Hilerie Klein Rensi, Voice Teacher

THE Evelyn Hertzog IS Katherine in Newsies!🎶
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I will not embarrass her, but if you knew how far she’s come, you would run to purchase tickets for Upper St Clair High School’s production this weekend, only to see Evelyn living her best life.🗝
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I adore this girl and it has been an absolute pleasure to watch her step into herself. She’s confident, strong, kind, beautiful, with a voice to swoon over, and if you get her laughing, she will never stop. Especially during warm-ups… while topically hydrating her vocal folds… 💦IYKYK 🕊
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Evelyn, in my heart, you will always be the girl with the hair bows, directing/staging/producing/choreographing/building/costuming and starring in productions of Hamilton in your backyard with the neighborhood kids. I guess I always knew it would come to this moment, your senior show, but that doesn’t make it any easier. To you and all the Upper St Clair High School students I love, I will be out there on Saturday afternoon, hollering like the crazy music mom I am. I’m so proud of all of you. 🕊🗝🎶 ._clair

Literally Every Lesson🎶
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I love this picture of Linnea and I. Clearly she is struggling, and clearly I am laughing. But it’s ridiculous, no? We spend all of our time trying to figure out this crazy world of singing, and dots, and lines, and art, and all the things….🗝
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It’s hard! It makes no sense most days. But if you’re gonna laugh about it someday, you might as well start today. And maybe the laughter is how we figure it out. 🕊
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How do you keep your creativity flowing?🎶
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Sometimes in my life, I am so busy I can barely see straight, let alone make time to be creative. Then comes the shame spiral... "Are you singing?" "Did you practice today?" Blah, blah, blah.... 🗝
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But, if the ocean can ebb and flow, then I can too. Sometimes, it's a wave; sometimes, it's a trickle. Sometimes, it's a period of rest before the spring. Sometimes, the best thing I can do to keep my creativity flowing is to take a nap! 🕊
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What do you do to protect the creative Voice inside you? 🕊🗝🎶

Ava Blasey is Lorraine in Peters High School's production of All Shook Up!🎶
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This girl takes it all in stride, and no matter how bonkers life gets, Ava can find a million ways to laugh about it.🗝
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Talented, yes, and also loyal, determined, kind, and effortlessly blends charisma and grace on stage.🕊
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Can not wait for Saturday! 🕊🗝🎶

Welcome to my studio!🎶
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Let’s unlock your Voice and set it free! 🗝🕊
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So proud of these kiddos! 🎶
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Congrats, Lola and Jameson! Such a fantastic Mamma Mia at Chartiers Valley High School last weekend. Lola played Ali and understudied Sophie, WITH laryngitis. I heard her first few lines, and I thought... oh no! But then she danced, and I couldn't believe she was sick AT ALL! So much energy, confidence, and joy! 🗝
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Jameson was dragged kicking and screaming into his upper register for the role of Sam Carmichael, and you would NEVER KNOW IT! All his hard work paid off, and dare I say it, he surprised himself! I may have known he could do it all along, but far be it for me to say, "I told you so." 😉😘 🕊
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There. I said it.🎶
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I remember being a young voice teacher and thinking I had it all figured out. And then I remember the lessons that poked holes in all my “great solutions” for my student's struggles. I remember leaving my studio and wondering how all of these college degrees I was still paying for hadn’t prepared me for the challenges of teaching, how I could say the same thing to two students and have them interpret my words so completely differently. I remember one student actually getting worse from the same exercise that was launching another student into vocal stardom. I remember thinking, what do I actually know?! 🗝
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Then, a shift happened. The hardest lessons to teach became the most rewarding. Reinvention became fun! How many different ways can I explain this same concept? The more I dug into my understanding, the more there was to understand. And the more there was to understand, the more I could help myself and my students. Yes, my students sing on the biggest stages and are accepted to the country's top music and theater schools, AND I am humbled every day by all there is still to explore.🕊
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Learning how to sing isn’t a destination, it’s a journey. And if you think you’ve arrived, your voice is about to surprise you in the very best way. 🕊🗝🎶

