MIA GIMENEZ
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​GIMENEZ VOICE ACADEMY
(fka Fryvecind Voice Studio)




It is the mission of Gimenez Voice Academy:
To help singers discover and develop the full potential of their voice by nurturing the growth, endurance and resiliency of the voice and the student and providing opportunities for artistry and expression in support of Singing – the most personal art form in existence.



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Ella Vakiner is CARNEGIE HALL BOUND (11/22)

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    We are proud to announce that another Gimenez Voice Academy singer WON the      American Protégé International Voice Competition in Musical Theater and will      perform at Carnegie Hall in November 2022 representing the US and Iowa.

Ella Vakiner is sixteen and a sophomore at Iowa City West High School. She is involved in cheerleading, choir, show choir, theatre, and student government. Ella made her performing debut at age 3 as an angel in Metropolitan Ballet of Topeka’s Nutcracker and her theatrical debut at age 6 in Nolte Academy’s Alice in Wonderland. She has been taking private voice lessons from Mia Gimenez since she was 11. She won 3rd place in NATS Iowa 2021 and got an Honorable Mention in NATS Iowa 2022. She was also a finalist in the Hal Leonord Vocal Competition. She won 2nd place in American Protégé International Vocal Competition. She loves to sing at her favorite local venues, Sidekick and Brick and Iron. So far in her career, she has been in a total of 26 musicals/plays. Her favorites include City Circle Acting Company’s productions of  Spamalot (Laker Girl, Show Girl, and Frenchie) and Newsies (Nun, Bowery Beauty, and Goon), and Young Footliters’ production of Suessical Jr. (Mayzie La Bird).
PHILOSOPHY
Gimenez Voice Academy believes in three words made famous by Joseph Campbell "Follow Your Bliss."  If you are following your bliss, you are enjoying that refreshment, that life within you, all the time. 

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Vocal performance is a medium in which we can express inner thoughts and emotions.  When we sing we are automatically vulnerable.  It takes a lot of courage.  Through music we cope.  We take a journey of our souls and hope to give our audiences that opportunity to look inside their own soul.  Singing moves us into an elevated consciousness. In the lyrics we express desires and dreams. 

Singing exercises regions of the brain that are used in math, spatial understanding, reading and expression of emotion.  Musical training as children develops these humans and makes them better listeners.  Studies suggest that music lessons enhance lifelong listening and learning.

My studio focuses on various genres and encompasses all singing styles.  I teach classical to rock.  The singer chooses the song.  I provide technical expertise to produce a sound that relies on muscle memory so that when students perform, they’re thinking about the expression of the lyrics through the music.
 

SPECIALTIES
Mia specializes in voice for the actor and the changing adolescent voice with an emphasis on musical theatre and classical vocal training techniques. Private lessons are essential to the development of any singer. The studio is open to all ages and abilities. With Mia’s coaching you will dive deeply into technique focusing on breath and support.  Learn what your instrument is capable of, and receive custom feedback that will allow you to create the instrument you’ve always known you have.  Gimenez Voice Academy is a safe place to try new things, make mistakes, and see how far you'll go. Together we will discover your habitual and emotional stumbling blocks and transform them into assets. 
 
Mia is a certified member of the National Association of Teachers of Singing. She is the acting Vice President for the Iowa Chapter of the National Association of Teachers of Singing.

Mia will help you to create a vision for your career. You’ll learn to package yourself as a performer including the creation and development of your book. Mia can also help you to prepare for recitals, auditions, performances, recording sessions or competitions.
 
Contact Mia to explore and discover the power of your voice.

Voice techniques
  • Keeping your voice healthy
  • Achieving a relaxed sound
  • Well-balanced vowels
  • Vocal tensions and their remedies
 
Breathing techniques
  • Alexander technique
  • Breath management
  • Spinning on the breath
  • Connection to your instrument
 
Body mapping
  • Identify tension
  • Develop muscle memory
 
The Changing Adolescent Voice
  • What is happening?
  • How to navigate it
  • Select appropriate repertoire

Performing
  • Voice for the actor
  • Audition techniques
  • Theatrics of singing
  • Comedy
  • Performance coaching
  • Improvisation
 
Styles
  • Musical Theatre
  • Belting
  • Classical
  • Opera
  • Rock
  • Singer-Songwriter
  • Folk
  • Pop
voice_class_and_clinics_for_singers_2022.pdf
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American Protégé - Classical Voice & 'We Sing Pop'
​Congratulations for placing in the international vocal competition
 

