testimonials.html

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title: Testimonials
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<h2 class="h1 max-width-2 animated fadeIn">Testimonials</h2>
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    {% capture my_var %}brian{% endcapture %}
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      <p class="h3 italic">
        "Paul is the most careful, nurturing, knowledgeable teacher that one could have the pleasure to work with."
        <a href="#{{ my_var }}" id="{{ my_var }}-show" class="h5" onclick="showHide('{{ my_var }}');return false;">More...</a>
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      <p class="h5 mb4">— Brian Giebler</p>
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    <div id="{{ my_var }}" class="more mb4">
      <p class="h3 italic">
        “My formative years under the tutelage of Paul was not only where I learned a solid foundation of Bel Canto singing, 
		but where I was allowed personal growth and room for exploration of what I had to offer through my voice. 
		Paul's passion for singing is apparent in each lesson through his care and specific attention to each student and their unique voice. 
		The joy and exuberance he displays when teaching and propelling each singer to their utmost potential is tangible, 
		and is certainly what makes them yearn for even more growth. 
		Paul is the most careful, nurturing, knowledgeable teacher that one could have the pleasure to work with. 
		You will walk away with a song in your heart, but more importantly, a reason to sing it.”
      </p>
	  <h4>— Brian Giebler</h4>
      <h6>
        Praised for his “lovely tone and deep expressivity” by The New York Times, GRAMMY® nominated American tenor Brian Giebler is consistently gaining attention for his vocal “shine and clarity” (Opera News). 
		His debut solo album, a lad's love on Bridge Records, has earned him his first GRAMMY® nomination for Best Classical Solo Vocal Album. 
		“The beauty, sweetness, and youthful sheen of Brian Giebler's extremely fine tenor” (San Francisco Classical Voice) and his "expressive and elegant phrasing" (Cleveland Classical) have been heard with The English Concert, 
		The Cleveland Orchestra, the Prototype Festival, Boston Early Music Festival (2020 GRAMMY® nominee for Best Opera Recording), Boston Baroque, Grand Rapids Symphony, Naples Philharmonic, 
		Mark Morris Dance Group (Mostly Mozart at Lincoln Center), Boston Modern Orchestra Project, Apollo’s Fire, Handel & Haydn Society, the Oratorio Society of New York (Carnegie Hall), and the Trinity Baroque Orchestra.
        Learn more about Brian on his <a href="https://www.briangiebler.com">website</a>.
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    {% capture my_var %}gregory{% endcapture %}
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        "I have always found Paul to have boundless and infectious positive energy."
        <a href="#{{ my_var }}" id="{{ my_var }}-show" class="h5" onclick="showHide('{{ my_var }}');return false;">More...</a>
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      <p class="h5 mb4">— Gregory Schmidt</p>
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        “One aspect of my singing on which I still regularly receive compliments is the soundness of my technique.
        I gratefully credit my studying with Paul for laying that solid vocal foundation.
        Paul has an excellent ability to help a singer eliminate unnecessary and unhelpful vocal habits,
        while leading the singer to find the strong core of his or her unique instrument.
        I have always found Paul to have boundless and infectious positive energy.
        He shares genuine joy with each step forward, large or small.
        The singer leaves the lesson exhilarated and enthusiastic to do more work.
        I wholeheartedly recommend Paul as a teacher for vocal students of all ages and experience levels.”
      </p>
      <h4>— Gregory Schmidt</h4>
      <h6>
        Gregory is on the roster of the Metropolitan Opera.
        In 2016 he made his main stage debut in productions of Anna Bolena and La Donna del Lago.
        He has sung leading roles with most of the regional houses in the United States,
        and has been a professional opera singer for more than 20 years.
        Learn more about Gregory on his <a href="https://gregoryschmidttenor.com">website</a>.
      </h6>
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    {% capture my_var %}benj{% endcapture %}
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      <p class="h3 italic">
        "I feel so lucky to have been his student and can't praise him often or loudly enough."
        <a href="#{{ my_var }}" id="{{ my_var }}-show" class="h5" onclick="showHide('{{ my_var }}');return false;">More...</a>
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      <p class="h5 mb4">— Benj Pasek</p>
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      <p class="h3 italic">
        "Paul is a wonderful voice teacher, mentor and friend.
        I had the good fortune of studying with him, where I learned the foundations of vocal technique,
        a sense of professionalism, and the art of storytelling through song.
        He provided me with countless opportunities outside of our voice lessons to grow as an artist and young man.
        He helps facilitate connections between his students and working artists,
        creates opportunities for them to perform in countless professional settings,
        and fosters a wonderful community of young performers where his students find a haven and home.
        I feel so lucky to have been his student and can't praise him often or loudly enough."
