A pioneer in voice education for children and teens, 
​​Vielka builds confidence and technique in young singers.

If you can talk, you can sing...and Vielka has the track record to prove it!

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Vielka has pioneered a happy and healthy singing approach
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resulting in students learning to sing in tune to those dazzling the stages of

school shows, family celebrations, LaGuardia High School, 

The Metropolitan Opera, Carnegie Hall and Broadway.
Molly Ranson, on Broadway in "A Fish in the Dark" with Larry David.

​Madeline Weinstein, on Broadway in "The Real Thing" co-starring Cynthia Nixon, Ewan McGregor, and Maggie Gyllenhaal.
​Most recently she was in Broadway's  "Harry Potter".
My daughter's two years of study with Vielka has had the obvious effect – that is a remarkable training in voice. But this training is about much more than singing; the benefit reveals itself in my daughter's increased self-esteem, confidence, discipline, and the satisfaction of professional accomplishment.”
–Carrie Rebora Barratt
Parent & CEO New York Botanical Garden
I just watched the video you sent of the girls and I have to say OMG.   I was so moved by how wonderfully they sang and moved in the most NATURAL  and COOL manner. They were all having such fun and really getting into their groove. Now I know why our daughter loved going to singing class.”
–Luigi Caiola
Parent & Five-Time Tony Award-winning Co-Producer, 
​including Dear Evan Hansen and The Color Purple
With a lifetime in music and music education, ​

​Vielka is an experienced guide

for developing teachers, artists, curricula and assessments.
 ​
As a Juilliard Global K-12 ​Music Specialist and Lead Teaching Artist at Carnegie Hall, Vielka was a thought partner for music teachers and created music education resources. She was formerly on the faculties of: New York University, Village Community School, City & Country, The Metropolitan Montessori School, and The Metropolitan Opera Guild. Vielka is an experienced music teacher, musical director, choral director, voice teacher, piano teacher, workshop presenter, curriculum and assessment writer, and arts administrator. ​

WORKSHOP FACILITATOR

The fact that everyone seemed almost sad when it was over, at 3pm on a Friday afternoon, is a great compliment to your engaging facilitation and teaching." - Participating Faculty Member, Beginnings Nursery School, New York, NY
  • "Vocal Audition Success" Webinar - preparing for the NYC Performing Arts High School vocal auditions. Young Singers Academy, New York, NY (May 2020)
  • "Finding the Play in Playing" National Webinar - reflection on teaching practice using submitted videos for 13 instrumental organizations around the country. PlayUSA, Weill Music Institute - Carnegie Hall, New York, NY (January 2018)
  • ​Panelist, "Interactive Performance ". Ensemble ACJW, The Academy-a program of Carnegie Hall, The Juilliard School, and the Weill Music Institute in Partnership with the New York City Department of Education, New York, NY (October 2015)
  • "The Art of Observation and Delivering Feedback," to Fellowship Advisors of Ensemble ACJW, The Academy-a program of Carnegie Hall, The Juilliard School, and the Weill Music Institute in Partnership with the New York City Department of Education, New York, NY (September 2015)
  •  "The Orchestra Moves" with Eric Booth, Richard Mannoia. Link Up National Conference, Weill Music Institute - Carnegie Hall, New York, NY (April 2015)
  • "The Orchestra Moves" with Eric Booth, Richard Mannoia. Link Up Professional Development Workshop, Weill Music Institute - Carnegie Hall, New York, NY (January 2015)
  •  "The Orchestra Sings" with Eric Booth, Richard Mannoia. Link Up National Conference, Weill Music Institute - Carnegie Hall, New York, NY (May 2014)
  • "Finding Your Voice". Beginnings Preschool Faculty, New York, NY (March 2014)
  •  "The Orchestra Rocks" with Eric Booth, Richard Mannoia. Link Up National Conference, Weill Music Institute - Carnegie Hall, New York, NY (May 2013)
  • "Backward Design". Arts Achieve Initiative, Weill Music Institute - Carnegie Hall, New York, NY (May 2013)
  • "Integrating Music into the Classroom". Beginnings Preschool Faculty, New York, NY (December 2012)

GLOBAL K-12 MUSIC SPECIALIST  & REGIONAL ADMINISTRATOR

THE JUILLIARD SCHOOL
A music education thought partner ​collaborating with Nord Anglia Education music teachers in Boston, Washington, D.C., Charlotte and New York City to implement the Juilliard Creative Classroom.
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ONLINE VOICE CURRICULUM ADVISOR

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THE COLBURN SCHOOL
Advisor of vocal compositions for Colburn's online voice curriculum for 4th-5th grade students.
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VOCAL DIRECTOR

Vielka was a very inspiring teacher. She taught me how to increase my confidence, and project my voice better." - Count Me In participant
CARNEGIE HALL
Developed and taught an audition preparation course for
the Count Me In after-school initiative, which provides support to New York City middle school singers looking to continue their musical growth at performing arts high schools. (Fall 2015)​

MUSIC EDUCATION MENTOR

Mentoring music teachers and teaching artists through observing, modeling, advocating and conversing on all aspects of music teaching and choral conducting has been an integral part of Vielka's work for the past 15 years.

Recent projects:
  • ​developing Carnegie Hall's "Blueprint School", a model of music education for NYC 
  • impacting student success through the Arts Achieve Grant, where her work was selected by the Executive Director of the NYC DOE Office of Arts and Special Projects to be presented at the annual Face to Face Conference by the NYC Arts in Education Roundtable and on the Arts Achieve culminating website.