That’s All Folks!🎶
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Next weekend is Noah Stiglich’s final high school musical before heading to a fancy musical theater college. Where? We don’t know yet. But I do know after 12 years of voice lessons, he’s ready. Even though I may not be…. 🗝
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Noah, you know I’ve loved you since you sang “Dream On” at 6 years old, in my living room, complete with air guitar. I’m not going to pretend I’m surprised that you’re performing Edward in Big Fish or that you’re going to make big, beautiful, musical waves on life’s stage; I knew it from the start. More than anything, I’m so proud of you and so deeply grateful. Thank you for every lesson, every text, every question, every voice crack, every story, every load of BS you tried to feed me, every eye roll (wait, those were always mine 🙄🤣), and every moment we couldn’t sing because we were laughing too hard. Thank you for your music. Thank you for your Voice. And thanks for always saving me a front-row seat. 🕊
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So many songs, so little time…🎶
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Sometimes we spend weeks finding the right song, and sometimes it hits us like lightening. Either way, no matter how many books I have, I’m always on the hunt for new music.🗝
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What’s your favorite musical theater song that most people have never heard of?🕊
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When life seems to be taking over my scheduled practice time, 🎶
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I practice breathing at a traffic light, vocal alignment while washing dishes, and support as I vacuum the house. 🗝
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And I often wonder, what’s the difference between hollering at my kids two floors away and belting? It’s a fine, fine line, folks. 🤣🕊
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Fire Breather! 🎶
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Between writing new songs, traveling all over the country, recording, and begging me to sing classical Italian art song in her voice lessons, Talie is performing Dragon in Shrek, The Musical at Canon Mac High School, because… well, she’s on fire. 🗝
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"There's nothing remarkable about it. All one has to do is hit the right keys at the right time, and the instrument plays itself,” said Johann Sebastian Bach about the piano.🎶
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Clearly, I am not Bach. 🤣 🗝
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? ? 🕊
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Reward Your Listener With Every Word🎶
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My father, a master of the short story, always told me, "Reward your reader with every word." Take nothing for granted because people's attention is a privilege. 🗝
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As singers, if our audience is listening, we are glad. So let's give them something to hear with every word and every note. 🕊
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This girl is going places! 🎶
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Lola Armfield, a brand new freshman at Chartiers Valley High School is Ali AND the cover for Sophie in Mamma Mia next weekend. 🗝
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Lola, you walked into a new school that felt like a new world! New friends, new teachers, new expectation, new auditions... the works. You took it in stride, stayed focused, determined, and above all, kind. I'm so proud of you, your hard work, and your indomitable spirit. I can not wait to see you next weekend! You've got this! 🕊
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So you did practice this week? Or you didn't? 🤣🤣🤣

What do you listen for?🎶
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Funny how two people can have completely different opinions on the same singer. Are they listening for the same qualities in the voice or different? Is everyone looking for beauty? Maybe not. Maybe one person likes a darker sound, and another likes a brighter one. Power? Vulnerability? Strength? Sorrow? None of the above? 🗝
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If I ask enough people, will I get consistent answers? Will there be a tie that binds? Or no? I guess we’ll see! 🕊
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Tickets Are Purchased!🎶
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I can't wait to see this kid knock it out of the park next weekend as Sam Carmichael in Chartiers Valley High School's production of Mamma Mia! 🗝
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Jameson, this part was a huge stretch for you. Neither of us saw it coming, but I’m so impressed by how you stepped out of your comfort zone and into this role. You’re ready! Take risks, sing big, and enjoy every moment. You’ve certainly earned it, and I’m unbelievably proud of you. 🕊
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Some Monday thoughts. I'm coming off another cold and kicking myself for not getting 8 hours of sleep a night. I know I need to, I know I should, AND I know I tell all my students to as well! But teaching till 9:30 at night very often leaves me wired and ready to run a marathon long after I should be in bed. And, no, I don't run marathons either, or even go for a walk nearly enough. I come home, eat dinner, hear about everyone's day, put out any fires, then squeeze in as much sleep as possible before the coffee pot turns on, I get a kiss on the cheek from my boys and they run to catch the high school bus at 7:30am. So yes, sleep is tricky. 🎶
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Here's what I'm learning though. Rest is possible. All I really need is silence and a little bit of time. Maybe I'm working in my office and take 5 minutes to stare out the window. Or, I'm driving without the radio on. Maybe I arrive early to an appointment and sit in the car. Or maybe I take time once the appointment is done, but either way I need silence. I need to be alone with my thoughts. I need to clear my head, my energy, my aura or whatever, but when I press on the break, just for 5 minutes, I rest. No input, no social media, no emails, no texts, no phone calls, no music, just stare. Think. Or even better, don't think! My brain sucks at making decisions, especially when I'm tired. I don't try to be mindful, or calm, or meditate. I just let the minutes tick by... 🗝
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Days move so quickly, but strangely enough, those 5 or 10 minutes, can take forever. My day gets longer, slower, and calmer. I find myself again. Maybe it's my hermit energy, but I can't be what I am for others if I can't be just me for me, for just a little bit. 🕊
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Anyway, if you need permission to zone out, this is your invite. If you're a student and want to spend the first 5 minutes of your next lesson looking out my window, I'm here for that. I'll join you! I'm sure the work we'll do after will be clearer, easier, and more focused. And I know your voice will be happier for it. Have a great Monday. Love you. 🕊🗝🎶