      </p>
      <h4>— Benj Pasek</h4>
      <h6>
        Benj Pasek and Justin Paul are the Tony/Emmy-nominated songwriting team behind the Broadway musical A Christmas Story,
        The Musical (Tony, Drama Desk, Outer Critics Circle nominations), Dogfight, (Lucille Lortel Award winner,
        Drama League, Outer Critics Circle, London Evening Standard Awards nominations),
        James and The Giant Peach, and Edges.
        TV credits include Smash, Sesame Street and Johnny and the Sprites.
        Pasek and Paul created the song “Unlimited” for Old Navy’s 2014 back-to-school campaign.
      </h6>
      <h6>
        Current projects include: Dear Evan Hansen (Outer Critics Circle Award, Obie Award, Helen Hayes Award, Drama Desk Award)
        premiering December 2016 at the Music Box Theatre on Broadway; La La Land starring Emma Stone and Ryan Gosling (Lionsgate);
        The Greatest Showman starring Hugh Jackman (FOX); Tom and Jerry Return to Oz (Warner Bros Animation);
        Trolls starring Anna Kendrick (Dreamworks Animation); Medusa (Sony Pictures Animation).
        Honors: Richard Rodgers Award for Musical Theatre (American Academy of Arts and Letters);
        ASCAP Richard Rodgers New Horizons Award; Jonathan Larson Award.
        Both are graduates of the University of Michigan and members of the Dramatists Guild of America, Inc.
        Visit Benj's <a href="https://pasekandpaul.com">website</a>
      </h6>
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    {% capture my_var %}amanda{% endcapture %}
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      <p class="h3 italic">
        "It was in his studio that I not only learned healthy technique, but I also learned to love singing more than I ever thought I could."
        <a href="#{{ my_var }}" id="{{ my_var }}-show" class="h5" onclick="showHide('{{ my_var }}');return false;">More...</a>
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      <p class="h5 mb4">— Amanda Jane Cooper</p>
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      <p class="h3 italic">
        "Mr. Paul Spencer Adkins changed my life. I came to him for voice lessons at age 15
        when I was considering auditioning for collegiate theatre programs.
        It was in his studio that I not only learned healthy technique, but I also learned to love singing more than I ever thought I could.
        Mr. Adkins is gifted with the ability to meet you where you are, on your vocal path as well as your path in life.
        He encouraged me, challenged me, sharpened me, guided me with a steady wisdom and intricate understanding of the voice as well as the soul behind it.
        I was greeted each week with a warm smile and kind words.
        Mr. Adkins has the unique gift to create an atmosphere that fosters creativity, focus and growth.
        His teaching was always clear, understandable and tailored exactly to me.
        He knows how to steer you away from bad habits and guide you to the healthiest place for creating vocal sensations.
        (It also really helps that he is an EXTRAORDINARY vocalist, an excellent musician and artist.
        His example gave me something wonderful to aspire to.)
        It is because of him that I had the confidence to audition for my dream school, Carnegie Mellon University.
        With his coaching, help with song selection, vocal guidance and his belief in me, I was able to give a great audition and ended up being accepted to CMU.
        I will always treasure my years in Mr. Adkins’ studio.
        He changed my life, as we say in WICKED, “for good”."
      </p>
      <h4>— Amanda Jane Cooper</h4>
      <h6>
        Amanda is currently playing Glinda on the National Tour of WICKED,
        reprising the role 4 years after her first run of the show in 2011,
        after graduating with a BFA in Acting/Musical Theatre from Carnegie Mellon University.
        She has performed for the First Lady at the Kennedy Center in Washington,
        D.C. and co-leads a gospel choir at her church in LA.
        Select television: Glee, Bones, Jessie on Disney, Masters of Sex on Showtime, CSI,
        HBO’s Hello Ladies. Select film: Cavemen, Smart People.
        Visit Amanda's <a href="https://www.amandajanecooper.com">website</a>
        or find her on <a href="https://twitter.com/amandajanecoop">twitter</a>
        & <a href="https://instagram.com/amandajanecoop">instagram</a>.
      </h6>
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    {% capture my_var %}kate{% endcapture %}
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      <p class="h3 italic">
        "We worked on the technique that allowed me to become a skilled vocalist,
        but more importantly, he showed me how to connect my voice to my spirit,
        which allowed me to become an artist."
        <a href="#{{ my_var }}" id="{{ my_var }}-show" class="h5" onclick="showHide('{{ my_var }}');return false;">More...</a>
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      <p class="h5 mb4">— Kate Ferber</p>
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    <div id="{{ my_var }}" class="more mb4">
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        "Paul wasn't just my teacher, he was my collaborator.
        He taught me how to listen to music.
        We worked on the technique the allowed me to become a skilled vocalist,
        but more importantly, he showed me how to connect my voice to my spirit,
        which allowed me to become an artist.
        I studied with him weekly from age 14 to 18.
        Today I am a professional performer and songwriter,
        and thanks to Paul I am living a creative life."