CURRICULUM FRAMEWORK AND ASSESSMENT WRITER 
CARNEGIE HALL
Designed and edited content for Music Educators Toolbox as well as directed and starred in videos for this set of free online resources for music teachers. The Toolbox includes lesson plans and activities, summative and formative assessments, video examples, and documented best practices. (2009-2015)​

As leading ladies in plays, musicals, operas, film, concerts and recitals,

​Vielka has voiced the works

​of contemporary and classic writers.
​
A contralto, Vielka has performed as a featured soloist at Lincoln Center, the 92nd Street Y, the Knitting Factory and the United Nations among others. She most recently sang with the SoHarmoniums Women's Choir under the direction of Elizabeth Núñez, with performances at Merkin Concert Hall, Lincoln Center and Carnegie Hall.

PERFORMANCE HIGHLIGHTS

LIVE RECORDINGS

CRITICAL ACCLAIM

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“Vielka Kelly offered a nicely mysterious Pauline-Nightingale…” – Opera News

 
“Vielka Kelly plays Elsa Shraeder, the woman who almost becomes the children’s new mother, with just the right mix of moneyed superiority and melting human emotion when she meets the family and Kelly has a great voice as well.”-  The Hearthstone Town and Country

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As the proud New York City mom of a rising high schooler and middle schooler,

​my experience as a parent informs my work and vice-versa.
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PARENT-TO-PARENT RECOMMENDATIONS

Dance with Dionne


​If I could only choose 1 "baby class" to recommend in New York City, it would HANDS DOWN be Movement with Dionne. From pre-crawlers to walkers, Dionne is an educator's educator. Based on brain science and taught with grace, this class will bring joy, music and results in your baby's development! Classes are organized by pre-crawlers, crawlers and walkers.

Learn about Dionne here.

You can sign up for her digital classes here.
Vielka believes in lifelong learning and giving back to her profession.

PS 41: THE GREENWICH VILLAGE SCHOOL

​Vielka led vocal workshops and individual vocal coaching to 5th graders in preparation for the school musical and graduation. She established a relationship with Greenwich House Music School to offer a school chorus, "High Notes". In 2017-18, Vielka volunteered her time to teach monthly music class to about 350 children in Grades K-2 since the school had cut music education from the curriculum. Her efforts opened the door to a new understanding for the administration and staff of what music education could look like. She continued to support the music initiative as a member of the PS 41 Music Committee, which led to bringing the Brooklyn Conservatory of Music in as a sustainable music education program back into the school day.  
A BROADER WAY

​Vielka donated her time and expertise through a monthly voice class for A BroaderWay Campers.  A BroaderWay Foundation was created in 2010 by Idina Menzel and Taye Diggs and is dedicated to offering girls from urban communities an outlet for self-expression and creativity through arts-centered programs. The emphasis is on building self-esteem, developing leadership qualities and striving for personal and social achievement. Donate to A BroaderWay here!
MUSICAL DREAM

​She is currently on the Advisory Board of Musical Dream, which is a non-profit organization helping talented and motivated young people in the New York Metropolitan area with financial need receive professional music instruction.
Click here to donate. >>

NEW YORK SINGING TEACHERS' ASSOCIATION

​Vielka is a long-time member of the New York Singing Teachers' Association, where she has attended numerous workshops on singing and attended The Oren L. Brown Professional Development Program Courses in Voice Acoustics and Resonance, Vocal Health, Singer’s Developmental Repertoire, and Comparative Voice Pedagogy.
NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF TEACHERS OF SINGING

​As Corresponding Secretary, Vielka served for five years on the Executive Board of the National Association of Teachers of Singing - New York City Chapter, where she helped organize, publicize and produce several professional development workshops for voice teachers. She continues to be a member.

KODÁLY ORGANIZATION OF NEW YORK - ORGANIZATION OF AMERICAN KODÁLY EDUCATORS
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​As a Board Member of the Kodály Organization of New York, Vielka served as the Voices United! Annual Children’s Choral Festival Chair for five years, uniting hundreds of children each year to  sing and learn from master choral directors, including Helen Kemp, Pamela Simpson, Susan Glass and Betty Bertaux.
Vielka is grateful for the world-class mentors with whom she has studied.
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DEGREES

Bachelor of Music in Classical Voice
​Manhattan School of Music
Master of Arts in Music Education
​New York University

CERTIFICATIONS  IN  MUSIC  EDUCATION  METHODS

  • Dalcroze Level I Pre-Certificate, Dalcroze Teacher Training Institute, Lucy Moses School
  • Kodály Certificate, Kodály Summer Institute, New York University
  • Montessori Music Heritage Certificate, Marcia Perez
  • Orff Level I Completion, New York University
  • Kindermusik Certification (ages infant to seven years)

CERTIFICATIONS AND COURSES IN VOCAL PEDAGOGY

  • Contemporary Commercial Music Vocal Pedagogy Institute, LoVetri Method Level I and II, Shenandoah University, VA
  • Voiceworks Method Total Singer Workshop with Lisa Popeil
  • Acoustics of the Vocal Tract, The Oren L. Brown Professional Development Program Courses, NYSTA
  • Vocal Health, The Oren L. Brown Professional Development Program Courses, NYSTA
  • Singer’s Developmental Repertoire, The Oren L. Brown Professional Development Program Courses, NYSTA
  • Comparative Voice Pedagogy, The Oren L. Brown Professional Development Program Courses, NYSTA

VOICE  TRAINING

David Jones
Lori McCann
Hedley Nosworthy
Rita Shane
Patricia Misslin
Anne Phillips

DICTION 

Thomas Muraco
French
Robert Cowart
​German & Italian
Gait Sirguey
​French Literature &
Recital Coach
Kathryn LaBouff
​English Diction

ACTING

DANCE
Carolyn Marlow
Francis Patrelle

Let's Connect!

Let's Talk!

Email Me!
vielka@youngsingersacademy.com

    I'D LOVE TO HEAR FROM YOU!