Private Voice lessons in Opera, Art SOngs and Oratorio

Classical Voice Training

Looking to take your singing to the next level? Whether you're a teenager preparing for conservatory auditions or an adult exploring your artistry, I offer private voice lessons focused on building a strong classical foundation and expressive freedom. My students work on repertoire ranging from opera and art songs to oratorio and vocal chamber music.

Who I teach

  • Teenagers (14+) preparing for conservatory or university music programs

  • College students and emerging professionals

  • Passionate adult singers returning to classical music or looking to refine their skills

What YOu will Learn

  • Classical technique with a focus on vocal health and artistry

  • Breath support, resonance, and tone clarity

  • German, Italian, English, Russian and French diction

  • Interpretation of opera, Lied, and oratorio

  • Audition and performance prep with constructive feedback

About Dennis

I am a professional opera singer with international experience at Oper Frankfurt, Carnegie Hall, Opera Philadelphia and the Kennedy Center. I am a graduate of the Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia. My teaching blends traditional conservatory training with the real-world insight of a working performer.

Location & Rate

Location: Sleepy Hollow, NY or online (Zoom, FaceTime)

Rate: $150/hour

My journey as an opera singer has taken me all over the world to venues such as the Berliner Philharmonie, Washington National Opera, the Verbier Festival, Carnegie Hall, Opera Philadelphia, the Berliner Staatsoper, and most recently, to Oper Frankfurt. I have worked with conductors including Sir Simon Rattle, Gianandrea Noseda, Kent Nagano, Daniel Barenboim, Stanislav Kochanovsky, Karsten Januschke, Yannick Nézet-Séguin, Julia Jones, Geoffrey McDonald, and Karina Canellakis. Alongside my performance career, I am deeply committed to sharing the transformative power of music beyond the stage. With over a decade of experience teaching private voice lessons, masterclasses, and leading community outreach initiatives, I’ve had the privilege of working with students of all ages and abilities— helping each find their unique voice and artistic expression.

In my lessons, I begin with a physical warm-up, followed by vocal exercises, and conclude with repertoire. Throughout this progression, I tailor my approach to each student’s individual needs, focusing on releasing unnecessary tension and building proper support for sustained, healthy, and beautiful singing. Key areas of focus include breath control and airflow, body awareness and posture, resonance, and musicality.

My teaching is shaped by the techniques and wisdom I have gained from my teachers and mentors, including Marlena Malas, Laura Brooks Rice, Neil Shicoff, Tobias Truniger, Edith Wiens, Mikael Eliasen, Robert Holl, Elly Ameling, Caroline Dowdle, Ken Noda, Anne Sofie von Otter, Malcolm Martineau, Thomas Hampson and Matthew Rose. Their influence continues to inform my approach, ensuring a balance of technical precision and artistic expression.

I hold a Bachelor and Master of Music from the Curtis Institute of Music and the Universität der Künste Berlin (Julius Stern Institute), focusing on voice, conducting, and piano. I am also an alum of the Verbier Festival’s Atelier Lyrique, Switzerland, the Internationale Meistersinger Akademie (IMA) in Neumarkt, Germany, the Franz Schubert Institut in Baden bei Wien, Austria, and the Chautauqua Music Festival in New York.