      </p>
      <h4>— Kate Ferber</h4>
      <h6>
        Kate is a songwriter and actress who recently performed a sold-out run of her
        one-woman original show One Child Born the Music of Laura Nyro at Oberon (A.R.T. In Boston),
        led the on-stage girl band of Urchins in Cleveland Play House's Little Shop of Horrors,
        and is recording forthcoming EP, The Great Thaw. Learn more about Kate on her
        <a href="https://www.kateferber.com">website</a>.
      </h6>
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    {% capture my_var %}beth{% endcapture %}
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      <p class="h3 italic">
        "He instilled in me a passion for creating beautiful sound that was all my own."
        <a href="#{{ my_var }}" id="{{ my_var }}-show" class="h5" onclick="showHide('{{ my_var }}');return false;">More...</a>
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      <p class="h5 mb4">— Beth Stafford Laird</p>
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    <div id="{{ my_var }}" class="more mb4">
      <p class="h3 italic">
        "Paul was my first voice teacher!
        He introduced me to a world of classical, jazz,
        and musical theatre material that would become
        the basis for developing a full, supported, and healthy voice,
        but most importantly a STYLE that was unique to me.
        That is what I appreciated learning from him most.
        He instilled in me a passion for creating beautiful sound that was all my own,
        and telling stories through music that came from my heart.
        He has an invaluable ability to fill his students with a joy for singing,
        and the confidence to express it."
      </p>
      <h4>— Beth Stafford Laird</h4>
      <h6>
        Beth is a Main Line native, a musical theatre actress, and currently living in NYC.
        She graduated from Conestoga High School in 2007, and Emerson College in 2011 with a BFA from Musical Theatre.
        She has performed on Disney Cruise Line, toured nationally with GHOST The Musical,
        toured internationally with Beauty and the Beast,
        and performed at regional theatres such as People's Light and Theatre Co.,
        North Shore Music Theatre, White Plains Performing Arts Center.
        To see and hear a little more about Beth,
        visit her <a href="https://www.bethstaffordlaird.com">website</a>.
      </h6>
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    {% capture my_var %}matt{% endcapture %}
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      <p class="h3 italic">
        "He understands what it takes to communicate the song to a listener, regardless of genre."
        <a href="#{{ my_var }}" id="{{ my_var }}-show" class="h5" onclick="showHide('{{ my_var }}');return false;">More...</a>
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      <p class="h5 mb4">— Matt Santry</p>
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    <div id="{{ my_var }}" class="more mb4">
      <p class="h3 italic">
        "Paul does much more than just teach proper vocal technique to his students.
        He understands what it takes to communicate the song to a listener, regardless of genre.
        He shares his experience and feedback in a way that's more like a coach, than a teacher.
        After each lesson, I always feel more confident than I did when I first walked in!"
      </p>
      <h4>— Matt Santry</h4>
      <h6>
        Matt is a songwriter, performer, producer and studio session singer.
        He's performed live on national TV on ESPN & NBC.
        His work has been featured on WXPN, NPR, WMMR, WSTW, CBS Radio.
        Learn more about Matt on his <a href="https://www.mattsantry.com">website</a>.
      </h6>
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    {% capture my_var %}rebecca{% endcapture %}
    <div id="{{ my_var }}-teaser">
      <p class="h3 italic">
        "Working with Mr. Adkins has always encompassed a warm and welcoming atmosphere radiating with positive energy."
        <a href="#{{ my_var }}" id="{{ my_var }}-show" class="h5" onclick="showHide('{{ my_var }}');return false;">More...</a>
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      <p class="h5 mb4">— Rebecca Sonia</p>
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        "I came to Mr. Adkins wanting to strengthen my vocal technique as a freshman in college.
        From my first lesson Mr. Adkins has continued to challenge and transform everything
        from my breathing and musicality to my acting.
        Working with Mr. Adkins has always encompassed a warm and welcoming atmosphere radiating with positive energy.
        He strives to bring out the best in his students and knows how to bring them to new levels.
        It is because of Mr. Adkins that I  have been able to achieve some of my goals and continue to have a successful career.
        I have grown professionally as an artist, as a singer, as a performer and as a person due to Mr. Adkins always encouraging me to do so.
        I feel very fortunate that I have had Mr. Adkins to help show me the way."
      </p>
      <h4>— Rebecca Sonia</h4>
      <h6>
        A graduate of The University of the Arts with a BFA in Jazz/Theatre Dance and Minor in Musical Theatre.
        Regional: West Side Story (Rosalia), White Christmas (Rhoda), Mary Poppins (Katie Nanna).
        NYC Workshops: The Verdon Fosse Estate with Ann Reinking, Mary Setrakian's Showcase at The Triad Stage 72 (Soloist).
        Concert Performance: Peter Nero and the Philly POPS featuring Capathia Jenkins, Ashley Brown and Rachel York,
        The Academy of Music Gala featuring Sting, "Weird Al" Yankovic on Tour and The BergenPAC Gala featuring Tony Bennett,
        Betty Buckley and Stephanie Mills.
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