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Julie Reed graduated from the University of Denver in 1994 with a Bachelor’s Degree in Music – Vocal Performance.
She immediately started teaching private voice lessons and performing in Operas and other venues.

My Musical Journey

When I started teaching voice and vocal performance 25 years ago, I knew I wanted to create something different than what I had experienced in my own vocal lessons. Even though I had fabulous teachers, I felt woefully unprepared when I got to college. I had numerous performance opportunities in my youth, but I did not have the musical theory and knowledge to match my talent.  I felt like I was drowning in my music classes; there wasn’t enough time for me to catch up.  I remember sitting in my theory class as they were talking about a musical concept assuming everyone knew all of the key signatures – which I did not. I felt ashamed and embarrassed. I knew right then that I never wanted any singer to feel that way; I wanted to create lessons and programs that would prepare young singers to fully succeed with their talent.

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Singers tend to get to college behind the game compared to instrumentalists. An instrumentalist learns theory as part of learning their instrument. Piano players have to learn the notes & rhythms to be able to play their songs, especially to make it into a music program. Violinists have to learn the sound of the relationship of notes in order to play accurately. Singers on the other hand are selected only based on raw talent. They find themselves thrown into a sea of instrumentalists and graded against them. As you can imagine, this is overwhelming! Fully half of the music majors at Denver University dropped out of music by the end of their sophomore year because of this technical handicap.

For years in my vocal performance studio I did my best to prepare young singers with a holistic approach to music. Sadly this is impossible with only 30 or 60 minutes once per week. While I succeeded in giving my students some basic knowledge, I wasn’t satisfied with their total preparation. I wanted to have a greater impact on them, to have them receive all the knowledge they needed to thrive in any higher education musical program. This includes theory & ear training, performance, diction, repertoire, and practical applications in time management, goal setting and vision creation – in short, knowledge and training for the student as a whole person.

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Over the years an idea began to form. Drawing from years of experience as a student, performer, director, and a private teacher, I began to see how to solve the problems I had experienced myself and had seen so many promising musicians experience. Elite Vocal Academy began to take shape. In it I have created an environment in which all of the musical performance elements any young musician needs to succeed are experienced in depth. Over a two-year period, students are exposed to and immersed in learning, performing, and practice in meaningful and effective ways. Graduates are in a superior position to compete and excel in college and in a vocal musical profession afterwards. They have the technical know-how, the self-discipline, the performance mind-set, positive habits, and the hours of practice needed to be confident in their musical future.

My life mission is to support and train young singers to be the best they can possibly be! When this idea formed I felt like my years of experience in different musical areas converged and I could see that they were preparing me to offer this unique program to the world.

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Performing Credits

Opera

  • I Pagliacci

  • La Traviata

  • Don Giovanni

  • Cosi Fan Tutti

  • Der Fliegende Hollander

  • Aida

  • Tosca

  • Down in The Valley

  • Suor Angelica

  • Christopher Columbus

Concerts

  • Lucia Di Lammermoor/Duet –Lucia @ Centennial Philharmonic

  • Lucia Di Lammermoor/Sextet – Lucia @ Centennial Philharmonic

  • Three Soprano’s Concert – Soprano #2 @ Salida Steamplant

  • Denver Lyric Opera Guild – Soloist

  • Metropolitan Opera Contest – Soloist

  • Herriman Live – Soloist

Musical Theater

  • Valentine Cabaret

  • Hello Dolly

  • Night at the Library

  • Smile

  • Cabaret

  • Guys & Dolls

  • Wizard of Oz

  • 42nd Street

Performing Credits

Vocal Director

  • Joseph & The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat

  • You’re A Good Man Charlie Brown

  • Music Man

  • Sound Of Music

  • Annie

  • Copacabana

  • Hello Dolly

  • Herriman Cabaret (writer & vocal director)

Choir Director

  • Herriman A Capellas

  • Herriman Community Chorus

  • American Heritage Singers

  • Trebalaires

Founding Credits

  • Herriman Community Chorus

  • Herriman A Capellas

  • Herriman Valentine’s Cabaret

  • American Heritage Singers

  • Trebalaires

  • Ensemble Experience Mentor Program

Teaching Credits

  • Private Voice Lessons – 1994 to present

  • Regis University – Vocal Professor

  • American Heritage – Choir Director & Music Education

  • Aurora High School – Vocal Coach

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