Jane Edgren

Voice Teacher and Vocal Coach

Biography

Jane has been singing her entire life, and grew up in a musical household.  In addition to voice, she studied piano, violin, organ and guitar.  Her parents met through their singing and made it a family affair as they sang together as a duet team for many years, and as soloists.  Her brother is a pianist, singer and organist who works as a church musician.  Her children are also very musical as they both sing and play instruments.

Jane graduated from the University of Michigan as a Voice Performance Major and earned her Bachelor of Music, studying voice with Leonard Johnson.  During her senior year, the school gave her permission to take Masters Level courses in Voice Pedagogy, German Lieder and Interpretation of Song with Eugene Bossart.  Following her graduation, she continued her vocal studies with the respected New York City opera soprano, Eva Likova.  She later moved to New York City to continue her operatic training.

After a time, she began vocal study with the Metropolitan Opera soprano, Sherry Zannoth.  When Sherry received a contract to sing in Germany, Jane began working with her teacher, Maria Farnworth.  Her vocal coaches in New York included Benton Hess, Julie Kuipers, and acting with Jay Lesenger.

Jane has performed with opera companies in New York City, as well as a participating in an opera workshop at the Juillard School and seminars at the Manhattan School of Music.  During this time, Jane performed leading roles of Rosalinda in Die Fledermaus, Violetta in La Traviata, and Leonora in Il Trovatore.

She has performed as a soloist with symphony orchestras and choruses under the direction such conductors as Christof Perick, David Tang, Scott Jarrett and Peter McCoppin, and presented a number of recitals and concerts. She has appeared as a soprano soloist in concert with the Charlotte Symphony Orchestra in Rachmaninoff’s The Bells, Mozart’s Coronation Mass, and the opera Der Freischütz. More information about Jane Edgren can be found at JaneEdgren.org.

Teaching

Jane has taught voice throughout her singing career, and has embraced teaching singers of all different styles and genres.  She has many years of experience the teaching concepts learned from her rich background as a classical opera singer.  She is proud to teach the best aspects of healthy vocal technique to popular music singers to help them navigate the demands placed on their voices.  Her studio includes students who sing pop, rock, jazz, musical theater, contemporary Christian, folk, country, and classical.

Many of her students are working, professional performers pursuing singing careers as solo artists, or with bands.  Three of her students have made it through the first, second and third rounds of two different television reality singing shows.  Other students have released their own albums.  She was the vocal coach for the Christian rock band, Philmont, is currently working with two other Christian recording artists, including John Mark McMillan.

Jane has twelve years of experience teaching children both in her studio, and as the director of a children’s choir program at one of the largest Lutheran churches in the Southeast.  She also taught teaching Kindermusik for seven years.  Jane has a firm understanding of the child’s voice and is very particular about the training of young voices.

Jane studied voice with seven different teachers, as well as many vocal coaches. Each one of them brought their own special gifts to the table and helped her to develop her abilities as she gained knowledge and artistry from their teaching. Her teachers always encouraged Jane to teach voice, and she has done so throughout her singing career. As the years progressed, and as she gained a wealth of experience teaching, she began to refine the way she presents information to her students. As many non-classical singers joined her studio with little or no vocal training, and it became very clear to that their vocal lessons required a new approach. They needed clear and easily understood instruction to give them enough information about the voice without overwhelming them with too much technical detail, in order for them to have a reliable foundation and helps to create sounds that are strong, pure, and healthy.

Jane has been a member of the National Association of Teachers of Singing (NATS). Jane’s teaching resume can be viewed at JaneEdgren.com.