Shilpa Sharma has been teaching voice for nearly 20 years. She holds both a Master of Music in vocal performance and a Bachelor of Music. In the course of her schooling, Shilpa also studied vocal pedagogy and drama and theatre. Throughout her education she has studied with master singers from across Canada, the United States, and Europe.
Her own journey in becoming a singer began with voice lessons as a child. She had the opportunity to study a variety of genres including musical theatre and popular music but, with the encouragement of one her early teachers, began to focus on and fell in love with classical music, achieving high marks on the RCM Grade 10 exam.
Shilpa is constantly fascinated by what the human voice can do. Every voice is unique, and Shilpa strongly encourages her own students to discover their own voices through technique and by exploring different styles. She teaches a broad range of students of all ages, including adult beginners. Her students are pursuing a variety of musical goals, from classical music and preparing for RCM exams, to musical theatre and performing in the community, to popular music. Shilpa’s students have achieved high honours in competitions and RCM exams. She has also successfully prepared students for auditions. One of her former adult students has even recorded an album of his original songs.
Performing can be a very gratifying experience, and Shilpa encourages her students to take every opportunity to perform for others. She herself has wide-ranging experience as a performer. Her favourite operatic roles from her career include Hansel in Hansel and Gretel, Hermia in A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Nicklausse in The Tales of Hoffmann and Cherubino in The Marriage of Figaro. As a recitalist, Shilpa has enjoyed singing works by composers such as Brahms, Mahler, Fauré, Debussy and Britten, among others.
In addition to vocal technique and repertoire, Shilpa also teaches sight reading, ear training and music theory. These are included for voice students taking RCM exams and available for others who are interested in broadening their musical skills and knowledge.