Testimonials

A Career in Singing

"I’m Gemma and I am a Western Australian girl through & through, originally from a tiny town called Mukinbudin. I was a boarder at St Hildas, involved in school shows as well as Midnite Youth Theatre Company, additionally learning singing with Laura Bernay while still working with Dr Logie and with their help I got into WAAPA’s one year course and had a ball doing that! Laura is a truly wonderful teacher, many teach but few do it so well and with such love in their heart. I’d recommend her in a heartbeat, compassion mixed with organisation, discipline, fun and a vast knowledge of singing and the voice make her teaching of the highest calibre. Laura has been a support and an inspiration through out my tuition with her and beyond, even now 4 years later she is still an encouraging word and support from across the continent.”

Instilling Confidence

"My 14 yr old son, Ben, has been attending singing lessons with Laura Bernay for the past 18 months on the recommendation of Sara MacLiver.

After attending Gondwana National Choral School in 2010 Ben was keen for formal voice training.  He was initially nervous but Laura was easily able to engage him in the lessons, putting him at ease and instilling him with confidence in his singing ability. 

Together they have improved his breathing technique and voice production while exploring a range of repertoire.  Ben has learned to love styles of music that he would never previously have considered.  Laura has helped him work with and enjoy his changing voice and taught him to use computer tools to alter accompaniments to suit his changing pitch.

Laura has provided Ben with opportunities to challenge himself musically, including performances at a master class and in Eisteddfods.  She encourages him to observe her older students, giving him a sense of direction and future possibilities. With Laura’s mentoring Ben has become more focused on his desire to pursue his musical interests and his confidence has increased in all areas of life.

Most importantly, Ben loves his singing lessons.  He enjoys Laura’s company and with her he strives for his best.  Given a choice he would give up all his extracurricular activities before he’d stop his singing lessons."

Genevieve

Year 12

"Laura is a teacher willing to push boundaries in music. She encourages me to make every song I sing my own and authentic. We do a lot of improvisation in class and focus on not only the vast range of songs performed but how they are performed utalising performance skills such as appropriate body language and microphone technique. Not only are lessons musically benefitial but they are also alot of fun as Laura is bubbly and very fun to jam and swap ideas with, because it is her passion and open-mindedness with music as well as her entertaining personality that makes lessons with her very rewarding!"

Lily

Singing is fun!

"My name is Jasmine and I am eight years old. I have been learning singing with Laura for over a year. I enjoy my lessons with her because they are full of fun! Not only do I learn how to sing, but also how to present myself gracefully. I learn how to produce the sound, how to carry the vowels, how to breathe, how to coordinate all the different muscles, how to sight-read music as well as how to smile with my eyes while keeping my mouth nice and round for singing! It sounds a lot doesn't it? But don't worry, Laura will make it as easy as playing a game. Another reason I love going to my singing lesson is that I love her voice! I hope that one day I will be able to sing like her!"

Love for a Beautiful Art Form

"My name is Magda, and I have been singing since the age of 9. My love for this beautiful art form blossomed and at the conclusion of 2009 I decided to study WACE (Western Australian Certificate of Education) Music. As my instrument I chose voice. I have been taking lessons with Laura since the end of 2009. She has nurtured my voice and her thorough knowledge of the curriculum council requirements in Years 11&12 is a strong factor. Laura has prepared me exquisitely for all my vocal examinations. As a result I ahve received top marks in performance. Laura's skills in languages-French, Italian, German, Spanish, Finnish, and Latin etc, her passion and hard work as well as the friendship we have formed have encouraged me to pursue a career in this beautiful art form." 

 


Challenging Me to Do Better

When I first came to Laura in August 2010 I knew I wanted to sing but I didn’t think I could. Now, a year later, I have improved and achieved more than I could have imagined.

After just four months of singing with Laura I auditioned for WAAPA, although I was not offered a position, I did receive a call back which was more than I expected at the time. I’ve also began work for the AMEB Grade 5 exam which I hope to be ready for later this year. And am off to New York shortly to attend the Open Jar: Broadway Actor’s Intensive Summer Course, which I successfully auditioned for earlier this year. None of which would have been possible without Laura’s help.

Being a multi-talented musician and performer herself, Laura’s knowledge of language and music is invaluable. I look forward to every lesson with Laura because I can’t wait to see what areas need work or what I’ll be working on next. Laura’s passion and enthusiasm when she teaches is infectious and her technical coaching is that of a perfectionist. I can’t learn enough in one lesson!

Laura always challenges me to do better and I know when she hands me new sheet music, which looks more difficult than the last, that with a bit of determination and hard work, I can do it.

From the beginning, Laura has believed in me, and I can’t thank her enough for giving me my own confidence in my abilities and a love of singing that will be with me forever.

I can honestly say I couldn’t have asked for a better teacher.

Ema 

Love for Singing

 "I have been receiving singing tuition with Laura Bernay since the beginning of 2009. During this time, Laura has encouraged and nurtured my love for singing. My vocal ability has improved substantially and, together, we have fostered a friendship. Laura's professional approach to her craft is a testimony to the high level of skill she displays. Laura has prepared me for auditions for WAAPA, VCA and Monash University and various amateur theatre companies. I have always felt aptly prepared and confident for these auditions. The level of trust I have in Laura are some of the most important elements of our student-teacher relationship and I hope Laura and I continue to strengthen this relationship as I move further with my singing training."


