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Level-Up Performance Workshop
GUEST ARTISTS
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Join the Gerry Music Studio for an exciting one-day Level-Up Workshop, designed to give students of all ages and experience levels a unique opportunity to "level-up" their craft! This immersive experience focuses on strengthening essential performance skills in a supportive, engaging environment.
The workshop will run from 10:00am through the evening at Neffs UCC, giving participants a full day of growth, creativity, and collaboration. Throughout the day, students will work on key areas such as stage presence, musical expression, confidence, and technique through interactive sessions and guided coaching with guest teaching artists. Whether you’re just starting out or looking to refine your craft, this is a wonderful opportunity to grow and challenge yourself.
The day will culminate in an evening showcase performance at 6:30pm, where participants can share what they’ve learned with friends and family in a fun and encouraging setting.
Cost: $125 per participant (includes workshop fee, pizza, and t-shirt)
Payment is due by May 31 and can be made via cash, check, or Venmo.
A detailed schedule, policy form, and repertoire list will be shared with registered participants at the beginning of June.
We can’t wait to help you take your performance skills to the next level!
REBECCA SILER - Voice Coach
Soprano Rebecca Siler enjoys a singing and teaching career that has included work with some of the region’s premier institutions, including Opera Philadelphia, the Philadelphia Orchestra, and the Pennsylvania Ballet. As a founding member of The Crossing, Philadelphia’s multiple Grammy award-winning, critically-acclaimed new music chamber choir, she has performed with
such ensembles as the New York Philharmonic Orchestra, the LA Philharmonic, the American Composers Orchestra, the International Contemporary Ensemble, PRISM quartet, Bang on a Can, Klockriketeatern, and The Rolling Stones. Rebecca has been privileged to be a part of more than 30 recordings with the Crossing and over 70 world and American premieres as both a soloist and choir member. In addition to Philadelphia based work, Rebecca has performed
with various festivals and groups elsewhere, such as the Festival Dei Due Mondi, Bard’s Summerscape, Spire Ensemble, and the Wilmington Mastersingers. A graduate of the University of Delaware and East Carolina University, Rebecca currently teaches voice for Drexel University and Saint Joseph’s University, as well as in her private studio.
JEFF SPADE - Staging Coach
Jeff Spade is a stage director whose work spans both educational theatre and professional productions in musical theatre, opera and vocal performance. In academic settings, Spade has directed numerous school productions, where he is especially committed to fostering young performers’ growth, confidence, and collaborative skills.
Alongside his educational work, Spade has directed professional productions in musical theatre and opera, bringing his knowledge of vocal pedagogy into harmony with stage movement and vocal expression. He has directed productions at Washington Summer Opera Theater, The Amalfi Coast Music Festival, Shaker Mountain Music Festival, and OperaDelaware.
Spade is currently the Director of Music at the Rudolf Steiner School in New York City, where his composition EUREKA! The Life And Times of Archimedes premiered in April. He is a graduate of West Chester University with a Masters in Vocal Performance.
Philip Doucette
MA, MM, CCC-SLP, Singing Voice Specialist
Mr. Doucette holds a Master of Music in Voice Performance and Pedagogy from The Pennsylvania State University and a Master of Arts in Speech-Language Pathology from West Chester University. He is a member of The National Association of Teachers of Singing, The Voice Foundation, The American Speech and Hearing Association, the American Guild of Musical Artists and The American Choral Directors Association.
Mr. Doucette's interest in the human voice has taken him down many paths as a performer, collaborator, teacher, conductor and clinician. As a soloist, he has extensive professional experience singing in a variety of styles including opera, oratorio, operetta, choral, musical theater, and popular styles including folk, rock and pop. As an artistic collaborator, Mr. Doucette has had the pleasure of working with singers of the highest caliber in opera/bel-canto, contemporary/musical theater/pop-rock-RnB music, choral music, jazz, and non-western traditions including classical Arabic and Hindustani song. As a singing teacher, he has worked with both amateur and professional singers of many artistic styles.
