Meet the Team
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This is an image of Alyson Isbrandtsen
Alyson Isbrandtsen has been a highly regarded singing/acting teacher for over 25 years, developing singers and actors of all ages who have appeared on Broadway, national tours, TV and film. Her students have included Noah Schnapp (Will on Stranger Things), Gabriella Pizzolo (Susie on Stranger Things), Eli Golden (Evan Goldman on Netflix’s ‘13 The Musical”) Colby Kipnes (Squirrel in Grey House (Broadway), Cody Braverman (Christopher Hillard in Mrs Doubtfire (Equity National Tour)), Annie Braverman (Young Anna in Frozen (Equity National Tour)), Leila Gross (Young Anna in Frozen (Broadway)), Mackenzie Mercer (Young Elsa in the Frozen (Equity National Tour)), Montgomery Lamb (Katie in School Of Rock (Broadway)), Riley Perler (Lulu in Waitress (Broadway)), Madisen Lora (Frannie in Theater Camp (The Movie)), Jack Sobolewski (Christopher S. in Theater Camp (The Movie)), Rachel Gordon (Cindy Lou Who in How the Grinch Who Stole Christmas (National Tour)), and Jadyn Schwartz (Small Allison in Fun Home (Equity National Tour)). Other students’ credits include Les Misérables (Equity National Tour), Mary Poppins (Papermill Playhouse), Sound Of Music (Papermill Playhouse), and more. Alyson also continues to scout talent on behalf of agents and managers in NYC.
Alyson grew up in show business. At 10 years old, she landed the part of Duffy in the first national touring company of Annie. Her other credits include Off Broadway shows, several national commercials, voiceovers, and various film and TV roles. During her years on stage and in front of the camera, Alyson was a member of Actors Equity Association (AEA), Screen Actors Guild (SAG) and AFTRA (American federation of television and Radio Artists).
She has had extensive training in Voice and Acting for over 40 years. Alyson began her transition to the other side of “the business,” working in New York City as a talent manager in the early 90’s. Since 2004, Alyson is also the co-founder and co-owner of Star Kidz, the popular children’s performing arts company in Westchester, NY.
As a voice teacher and coach, Alyson is a vocal technician and performance coach working with singers of all ages, abilities and styles. She strongly believes in continued education. A great voice teacher must always be learning the latest in vocal pedagogy and voice technique/methods. She has recently completed her certification in vocal pedagogy from Boston Conservatory/Berklee and is a member of NATS (National Association of Teachers of Singing) and NAMT(National Alliance for Musical Theater)
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This is an image of Darby Vincent
Darby Vincent is a recent college graduate who is living in Manhattan. She is originally from Springfield, MO, where she completed her degree at Missouri State University. Darby received a BFA in Musical Theatre, as well as multiple minors. While completing her degree, she developed a love for teaching and inspiring young performers to achieve their full potential as artists. In addition to performing roles such as Jo March in Little Women and Johanna Barker in Sweeney Todd: the Demon Barber of Fleet Street, Darby also loves directing. She recently directed a full scale production of 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee. Darby is always continuing to work on her vocal technique as well as her teaching skills and has worked with several vocal pedagogy experts and Broadway artists to further her training.
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This is an image of Anneliese Lomas
Anneliese Lomas is a voice teacher living in Connecticut. She has studied music and voice since 2005. She attended the New England Conservatory of music for opera where she studied under Jane Eaglen. At NEC she also gained a knowledge of the German and Italian languages. Anneliese attended Tanglewood as well as winning the Musical Club of Hartfords annual Competition. Her favorite roles she's gotten to play are Miss Hannigan in Annie and Tracy in Hairspray. Annelielse loves teaching voice in many styles; Classical, Opera, Pop, and Musical Theater. Besides teaching, Anneliese has a passion for gardening and reading as well as a love of all dogs which includes her Labradoodle, Frankie. She is excited to begin teaching the next generation and to share her love of music.