Ryder Boles- Singer, Dentist, Sociopath, and So Proud Of Him I Could Burst! 🎶
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What do you do if you’ve only performed R&B & jazz, then you tentatively audition for your school musical, only to find you’ve been cast as a serial killer? 😬 "When I started," Ryder confessed, "I was freaking out. I was like, I can not do this. I was forgetting lines all the time. I just couldn't get past the mental block, and I also wasn't practicing enough." So what did he do? Ryder jumped in with both feet. He watched every performance he could find, channeling Patrick Bateman from American Psycho with an Elvis twang. He upped his vocal practice, working on support techniques to widen his range and increase his power. Full disclosure? As his teacher, I'd never seen him work harder on something. I was impressed! This could have gone sooooo many ways.....
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“It all came together! I was on stage with the lighting, then they added the band, and I was locked in. We started with professional musicians, then added the student pit orchestra, and it got even better. I’ve played with bands, but this was completely different because I could do my own thing on stage. The band energized me and helped me channel the song, the character, and the emotion.” 🕊
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“In the past, I’ve had a hard time moving and working with the audience, but this experience made me a better performer. The more over-the-top you go, the better it is. It doesn’t really matter anymore. You’re not yourself on the stage, you’re someone else. So you don’t have to worry.” And this is why I love high school musicals, my friends, and all the performers that end up on the stage. .choirs 🕊🗝🎶

Why do you sing?🎶
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Is it because you want people to finally know how great you are? Because you want to be famous? Because your mom loves to hear you? Or you're ready to win the office karaoke competition? All these reasons are great, but what's tricky about having ONLY these goals is that they require other people liking your voice, giving you that big break, and telling you what an awesome job you did. 🗝
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Remember, my singers. No matter how amazing you are, and you are amazing, YOU receive more joy from your singing than anyone else does. "But isn't that selfish?" "Am I allowed to do something JUST for myself?" Yes you can. That's why singing is called a gift. It isn't just a gift for the world. It's a gift for you. Unwrap it, celebrate it, and enjoy. You deserve every bit of it and more.🕊
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Bella McKivigan is Judas this weekend!🎶
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Come hang out with me this Saturday night at The Collective’s gender bent production of Jesus Christ Superstar. My student Bella Mckivigan is Judas in this all female cast, and yes, there’s Open Mic and I’m hosting a masterclass this weekend at HVS, but I will not miss this production. 🗝
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doesn’t just put on great shows for high schoolers, Michael Campayno puts on a show that’s so good you forget that these are high schoolers. Add Bella to that with her voice, hard work and passion, and I will be cheering, and crying in the audience like the over-the-top theater mom I am. 🕊
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If you can’t make it Saturday, Bella’s also performing tomorrow, Thursday, January 11th at 7:30 pm and Sunday, January 14th at 8 pm. Tickets are available at wearethecollectivepgh.com. Now that I’ve gotten mine, you are all allowed to buy yours too… 🙃 if there are any left!🕊🗝🎶

My happy place. 🎶
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No matter what has gone on that day, as a parent, a wife, a friend, a homeowner, a singer, a teacher, a multi-business owner, or even just as a human being bumping into other human beings, all trying to co-exist on this endlessly spinning planet, when I sit at the piano bench the world stills.🗝
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A few deep breaths, quiet washes over me, and I can feel my heart open. Maybe it’s because my students need me to, maybe it’s because I need me to, although I’m sure it’s both, but I am my most present self when I teach. There is no past or future, just every note, expression, feeling, and every word, both said and unsaid. Then the world is bright, hopeful, musical, and joyful again.🕊
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So, as we close the book on the past year and look ahead to the future, if I have ever taught you how to sing, I thank you. Your presence on the other side of the piano has taught me to present on this side of the piano, right here and right now. And for that alone, I appreciate each of you more than you will ever know.🕊🗝🎶.