5 Students placed in the international voice competition! These students prepared Pop songs. We couldn't be prouder. 
2 of these students have been invited to make their Carnegie Hall debut in 2021.
Congratulations to Abril Hamity, Allison Reed and Julia Kartvelishvilli for their 3rd Place victories too!
1 student received 2nd Place in the classical voice category and will also perform at Carnegie Hall in 2021  
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Julia K. won 2nd Place in Classical Voice & 3rd Place in the Pop Category. Julia will make her Carnegie Hall debut in 2021 performing a classical aria.
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Lovella V. won 2nd place in the 'We Sing Pop' competition and will make her Carnegie Hall debut in June 2021
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Ian Allen won 2nd Place in the 'We Sing Pop' competition and will make his Carnegie Hall debut in June 2021.

Congratulations to 2021-21 NATS Central Region Finalists!

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Beau wins 3rd Place in High School Classical TBB. Qualified for Nationals!
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Ryann wins 1st Place in High School Musical Theatre Treble. Qualifies for Nationals!
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Sean wins Honorable Mention in High School Classical TBB. Qualifies for Nationals.

Congratulations! Bellagrande International Music Competition

Julia K. wins FIRST Place in classical voice for her age group.  You can watch the winner's concert here. (Julia's performance begins at 15 minutes.)
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Congratulations to 2020 Hal Leonard Vocal Competition Winners!

It is with great pride and my esteemed honor to recognize 12 Fryvecind Voice Studio Students who earned national recognition in the 2020 Hal Leonard Vocal Competition.  ​https://www.halleonard.com/vocalcomp/

All totaled Fryvecind Voice Studio sent 27 students to compete in the Hal Leonard Vocal Compeition, a national competition with 0ver 1,100 contenders.  Fryvecind Voice Studio we had 12 students receive national recognition. That's nearly half of the Fryvecind Voice Studio contenders.  

In the 12 and Under Musical Theatre Category: Julia K., Maya H. and Nora Y. who are named SEMIFINALISTS. Over 250 students competed in this category nationwide. You can view their award winning performances on the Fryvecind Voice Studio Facebook page.

In the 12 and Under Art Song Category:  Luke R. is named a Semi-Finalist. Over 150 students competed in this category.
            Julia K. is named a FINALIST! 

In the Early Teen Musical Theatre Category (age 13-15):  Abril H., Lilly V. and Andreas W. are named SEMIFINALISTS.  Over 250 students competed in this category nationwide. You can view their award winning performances on the Fryvecind Voice Studio Facebook page. 
In the Teen Musical Theatre Category (age 16-18):  Ian A., Shoshie H. and Beau L. are named SEMIFINALISTS. . Over 150 students competed in this category nationwide. You can view their award winning performances on the Fryvecind Voice Studio Facebook page. 

KATEY HALVERSON was named a FINALIST in the Teen Musical Theatre Category.
We are so proud of Katey Halverson who was named a FINALIST in the 2020 Hal Leonard Vocal Competition in the age 16-18 Musical Theatre category! Over 150 students competed in this category nationwide. Watch Katey's amazing award-winning performance singing "So Much Better" from Legally Blonde and "Journey to the Past" from Anastasia. https://youtu.be/evPzLA9Eh5I

A HUGE Thank YOU to our incredible collaborative accompanists Lee Ng. Special thanks to Nolte Academy for your support!!

National Association of Teachers of Singing
​2019-20 Central Region Winners!

Fryvecind Voice Studio sweeps 1st place in High School Musical Theatre Treble and Musical Theatre Tenor/Bass/Bariton at Central Region NATS (Iowa, Illinois, Missouri). On the horizon, National Semi-finals! 

Congratulations to Katey Halverson who won FIRST PLACE in the High School Treble Voice Musical Theatre Category
             Watch Katey's award winning performance here 
https://www.facebook.com/elaine.allen.501/videos/10215238489546848/
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Congratulations to Ian Allen who won FIRST PLACE in the High School Tenor/Bass/Baritone Musical Theatre Category
             Watch Ian's award winning performance here 
https://www.facebook.com/elaine.allen.501/videos/10215238489146838/
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Fryvecind Voice Studio students had an amazing opportunity to participate in local promotion at Sidekick Coffee and Books for the he new children's book from Doubleday, written by John Robert Allman and illustrated by Peter Emmerich. From Audra McDonald to Liza with a "Z," this is a showstopping alphabet book featuring your favorite leading ladies of the Broadway stage! Buy the book! 

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