "Breath of Life" Festival in Tasmania. Also on the program were two of her other 4 brothers, sponsorship executive Mike Lizotte and Brian Lizotte (live@lizottes) and father Hank Lizotte. The event was the brain child of Hank's to raise money for the Australian Lung Foundation. Laura's family was inspired to help raise money for research into lung diseases when her mother died of a rare illness in 2002. She will be travelling once again to Tasmania for the second Breath of Life Concert in March 2010.

Her repertoire covers music of all styles from opera and art song, to contemporary, music theatre, jazz, and world music. She has performed with the West Australian Opera, as a guest recital artist several times for Art Song Perth  and has had many other engagements as soloist in various styles of music including many years singing jazz. In Perth she is known for her jazz performances with The Rob Hyner Trio and she sang world music with The Last Five Coins which specialises in instrumental dance and vocal music from the villages and cafés of Europe. The band combines the sounds of voice, violin, hurdy-gurdy, flute, accordion, guitar and much more with its roots in centuries-old traditions. With the group Laura performed at the National Folk Festival (Canberra) and at Fairbridge Festival (WA) several times as well as performances in many other Perth venues including regular appearances at Kulcha in Fremantle .

In addition to her career in performance Laura worked as French coach for the West Australian Opera and has given master classes in singing in French at the University of Western Australia and for ANATS (WA) (Australian National Association of Teachers of Singing) and Opera in Company.

From the late 80's to late 90's Laura taught at Methodist Ladies College and St. Hilda's Anglican School for Girls. In October 2000 Laura was the recipient of a teacher's bursary from the Australian National Association of Teachers of Singing to attend the Fifth Voice Symposium of Australia which was held in Brisbane. In June 2001 she went to Finland to work with Dr.Päivi Kukkamäki, the founder of Suzuki Voice. Whilst there she gave recitals and taught to gain accreditation in this specialised area of teaching singing to children. She is an accredited Suzuki Flute and Orff teacher.

In 2010 the Suzuki Voice program is now in its twelth year in Western Australia and the program continues to grow. About a third of the students in Laura's studio learn in the Suzuki approach. The other two thirds learn in the so-called traditional way. In 2003 Laura was part of the organising committee which brought the founder Dr.Päivi Kukkamäki to Perth for the Suzuki Spring Conference where students were able to benefit from Päivi's teaching and share with her own students. Laura has given lectures in Suzuki Voice for ANATS Nartional Conference, local workshops, ASME and the WA Bilingual Families Association.

Laura combines performing professionally with a busy teaching schedule in her private studio in Shenton Park. She is an accredited member of ANATS (Australian National Association of Teachers of Singing) and served many years on the committees for the WA Suzuki Association and Art Song Perth

In her spare time when she is not repertoire-hunting and planning concerts, recitals and shows  she can be seen on the tennis courts at Cottesloe Tennis Club, doing laps at Cottesloe Beach (only if it's over 25C), or if not in either of these places then on her yoga mat living her 'other life'!!

                   Laura and her brother "Diesel"
                  (Mark Lizotte) at
          the Breath of Life Festival Tasmania 

                            2008/2010


 

 

 Laura and The Last Five Coins World Music Band