Look at these babies! How are these high schoolers? You hear them sing, watch them compete, and think... Wow! Where are they going to college? What show can I see them in next?🎶
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But guess what? One of these singers JUST got their first lead in a school show, one has NEVER gotten a lead in a school show, one prepared 8 roles for a community theater production last summer and didn't even perform ONE of them, one is releasing originals and negotiating a recording contract, and one was told it was time to start "sharing the roles" with less qualified, less prepared, but older singers. 🗝
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All these singers are now friends thanks to the Tri-State Chapter NATS (National Association of Teachers of Singing) Competition this past fall. They met, instantly became each other's biggest fans, warmed up together, sang and cheered for each other, competed against each other, and every one of them won in their category. 🕊
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How many lessons can one learn from a singular experience? I'll let you know. These babies are still teaching me.🕊🗝🎶 #

🌟✨ Student Win Wednesday! Paige Westbrook Takes Center Stage as Ariel Moore in "Footloose" at the Center for Theater Arts! 🎭👠

Get ready for a musical extravaganza as Paige Westbrook dazzles in the role of Ariel Moore in "Footloose" at the Center for Theater Arts. 🌈🕺 Join us for three unforgettable nights at Mt Lebanon High School on February 8-10, with an additional matinee on the 10th at 1 pm. 🎟️✨

🗓️ Performance Schedule:

February 8-10, 7:30 p.m. (Evening Shows)
February 10, 1:00 p.m. (Matinee)
🎫 Tickets: $12 each

Secure your seats now for an electrifying show that'll have you dancing in your seats! 💃🎤 Don't miss the chance to witness Paige Westbrook's incredible performance as Ariel Moore. 🌟

🎟️ Grab your tickets today and let's make these nights unforgettable! 🎉

God Bless Us, Every One🎶
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Since childhood, Charles Dickens has been one of my favorite authors. In fact, for a middle school assignment, I definitely picked him as the person in history I wanted to sit with on a park bench and discuss the world. Watching A Christmas Carol with George C. Scott, and reading Oliver Twist and Great Expectations left a profound impact upon me as a child, even before I could properly grasp all the layers of his writing, societal import, and tongue-in-cheek rebellious spirit.🗝
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Every year, I return to A Christmas Carol for one moment, when he wakes from the night's adventures with the ghosts of Christmas Past, Present, and Future, realizing the second chance they had granted him. "He was so fluttered and so glowing with his good intentions, that his broken voice would scarcely answer to his call." 🕊
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May you all experience the joy, revelation, and merriment of the season. And as you look ahead to the coming weeks and year, may your fluttering and glowing Voice answer the call of your every good intention. 🕊🗝🎶

Bella McKivigan and her Fabulous Sister Act 🎶​​​​​​​​​✦​​​​​​​​​✦
So you’re cast as a character that, on paper, seems completely different from everything you are and know: different life, experiences, goals, age… the list goes on. Now what?
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You find the ties that bind, the human part that connects us all. You step in someone else’s shoes, you walk in faith, and in doing so, you learn about who they are and who you are. What did Bella discover as Deloris in Sister Act at Freeport Area High School?🗝
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“My favorite number to perform was 'Fabulous Baby Reprise’ into ‘Sister Act.’ The songs go right into each other, from stop to finish, showing Doloris' complete character arc in those two songs. In 'Fabulous Baby Reprise,’ she talks about wanting to be this big star; she doesn't need the convent, and girls sing and dance with her. Then it shifts to the convent with all of the nuns, and Deloris says, ‘I can't do that.’ And then, all of a sudden, it's like this crazy loophole of everybody singing, and she just screams, ‘Stop!’ Everybody's gone, the stage is completely empty, and it’s just her and a spotlight, and she sings ‘Sister Act.’”
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“This show was the seniors' last fall play. I’m singing and thinking about us and the lyrics, “I've got my sisters by my side, I've got my sister's love and pride,” and I’m in tears by the song's end. The song isn’t about being a high school senior, but it made me cry most of the time I performed.”🕊
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