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This is an image of Verna Lowe
Verna is a well-respected acting teacher and professional acting coach who has been working with students in the Tri-State area for the past 15 years. Her students have booked work in film (Adam Sandler’s “The Week Of”, indie “Braid”, upcoming “Vanishing Shore”), television (Law and Order SVU, FBI Most Wanted), commercials, theater (Fun Home, Equity National Tour) and voiceovers (Nick Jr. “Bossy Bear”). Verna’s audition coaching has also helped her students secure admission to many colleges, conservatories and summer programs. Some of these schools and programs include NYU Tisch, The New School, Boston Conservatory, Circle in the Square Professional Acting Program, University of Michigan, Lee Strasberg Theatre and Film Institute, Norwalk Conservatory, Syracuse University, Ithaca College, Penn State and Interlochen Arts Camp.
Verna began her professional acting career while still in high school after booking her first commercial with a then fledgling HBO Studios. After graduating from college, she attended the Circle in the Square Professional Theatre Program in New York City where she studied with Nikos Psacharopoulos, Larry Moss, Michael Kahn, Terry Hayden, Jackie Brooks, Ed Berkeley, Debbie Heckt, B.H. Barry and Moni and Mina Yakim. Verna was honored to have worked with Daniel Sklar, bringing his critically acclaimed “Playmaking” program to the classrooms of third graders in the New York City school system. The program involved mentoring students in playmaking and directing student actors in the professional acting workshop at Circle in the Square.
Much of her instructional style is influenced by her longtime coach and mentor Zina Jasper.
Her regional theater credits include The Williamstown Theater Festival and Off Broadway she appeared in numerous productions with The Willow Cabin Theater Company and The Oscar Hammerstein Center. She also made numerous appearances in film, television and commercials and is a member of Actor’s Equity and SAG/AFTRA.
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This is an image of Caitlin Adler
Caitlin Adler is a voice teacher based in Manhattan and Westchester, NY. She received her Bachelor’s degree in Voice and Music Composition at Sarah Lawrence College, studying under world-renowned tenor Thomas Young. In addition to her private voice studio, Caitlin serves as part-time Choral Music Faculty at The Masters School (Dobbs Ferry, NY) and as Program Manager/Associate Conductor for the Westchester Children’s Chorus Southern Branch (Larchmont, NY). She sings professionally in both New York City and Westchester, ranging from sacred music (Larchmont Avenue Church; Temple Beth El of Northern Westchester; Asbury United Methodist Church) to rock and pop (Brooklyn Music Kitchen; Arlene’s Grocery; Connolly’s). As a voice teacher, Caitlin loves to meet her students where they are and establish a consistent, healthy physical platform, setting her students up for a lifetime of singing regardless of genre. Outside of her music career, Caitlin has a background as a professional Cheesemonger—she loves great food! She looks forward to sharing her love of music with her students.
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This is an image of Andrea Bensmiller
A native of Los Angeles, California, Andrea began singing early in life, and taught herself guitar at age 8 and piano at 10. By 14 she was taking her first jobs singing and playing at wedding ceremonies.
Andrea completed a dual Bachelors degree in Professional Vocal Performance and Music Business at Berklee College of Music in Boston. While there, she “gigged” the city on local stages learning the ropes as a performing singer/songwriter.
She returned to Los Angeles to work in film and television composition, producing music for four DVD releases for Margaret Cho, multiple cable television shows, and completing three independent albums with her original band. She has performed at The Mint, The Rainbow Room, The Joint and The Viper Room in Los Angeles. In 2008 she relocated to Las Vegas where she performed in duos and bands and co-owned two bands that performed regularly on many of Vegas’ largest stages.
Highly experienced in teaching pop, jazz, musical theater, and rock vocal methods, PLUS, guitar, piano, bass, ukulele, synchronization for instrumentalist singers and sight-reading for singers. Andrea can help prepare students for NYSSMA conference all state auditions. Eight past students have been accepted to Las Vegas’ prestigious high school of the performing arts Las Vegas Academy, and in 2013 voice/piano student Anna Christine was a featured performer on America's Got Talent, making it to the semi-finals of the show to perform live at Radio City Music Hall.
Andrea tailors her lessons to each students’ goals and learning style, while focusing on solid foundational technique. Her passion is spreading the joy of singing/playing and teaching new skills that generate confidence and inspire her students to reach for their musical dreams.