Danielle Bissonnette

By Rita Gigliotti Edited by Danielle Bissonnette October was an incredibly rewarding month at Melodia Studio, as our students took to the stage in both the Northern Virginia Music Teachers Association (NVMTA) Musical Theater Competition and the Virginia National Association of Teachers of Singing (VA NATS) In-Person Auditions . I’m so proud to announce that for the NATS Musical Theatre Competition Olivia Ho, Anahi Salinas Rodriguez, and Chloe Corlett each earned 1st place in their divisions. ...

By Rita Gigliotti Edited by Danielle Bissonnette When one of my students called me from the streets of Pittsburgh before her mock college audition at the Pittsburgh Unified Auditions , her voice was trembling. “Can you ground me before I go in?” she asked. She didn’t need a pep talk. She needed calm. Her body, and her voice, were both in survival mode. Performance, whether for a mock audition or an opening show, often evokes fight-or-flight senses. That moment has stayed with me. It reminds...

Every young performing artist dreams of standing beneath the lights, hearing the applause, and feeling the thrill of sharing their voice. But what many don’t realize is that longevity in the performing arts doesn’t begin with talent. It begins with care.