Katie Lou Agresta
 Singing & Vocal Coaching Legend

Born into a family of musicians, Katie first fell in love with music at the tender age of five when she began taking paino lessons at her parents' music store. It wasn't long after that she began to sing as well, a talent quickly recognized by family and friends. By age 15, this talent had earned her notable distinction as church soloist within the local community. Katie would later go on to college, studying music at Hofstra University in Hempstead, NY, where she earned her BA, and apprenticing under some of the greatest vocal trainers of the day.
Credentials

Professional Training
Education
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BA in Music, Hofstra Univeristy, Hempstead, NY
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Vocal technique, as taught by the late Dr. Edward J. Dwyer (20 years -originator of this technique) and Edwin McArthur (14 years)
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The New York Mastery/Actor's Institute, with Dan Fasse and Elle Ellsworth
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Further study with more than 25 music coaches, emphasizing language, speech, diction and acting
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The Singing Actor's Workshop, with Wesley Balk, Minnesota Opera Institute
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Training Modalities: Transformational Ray and The Ray of the Nine Healing Techniques (as taught by Genny Weintraub), Harmonic Healing with tuning forks, the Middle Pillar Healing Technique, Chakra Alignment, EST with Werner Erhardt, Courses with Anthony Robbins, Justin Sterling (author of "Women, Sex & Power") Martin Cohen (author of "All About Men/All About Women").
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Seven years' training at Bayard Hara Associates Inc., including courses in Direct Centering, the intensive Management, Marketing and Client Techniques, life games, lifestyle courses & power both as a student and on-site leader.
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Pilates (5 years); Gyrotonics (5 years); Dance, Tap and Body Movement (5 years).

 

Experience
Vocal Studio Teacher and Owner
Katie Agrest'a private vocal studio was incorporated in 1984, offering both individual and group vocal technique, therapy and performance, as well as coaching for language and diction while also providing song interpretation and performance training.
Speciality
The studio specializes in extremely damaged voices, including treatment of nodules and other related vocal pathology caused by over-singing and extensive touring.
Consulting and Production
Katie Agresta provides career, tour and recording consultation and preparation, as well as Master Classes at Mannes' School of Music, Queens College, and UCLA, among others. She has co-worked with Grammy Award and Tony Award winning singers and producers, co-produced vocal tracks and provided production support as well as on-site coaching for a wide and varied host of clientele. She has also served as a recording studio consultant for several major and independent labels, including (but not limited to) The Hit Factory, Record Plant, The Power Station and Sony Studios.
Notable Projects: Consultant to Bon Jovi World Tours; Jersey Boys (Tony Award's Best Musical 2006); trained principles and cast members of Rent, Jekyl & Hyde, Jesus Christ Superstar, Ragtime, Les Miserables, Chorus Line, along with many others.
Singer & Composer
Katie Agresta has performed Opera throughout the U.S and abroad, as well as several solo recitals while on tour in Italy. She has released a CD of meditational chants, Inside the Light, for Aubrey Records and composed the score for Hell, an off-Broadway show. In collaboration with Edgar Grana, Katie also wrote for The Mass of the Innocents.
Accomplishments
Radio and Television
Appearances on radio and television talk shows throughout the U.S. and Canada, including CNN, Discovery Health Channel with Dan Ho.
Publications
Articles citing work have appeared in: Musician Magazine, The New York Post, Newsday and The New York Times. Wrote for The Music Paper (7 years).
Lectures and Seminars
Lecture and host seminars in the U.s> and Canada.
Certifications
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The Radiance Technique (TRT) 4th Degree Reiki Master Practitioner
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Kundalini Yoga Level One Instructor, Ray of the Nine, Transformational Ray and Middle Pillar Practitioner
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DMA (Divisional Macrostructural Alignment) Technologies for Creating Instructor
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NY State Certified Guitar Instructor. Taught music in the public school system, District 23, L.I. NY

Awards
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Pan Am International Voice Competitions Award
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New York Singing Teachers Young Artist's Award

Click here to learn about Katie's meditations CD