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Meet Your Teachers

All teachers are trained and mentored by our Principal Teacher Jess. We believe in working together to make sure our students receive the best tuition available. Jess will often pop her head in on lessons to give feedback and advice. 

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Jessica Soden

Studio Owner and Principal Vocal Tutor

Qualifications

Master of Music Studies (Vocal Pedagogy), QLD Conservatorium of Music

Bachelor of Primary Education, Wollongong University

Diploma of Youth Work, TAFE Illawarra

Vocal Acoustic Pedagogy, New England Conservatory

Advanced Certificate Estill Voice Training

Jess has grown up in the Illawarra and has been active in the local theatre community for over 20 years. After being mentored in singing teaching by local teachers she moved to QLD to study the specifics of the craft. Here she studied under the leading voice teachers in the country; Irene Bartlett and Adele Nisbett. This course taught the specifics of how to change your voice to suit different genres of music as well as how to produce any sound you want without hurting yourself.

Before moving away to pursue tertiary studies, Jess had many years of vocal and dance training under local teachers, she undertook exams in AMEB and ISTD (tap and jazz). In 2007 Jess started a vocal group for local youth through Shellharbour City Youth Services, whilst studying for her Diploma of Youth Work. Jess then went on to complete an Advanced Certificate in Estill Voice Training whilst completing her Bachelor of Primary Education.  

After completing her Masters degree in QLD, she returned to the Illawarra and taught at the Wollongong Conservatorium of Music. Here she taught both individual lessons and choirs to great success. Jess is currently teaching singing at the University of Wollongong alongside the studio.

Some of her student achievements include:

Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, QLD Professional Production.

The Magic Flute, Opera Australia.

(Jess prepared the choir for this performance).

'The Voice Kids' TV show.

Current professional gigging musicians (names undisclosed for privacy).

Successful entrance into Universities. 

Honours in AMEB examinations. 

 To find out more about Jess's teaching methods please click the 'about' section of the website. 

Naomi Grace

Senior Vocal Tutor

Qualifications

Associate Diploma of Singing Teaching (ACVA) 

Naomi is a local singer songwriter and has just completed an Associate Diploma in Singing Teaching through the Australian College of Vocal Arts. She is excited to bring her extended knowledge to her students to help them achieve their musical and singing goals.
Naomi is an experienced performer having showcased her talents at venues such as Relay for Life, ONE Music Festival and local school fetes.
She has also been performing in local Musical Theatre since 2017 in shows such as Mary Poppins, Annie, Aladdin Jr and Sound of Music. She is now a part of the Vocal Team for Junior Albartoss Musicals (JAM) in Nowra.
In her spare time she loves to write and arrange her original songs based in the Christian Contemporary genre.

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Ava Fahey

Associate Vocal Tutor

 Ava is a local performing artist with a love for musicals and commercial music. You will often see her singing with her guitar in the Shellharbour area. Ava has studied singing under the guidance of Jess Soden for the past 3 years and loves that she can now start teaching the next generation of singers.

When she is not singing she is working as a teacher's aide at the Nowra Christian School. Ava is also studying a Bachelor of Arts at The University of Wollongong with the goal of becoming an English Teacher. 

Ava always brings a smile to her student's faces with her love and boundless energy. She is always up to date on the latest music trends and is our go to teacher for song ideas!

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Josie

Student Teacher

Discount available for students booking in Term 1 2024.

 Bio Coming Soon!

Join the Team

This studio is planning to grow and requires more teachers. 
All applicants must have qualifications in their instrument or have significant industry experience. Teachers at IVA are expected to access professional development opportunities annually. This studio believes in team teaching so it is imperative that you are open to collaboration. Not a vocal teacher? Perhaps you can add expertise in another area such as performance coaching, accompaniment or sound production. IVA believes in quality education and pay rates will reflect this. 

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