Lucy Anderson



Successful Audition

"I began voice tuition with Laura at the beginning of 2009. Towards the second half of the year, my focus was on preparing for my WAAPA auditions. I’d always wanted to study Musical Theatre, however Laura also encouraged me to audition for Classical Voice. I had never performed classical repertoire before my audition. In just a few short months, Laura provided me with an extensive list of repertoire, voice recordings of the pronunciation, information on the context of the pieces as well as the translations. Laura always strived to help me be prepared and confident for all of my auditions. She taught me to believe in myself and what I was doing.
Laura has been more than just a singing teacher, she has been a mentor and a friend. Her knowledge of singing and the industry has helped me to grow as a performer and I always trust that her advice is given with my best interests at heart. I can honestly say that I would not have been accepted into the Classical and Musical Theatre certificates at WAAPA without her guidance and support."

Catherine Rosman

More than Just Singing

"My daughter Jade has benefited in so many ways from learning singing from Laura. She has grown in confidence by performing and learning the many disciplines in learning this art form. After 9 years of tuition Jade has an extensive repertoire, including classical, folk, musical theatre and art songs in English, Italian, Spanish, French, German, and Finnish. Its been more than just singing, Jade has benefited from a broad exposure to many cultures and people, and has enjoyed the social and fun aspects of learning in the Bernay Studio."


Diana Jonas-Dwyer, Booragoon

Love of Teaching

"Laura's love of teaching, patience, planning, extensive repertoire and
perfectionism has seen my three girls develop a real love of singing. They enjoy a wide repertoire of songs ranging from English and foreign language songs through to the much loved musical theatre.

Through Laura one of my girls successfully auditioned for a place in the children's Chorus of La Boheme and Carmen with the West Australian Opera Company. Laura has a fabulous voice and an infectious love for all things vocal. She is a perfectionist who will not settle for anything second class. It has been our privilege to have Laura enrich our lives."

Melissa Narbey, Nedland

Years 11 & 12 Singing Exams

"My singing lessons with Laura Bernay started 5 years ago when I was twelve. At this age I knew I loved to sing but only had the confidence to allow my Mum to hear me with her eyes closed.

Throughout my five year journey so far with Laura she has introduced me to all dimensions of music, from classical to musical theatre, from jazz to sacred song. Always encouraging me to perform, I am now a confident and ambitious performer.

With her gentle yet firm nature, contagious passion for the arts and genuine belief in me, I became the singer for both jazz bands at my school, St Hilda's Anglican School for Girls. I also have won various competitions such as Star Search and the Fremantle Eisteddfods and placed over the years in North Perth Eisteddfods. After the few years of exposing me to all kinds of music I decided to do Classical voice as my major for my year 12 music. With Laura's help not only did I recieve excellent school marks for performance but also great comments from my educators.

I was always commended on my pronunciation and understanding of foreign languages, both which were courtesy of the multilingual Laura who would always make sure my voice, wording and understanding of my pieces were perfect before any performance.

Even though I have not chosen to study music at university I will continue to take lessons with the wonderful Laura Bernay, not only because I have been told on many occasions one could not find a better singing teacher in Perth and not because she has given me every opportunity she possibly could in getting me where I wanted to be. It is quite simply because she passed onto me the thrill of learning knew things and the rewards of practice.

The excitement of reaching that note you could never reach and that little trick she could always do with her voice and you couldn't and mostly the belief that whatever she said I could do, I knew I could do it with perserverance, endurance and hard work. Laura Bernay is not just an amazing musician herself and not just a charismatic person and gifted teacher but she has also become a very important part of my life.

With her mountains of knowledge, clever wit and patience Laura Bernay truly can pass on the gift for a love of singing. I know because she did it for me and I can't thank her enough."

Yasmin Age 17, Peppermint Grove

Growing in Confidence

"For the last 8 years I have watched my child grow with vocal tuition with Laura. She has learnt so much, made new friends and grown in confidence. For me, the highlight is watching the concerts where all the voice students sing as a group, accompanied by many instrumental students."

Bruce & Cathy Sinclair, Floreat

Great Introduction

"Laura's classes have been a great introduction to music and group activities for my small son. Run with the imagination and firm technical background of our voice teacher I feel sure we are setting him up for life...!"

Violinist Mother, Shenton Park

Sharing Singing Together

"Voice training with Laura has been a delight for my youngest daughter (8 years old) and me. It has been a wonderful opportunity to share singing together, and to enjoy watching her develop a skill which I know gives her such pleasure. She is always eager to go to her lessons, and is willing to practise her latest song. I am surprised that she is so keen to sing her solo each week and is uninhibited and confident doing so - a great life skill to develop. Her teacher is sensitive to the strengths of each child and is encouraging, positive and has the children under her spell as she manages to makes the lessons an enjoyable challenge."

Jenny and Amelia