Services

Classical Voice

With a background in Voice, Opera, Theatre, Choral Music, and Vocology, Patricia is well-versed in technique that is grounded in voice science and pedagogy.

Professional performance experience and continuing education in Spain, Italy, Serbia, Austria, Taiwan, Qatar, USA and Singapore have molded her as a singer with a broad background and exposure to various schools of Classical singing (Italian, German, French, British).

Areas of specialization include vocology and vocal health, opera, and Spanish and Latin American Art Song. Basic foundation components of the singing process (respiration, vibration, phonation, articulation, resonance, registration) are actively studied and utilized through exercises and repertoire. Students will build stamina and achieve personal goals to find their best voice.

Patricia’s most recent roles with New Opera Singapore were in 2019 Queen Hippolyta in Britten’s “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” and 2018 in “The Dialogues of the Carmelites” by Poulenc cast as Mme. De Croissy.

Performance Review: Dialogues of the Carmelites

August 8, 2018. Dialogues of the Carmelites, New Opera Singapore, Victoria Theatre.

“Far more experienced performers inhabited the other main roles- American soprano Patricia Sands was a magisterial first Mother Superior, delivering a riveting death scene (is it one of the most horrifyingly real in opera?) with vocal acting that sent shivers down my spine.”

-Derek Lim, Flyinginkpot.com

Musical Theatre/CCM

Musical theatre and contemporary music have always been part of Patricia’s life beginning with her own high school stage performances in “Fiddler on the Roof” and “My Fair Lady”. Following her Bachelor’s degree, Patricia was Vocal/Music Director for several musical productions in high school settings, followed by becoming Director of numerous large stage high school productions around the world. Additionally she conducted choruses throughout her career as well as teaching classroom music and drama to many future professional performers.

Since arriving in Asheville Patricia has been involved as Director of Music in local theatre productions including Denton the Dragon the Musical (2022, Jeff Hutchins Productions), Working (2022, Parkway Playhouse) and teaching theatre classes (Asheville Community Theatre) as well. Musical theatre is included in CCM (Contemporary and Commercial Music) Pedagogy which Patricia studied at Shenandoah University for the Level 1, 2, and 3 Workshops for the Level 1, 2, and 3 Workshops. Patricia works with singer/songwriters in the Asheville area as well, working on vocal production, critiquing recordings, and holding vocology consultations.

Audition and Exam Prep

Whether you are preparing for university auditions or a local theatre or choir audition, Patricia can help you with repertoire selection, the audition process, making recordings, and making sure you are well-prepared. She has experience in IB (International Baccalaureate) Voice Exam preparation (a 2 year process) and recording, as well as ABRSM (Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music) exam prep including Aural, Sight-Reading, and Singing exam prep. Recent audition recordings resulted in Voice Major placement for one of her students at The University of Hawaii, while others have enjoyed placement in theatre and film concentrations around the world. Her most recent student’s singing exam results in 2020 (pre-Covid) were awarded the highest category, “With Distinction” for ABRSM.

Senior Voice

A particular area of interest is helping Seniors continue to sing well into their golden years. Vocal health issues and a look at why voices do not always work the same for some singers as they did when younger are worked through, as well as exercises to maintain and improve fundamental processes. Singing as breathing therapy (including post-Covid singing recovery) is also encouraged, provided doctor permission is granted in writing.

Transgender Singing Voice

Patricia can help with singing voice transitions and building a reliable singing voice for trans singers who are moving to a new fach, or, continuing on with their previous singing fach. Whether you are working with speech training given by an SLP, taking medication, and/or dealing with the effects of vocal fold surgery, we can work to carefully establish your singing voice through exercises and repertoire. Patricia participated in the Transgender and Gender Nonconforming Speakers; A Course for Voice Clinicians 2019 at Roosevelt University in Chicago.

Habilitation for Injured Singers

If you are in the Asheville area, have a recent voice diagnosis (pathology or non-pathology) from an ENT, are working with an SLP on voice therapy, and want to return to singing, Patricia can help you develop sustainable singing habits as a trained Vocologist from the National Center for Voice and Speech (NCVS). Patricia has worked with ENT patient referrals to help singers with post-polyp surgery, bilateral vocal fold nodules, previous aphonia or temporarily loss of all or part of their singing range, asthma/allergy, pre-nodular with edema, diastasis recti, muscular tension dysphonia (MTD), and young at-risk singers put on vocal rest and medication by their Laryngologist.

*Note that Patricia cannot diagnose Vocal pathologies or injuries. An ENT with Voice Specialization (Laryngology Fellowship) makes medical diagnoses and SLP’s (Speech and Language Pathologists) administer Voice Therapy.

Vocology Consultation

Are you a rock/pop or gig singer in the music industry?
A classroom teacher or church musician?
A professional voice-user?
Are you having vocal difficulties or unsure how to manage vocal issues that you are experiencing?
Are you unsure of what steps to take to get help for your voice?

Vocology consultations are available on behaviors and habilitation about how to manage your voice and what steps to take next. Discussion includes vocal hygiene, professional voice use, vocal habits, diet, sleep, medications, and other aspects that impact your voice.

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