Barbara Bliss
The Barbara Bliss Vocal Studio

Contact Info:
barbara@barbarabliss.com
212-799-3424
http://www.barbarabliss.com

Styles Taught
Classical/Opera, Musical Theater, CCM/Pop

Biography

After winning the Maria Canals Concurso in Barcelona, Spain, Ms. Bliss sang with the Barcelona Symphony and began a career that included opera companies in Europe, South America, and the U.S.. She also sang with the Washington, D.C. Symphony and the New York City Ballet at the Merriweather Post Pavilion.

In addition to her classical engagements, Barbara Bliss was invited to perform her act "A Night in Vienna" at the Waldorf Astoria Hotel, The Pierre Hotel, the Essex House and the Lotus, Cosmopolitan, University, Knickerbocker and the National Arts clubs. She performed her cabaret acts at Judy's and Danny's Skylight Room in New York City and the Gardenia and Cinegrill in Los Angeles.

Barbara Bliss grew up in New York during the period when her grandfather, Cornelius Bliss, was chairman of the board of the Metropolitan Opera in the 1940s and then when her father, Anthony Bliss, held the same position during the '50s and '60s. During the '70s he was promoted to executive director. As a result, Barbara had a unique opportunity to witness the daily workings of the theater and to hear all the legendary singers of a period that is often referred to as the Met's Golden Age. Simultaneously, Musical Theater played a large part of her musical education and she was lucky enough to hear first-hand the likes of Ezio Pinza, Mary Martin, Robert Preston, Ethel Merman, and the very young Julie Andrews.

Barbara Bliss has been a member of the board of the Sullivan Foundation for 30 years where she has served as president for the past ten years and often as a judge for the annual auditions. She is also board chair of Encompass New Opera Theater.

Ms. Bliss has judged the Regional Metropolitan Opera Auditions in Los Angeles and audited opera companies for the National Endowment for the Arts.

I have been teaching in New York City and Los Angeles for 25 years. I believe in freeing the singing voice from extrinsic muscle tension so that each student can discover his or her own unique sound unencumbered.

Common problems that I have successfully corrected include too fast or slow a vibrato, a compressed larynx, a depressed larynx, and difficulty making a smooth transition through the passage.

I am often asked by classically trained singers to help them adapt to a musical theater sound, which I have been able to do with great success. I've also been able to to help "belters" find a head voice that they never knew existed.

I accept students of all ages and levels of proficiency as long as they are committed to the process of developing their instruments. Dancers and actors with no previous vocal training are also welcome.

Over the years, my students have appeared on Broadway in leading roles in Chicago, Les Miserable, Aspects of Love, and Cyrano and also on national and european tours in Chicago, Rent, King and I, 42nd Street, Starlight Express, and Secret Garden.

John Mercurio, pianist-composer, assists in my studio, upon request. He has accompanied many of my students for demo recordings and auditions. He also arranges and transposes music. He attended the Eastman School of Music (BM) and New York University (MA).

Please contact me directly for rates and policies.

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Here are what two of my current students had to say about me:

"Barbara is just amazing. I have never met a more wonderful and caring woman. She is so kind and knowledgeable, making her the person you want teaching you. Her techniques are wonderful. She will get your voice in incredible shape. She will strive to find the right exercises to get the most out of your voice. After a few months of studying with Barbara my voice was able to do things it had never done. (I have been singing professionally for 20 years!) I go home from every lesson smiling; it is the best feeling. The most impressive of all was the consideration and the thought she puts into her students. After only one lesson, when I came back for the second, she had a list of things she thought would be good for me to sing. I was so impressed with the thought she put into a new student."

---Roy G. Bean, Bari/Tenor: Mary Sunshine in Broadway's hit musical Chicago


"Thank you, Barbara, for your encouragement, your generosity of spirit, and for giving me the benefit of your wonderful knowledge of the singing voice. After a long time away from the business, it's good to be back, in large part due to you."

---Edward Bruce Stevenson, Tenor (as Edgar Stivan): Radio Italiana (RAI) Rome, Milan, Naples; The Montreal Opera; Dallas Civic Opera; Miami Grand Opera; Denver Opera (Met West); Seattle Opera; St. Louis Symphony; Cleveland Ballet, State Theater Inauguration.