Work With Me
Ways to Work Together
Whether you're developing your own voice, working with a choir, or planning a performance, there are different ways we can work together.
Private Voice Lessons
People come to singing lessons for all sorts of reasons. They bring different experiences, ambitions, questions and ideas about what their voices can — or should — do. And not everyone who comes for a singing lesson thinks of themselves as a singer. Some have a very particular goal in mind — an audition to prepare for, a song they want to sing, or an occasion they want to feel ready for. Others are just beginning to explore their voice, returning to something they've loved, or continuing a journey they've been on for years.
What matters is understanding what brings you here, what you'd like to achieve, and what might help you get there.
We might explore technique, repertoire, musical expression, or find a different way into something that has been difficult. We'll try things, notice what changes, and work towards understanding what helps, why it helps, and how to make that change repeatable.
Whether we work together towards a particular moment or over a much longer time, the starting point is always the person in front of me.
Workshops
Workshops are an opportunity to explore ideas together, ask questions, try things out and discover what might be possible. They should be fun, engaging, inclusive and imaginative, with room for curiosity, laughter and the occasional unexpected discovery.
Some groups have very specific goals. They might want to explore a particular piece of repertoire, work on aspects of vocal technique, or develop their musical expression. Others might not be entirely sure what they need. Sometimes another set of ears, a fresh perspective or a different approach can open up possibilities that weren't immediately obvious.
I work with choirs, teachers and other groups to develop sessions that respond to their particular needs and interests. My experience in classroom music teaching, individual voice lessons and choral direction informs how I approach this work, finding ways to make unfamiliar ideas accessible and practical while keeping the music — and the people making it — at the centre.
Choral & Vocal Consultancy
Sometimes it's helpful to have someone to think things through with. Someone who can offer another perspective, ask different questions, and help you explore possibilities without assuming that something needs fixing.
Consultancy might involve working directly with a choir or ensemble, but it doesn't have to. I also work alongside conductors, teachers and organisations to consider repertoire, vocal development, rehearsal approaches, programming, or the wider questions that come with leading and supporting a group of singers.
The work might begin with a particular challenge, an idea you'd like to develop, or simply a desire to explore something differently. It could involve a single conversation, a series of sessions, or ongoing input as ideas are tested, developed and refined.
I'm not there to take over or impose my way of doing things. I bring my experience, curiosity and practical knowledge to a collaborative process, respecting the expertise and understanding that people already bring to their own work.
Soprano Soloist
I've performed regularly as a soprano soloist for more than two decades, working with choral societies and ensembles in Auckland and around New Zealand. My repertoire spans sacred and secular music, from early works through to contemporary compositions.
My performing life also includes chamber choir singing, touring and recording. I've enjoyed collaborations beyond the traditional classical concert setting too.
I love the different demands and possibilities of solo and ensemble singing. There is something special about the individual responsibility of a solo line, but equally about the listening, responsiveness and collaboration involved in making music together.
I'm available for concert, recital and recording engagements.
“The wonderfully pure soprano of Rachel Alexander
was exactly what Poulenc had in mind.”
John Button · The Dominion Post
The options above are starting points, rather than an exhaustive list of possibilities.
Perhaps what you have in mind draws on more than one of them. Perhaps none quite fits. Or perhaps you're not entirely sure what you want or need yet, and would simply like to explore some ideas.
I'm always happy to start with a conversation. I don't want to close any doors on possibilities that might emerge.
Something Else in Mind?