Why Melodia Studio Is Becoming The Gigliotti Center for the Performing Arts and Well-Being
- Rita Gigliotti
- 3 days ago
- 3 min read
For more than a decade, Melodia Studio has been a home for young performing artists in the Washington D.C. area to develop their voices, their confidence, and their love of music. It began as a traditional private studio, rooted in individualized instruction and a deep respect for craft. Over time, however, something bigger started to take shape.
What once fit neatly inside the word “studio” no longer does.
As the scope of the work has expanded, so has the vision. What's emerged is a clearer articulation of what has already been happening for years. That evolution is why Melodia Studio is now The Gigliotti Center for the Performing Arts and Well-Being - a performing arts center serving families across Northern Virginia and the Greater Washington DC area.
From Studio to Center
Melodia Studio was founded in 2012, at a time when the focus was primarily on vocal training and performance preparation. Since then, the work has evolved far beyond weekly lessons.
Today, students are not only building technical skill, but learning how to navigate performance anxiety, manage pressure, develop emotional resilience, and sustain their well-being alongside artistic excellence.
Parents are supported, too, with guidance on how to show up for their young performers without unintentionally adding stress or strain.
A center reflects this full ecosystem: a hub for education, mentorship, collaboration, and growth, centered on the whole performing artist.
Why “The Gigliotti Center”
The Gigliotti Center places the work directly in relationship with the philosophy and leadership that has shaped it from the beginning. With over 20 years of experience, this name reflects the body of work I've built over years of performing, teaching, directing, researching, and mentoring across K–12 education, higher education, professional performance, and academic research.
Performing Arts and Well-Being. Together.
The inclusion of well-being is deliberate.
At The Gigliotti Center, performing arts training and well-being are inseparable.
Students prepare for auditions, performances, and professional expectations while also learning sustainable skill-building practices that support social, mental, emotional, and physical well-being. This integrated approach helps young performers build confidence, manage pressure, and remain grounded beyond outcomes.
This philosophy is shaped by years of studio teaching, classroom experience, and ongoing doctoral research focused on music, learning, and performer well-being.
A Growing Team of Teaching Artists
Another reason the word “studio” no longer fits is the growth of the team.
What began as a one-person practice has grown into a collaborative team of eight teaching artists and specialists…and counting!
The Gigliotti Center now brings together professionals with expertise in vocal performance, musical theater, acting, speech-language pathology, and performer well-being.
This team-based model allows students to benefit from multiple perspectives while remaining grounded in a cohesive, shared approach to performing arts education.
Workshops and Performing Arts Programs
Alongside weekly instruction, The Gigliotti Center offers a range of workshops and programs designed to support students at different stages of development.
Recent and upcoming offerings include:
Musical theater workshops for advanced young performers
Acting for Stage programs for beginner and intermediate students
Broadway-level voice arrangements and performance coaching for productions
Workshops focused on well-being and sustainable skill-building
In addition, the Center regularly hosts free events, clinics, and informational sessions for students and families. These offerings are a core part of the mission, ensuring access to guidance, education, and support beyond paid instruction.
A Center Serving Northern Virginia
The Gigliotti Center is based in Oak Hill, Virginia, serving families throughout Fairfax County and neighboring communities, including Loudoun County, Arlington County, and Prince William County.
While the Center does not yet operate from a single physical location, its in-person and virtual offerings allow students across the region to access high-level performing arts training. More information about a future physical location will be shared closer to 2027.
What This Means for Students and Families
For current and future families, this name change represents clarity, not disruption.
It means:
A continued commitment to high-level performing arts training
Expanded opportunities through workshops, masterclasses, intensives, and guest artists
A philosophy that values both artistic excellence and well-being
A growing, collaborative team aligned around student-centered training
The heart of the work remains the same. The language has finally caught up.
Looking Ahead
The transition from Melodia Studio to The Gigliotti Center for the Performing Arts and Well-Being marks a moment of alignment.
It reflects what has been built, honors where the work is headed, and creates space for continued growth, without losing the care, rigor, and individuality that have always defined it.
Welcome to the next chapter.
In Harmony, Rita Gigliotti
Super excited for what lies ahead.
Love this!
Very exciting!