TUITION AND FEES
Tuition is $90 for 45-minute weekly in-person lessons and $110 for 60-minute lessons. Payment is due at the beginning of each month for lessons scheduled during that month. Invoices will be emailed 7 days before the first of the month. You may pay by check, cash, or online (by clicking on a link within the invoice).
There is an annual $150 nonrefundable studio administration fee. This helps cover the costs of maintaining the website calendar, invoicing, answering email, scheduling rehearsals, hiring accompanists, etc. Additional fees for studio classes, recitals, and competitions will be invoiced as they arise.
CANCELLATION POLICY
I require 24 hours' notice for canceled lessons. Students who cancel with a minimum of 24 hours' notice will not be charged. Use the website calendar to cancel and reschedule lessons (contact me to reschedule multiple lessons). Lessons canceled with less than 24 hours' notice will not be refunded or rescheduled.
A student who decides to leave the studio will not receive a refund for any remaining lessons scheduled that month.
STUDIO CLASSES and RECITALS
Studio classes provide opportunities for students to practice performing by memorizing songs to sing for each other. A professional accompanist is hired to play for students at my studio. Dates are posted on the web site calendar. I do not have enough room in my home to include friends and family at the studio classes, but they are most welcome at the formal recital in June. All students are invited to perform at the recital, which is held at a local church. The studio class fee is $10. The recital fee is determined by adding up the costs (accompanist, venue rental) and dividing by the number of students participating.
PHOTOS
I occasionally post photos of recitals, competitions, and studio classes on social media. Agreeing to this policy statement means you allow the use of student photos. If you do not agree, please let me know in writing.
COMPETITIONS
These are optional, but for those who like to compete, I enter students in competitions sponsored by the following organizations: National Association of Teachers of Singing (NATS) and the Northern Virginia Music Teachers' Association (NVMTA). There are many other competitions students can enter without my sponsorship. Dates for competitions will be posted on the web site calendar as they become available.
ACCOUNTS
Please note that parents and children have separate logins. Parents have their own user name and password and can access account information through the student portal. Children do not have access to account information, but they can cancel and reschedule their own lessons on the calendar.
2023 Governor's School
Paja Clark
Freshman/Sophomore MT
Hannah Moghaddar, 1st place
Freshman/Sophomore Classical
Grace Paul and Hannah Moghaddar, 3rd place
2021 Virginia NATS Competition
Category 15, Youth
Madelyn Regan, 1st Place
Honors: Ainsley Buice, Mira Flood
Category 1A, High School MT Freshman/Sophomore:
Lola Farkas, 2nd Place
Honors: Hannah Moghaddar, Jillson McGarry, and Grace Paul
Category 3A, High School Classical Freshman/Sophomore:
Hannah Moghaddar, 2nd Place
Grace Paul, 3rd Place
Honors: Jackie Copeland
Category 1B, High School MT Treble (Junior/Senior):
Madison Shannon, 3rd Place
Honors: Ella Reidway
Category 19, Adult MT Women
Jessi Shull, 1st Place
2020 NVMTA Musical Theater Competition
Division 1
Mira Flood, 1st Place
Madelyn Regan, Honorable Mention
Division 2
Grace Paul, Honorable Mention
Division 3
Madison Shannon, 3rd Place
Maya Kischler, Oklahoma City University. Maya will be majoring in Dance.
Joe Malone, Best Actor in a Musical
Carolyn Best, nominated for Best Comic Actress in a Musical
The cast of Catch Me If You Can, nominated for Best Musical
Congratulations to Hana Tawil for being selected for the 2019 NATS National Student Awards Finals, and to Parker Waters for placing 1st in Classical and 2nd in Music Theater at the 2018 NSA. Parker and Hana had to compete at the State and Regional levels, plus submit a video, in order to make it all the way to Nationals.
2019 NFMC & Bland
Congratulations to Madeleine LeBeau for placing second in a nationwide vocal competition sponsored by the National Federation of Music Clubs, and placing first in Bland for the state of Virginia.
2019 VANATS Results
Max Branciforte: 2nd place in Upper High School Musical Theater
Josh Lemons: 2nd place in Lower High School Classical, Honors in Musical Theater
Madeleine LeBeau: 1st place in Upper High School Musical Theater, 2nd place in Upper High School Classical
Carolyn Best: 3rd place in Upper High School Musical Theater
Hana Tawil: 3rd place in College Junior Women Musical Theater
Rachel Bloom: Honors in Upper High School Classical
Noelle Buice: Honors in both Upper High School Classical and Musical Theater
Julia Ferri: Honors in both Upper High School Classical and Musical Theater
Danielle Huser: Honors in Upper High School Musical Theater
Eleanor Jacobson: Honors in both Upper High School Classical and Musical Theater
Joe Malone: Honors in Upper High School Musical Theater
Grace Shields: Honors in Upper High School Musical Theater
Annie Wood: Honors in Upper High School Musical Theater
Congratulations to Noelle Buice, Julia Ferri and Madeleine LeBeau, who will be singing in the Virginia All State Choir in April. Congratulations to Adellaie Jung, who is a 3rd alternate for All State.
Congratulations to Abby Middleton, who was nominated for a Helen Hayes Award for Outstanding Leading Actress in a Musical! Abby just finished playing The Little Mermaid at Toby's Dinner Theater.
"Mrs. Smith provides an extremely supportive learning environment in her studio, which was absolutely crucial to my development as a performer. She always encouraged me to work hard to reach my goals and never give up on my dreams. Without Mrs. Smith’s constant wisdom and compassionate teaching, I would never have gained the confidence, opportunities, and success that I have today.”
- Amanda Mason