Phil is a licensed Speech-Language Pathologist and experienced Singing Voice Specialist, with extensive clinical experience assisting individuals recovering from vocal injury as well as variety of speech, language, and swallowing dysfunctions. He has been a featured presenter for regional American Choral Directors Association events and presenting lecturer at several colleges and universities on issues relating to voice change in adolescent singers, special considerations for vocal instruction of young singers (ages 12 and under), and on voice health and care for the high-performance voice user.
As a choral conductor, he is Associate Director of The Wilmington Children’s Chorus where he serves as Director for the Tenor-Bass Choir, an ensemble for youth ages 12-18 in various stages of testosterone-dominant voice change, co-conductor of Youth Choir, a treble voice ensemble for youth ages 7-14, Concert Choir, a larger mixed voice ensemble for youth ages 13-19, and Chamber Singers, a smaller advanced mixed voice ensemble for youth ages 13-19. He has been a clinician and festival conductor for both ACDA and PMEA.
JILLIAN KREMPASKY - Scene Specialist & Performance Confidence Coach
Jillian Krempasky is a vocalist based in Allentown, PA. She received her Master of Music degree in Voice Performance from Rice University, and her Bachelor of Music degree in Voice Performance from Westminster Choir College of Rider University. Jillian is a proud alumna of the Gerry Music Studio. As a classical music soloist, Jillian performed in Beethoven’s 9th Symphony with the Symphony of Southeast Texas. She was a Houston District Encouragement Awardee in the 2023 Metropolitan Opera Laffont Competition.
Her operatic career highlights include the roles of Zerlina in Mozart's Don Giovanni (Shepherd School Opera), Cendrillon in Massenet’s Cendrillon (Westminster Opera Theatre), Hansel in Humperdinck’s Hansel and Gretel (Opera Steamboat OAI), and Dinah in Leonard Bernstein’s Trouble in Tahiti (Westminster Opera Theatre). Jillian was a two-year member of the DACAMERA Young Artist program in Houston, Texas, where she taught music-enhanced lessons to children of all ages, including topics such as "performing under pressure" to help students gain confidence.
MACKENZIE LYNCH - Scene Specialist & Improv Facilitator
Mackenzie Lynch is a singer, actor, and dancer based in NYC. She grew up in Schnecksville, PA where she attended the Gerry Music Studio for seven years! Mackenzie went on to graduate from Temple University with a BFA in Musical Theatre. After school, she performed with Disney Cruiseline as a Mainstage Performer, getting to portray Elsa in Frozen amongst other beloved roles onstage. Since returning to land, Mackenzie has led a couple of shows including Pretty Woman (Vivian) and Dear Jack, Dear Louise (Louise). In addition to performing, Mackenzie has a passion for theatre education and is thrilled to be a part of The Gerry Music Studio’s workshop this summer. Mackenzie teaches private acting lessons and always enjoys teaming up with Matt and Roni in their studio to help students feel confident and excited in their performance. Her teaching artistry has also been seen in the classrooms and onstage at Parkland High School as well as the JCC of Allentown.
BLAKE HOPPES - Accompanist
Blake Hoppes is a man with a passion for music. He began playing piano at age 11 and progressed quickly, dazzling New York with a performance at Carnegie Hall at only 17 years old. That same year he won an international piano competition in Denton, Texas. Recognizing that his abilities could pave the way for a lifelong career in music, Blake enrolled at Penn State in 1997, where he studied piano with Marylene Dosse and Dr. Timothy Shafer. He also served as accompanist for the Glee Club, during which time he toured Trinidad and Tobago, Colorado, and Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Blake graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Music Performance in 2002.
Blake has spent the past 23 years working as a sitework and process / mechanical estimator for Michael F. Ronca and Sons, Inc. in Lower Nazareth Township and currently serves as their Director of Engineering and Surveying. However, his music is anything but forgotten. He is the Minister of Music at Neffs, Union UCC and performs as organist, pianist and choir director on Sunday mornings. He is a frequent musical guest at wedding ceremonies and receptions throughout the Lehigh Valley. In his free time, Blake enjoys hunting, fishing, cheering on his beloved Penn State and Eagles football teams, coaching flag football and spending time with his family. He and his wife Kathryn are the proud parents of six children, including twins Jordan and Cayden, Gavin, Brooklyn, Lincoln, and Darren. Two dogs, a guinea pig, and a couple of reptiles round out his family’s crazy but beautiful life.