About Me
My Credentials: Angela Irving graduated from the University of North Texas in 2004 with a Bachelors degree in Vocal Performance, having studied with Laurel Miller. She started teaching voice lessons right after graduating, particularly focusing on teaching high school students. Ms. Irving has enjoyed performing with many companies and groups in Austin while living in this wonderfully active music community. Currently, Ms. Irving sings with Texas Early Music Project which specializes in music from 1650 and earlier along with period instruments, Austin Cantorum which is a newly emerging high caliber pro choir, Tinsel Singers which is jazz arrangements of Christmas music sung A Cappella in SATB quartets, a newly created group of female singers from different world music traditions (Hindustani, Arabic, Balkan, etc.) that has yet to be named, and is an active member of One Ounce Opera which brings small bites of opera in English by diverse, living composers to audiences in unexpected places. In the past, Ms. Irving has perfomed with: the Gilbert & Sullivan Society of Austin, Inversion Ensemble, Austin Opera Chorus, Conspirare Symphonic Choir, a live remote choir based out of NYC called C4 Goes Remote during the lockdown portion of the coronavirus pandemic, Opera Outreach Programs SMART Opera and Opera Pals, has sung leads in musicals, including musical theatre pieces and chamber music that have been specifically written with her voice in mind, has sung in a few bands, including an indie acoustic band that performed at SXSW, backups for a funk cover band, and is currently in an early stages country band! Even though her pedagogy background is in classical technique, she welcomes all styles of singing in her studio. Her main teaching goal is to help singing be as fun, healthy, and fulfilling as possible, whatever style it may be. Ms. Irving enjoys being a lifetime learner, therefore there is no style of singing she won't try to learn about, help with, or do herself!
My students: Many of Ms. Irving's students have made 1’s at UIL Solo & Ensemble, District and State-levels, some of whom have been awarded Outstanding Performer at State. Many students have made All-Region Choir, 24 of whom have made the Texas All-State Choir. Most of the students she takes to the NATS Vocal Competition place in at least the Semi-Finals, about a 3rd have placed in the Finals, and a good number have won in their division. Many of her students have been awarded solos for their choir concerts, have sung leads in musicals, have performed on their own in various venues, even including Carnegie Hall. Her students have performed with the following organizations: Zilker Summer Musicals, Summer Stock Austin, Austin Opera Chorus, TPSMEA All-State Choir, Gilbert & Sullivan Society of Austin, Brevard Music Center Institute, Interlochen Summer Arts, Boston Conservatory Summer Program, Spotlight on Opera, Select Ensemble at the Long Center, Pre-Professional Company at Zach Scott, AISD Summer Musicals, TexArts, KidsActing, Texas A&M Singing Cadets, Panoramic Voices, Chorus Austin, Tapestry Singers, OAKE National Choir, the Vortex, in their own bands, on karaoke stages across Austin, and in various community theatres. She's also helped a good number of students prepare for music college auditions and get accepted to music programs at schools such as Belmont, Molloy Cap 21, Interlochen, Berklee, Bard, Rice, San Francisco Conservatory, Boston University, Syracuse University, University of Houston, University of North Texas, Oklahoma City University, Ithaca University, University of Toronto, University of Kansas City Missouri, Cornish College of the Arts, Wright State, Texas State University, University of Texas San Antonio, Baylor, Sam Houston State, Texas Lutheran University, University of Texas, Southwestern University, St. Edwards University, and AMDA, among others. Ms. Irving has a number of graduated students who now have successful music careers of their own!
My teaching goals: To help each student develop an awareness of their voice, singing habits, mental habits, and everything else that influences the singing process; to explore with each student ways of improving the voice, technique, overall performance, and musical knowledge and appreciation; to educate and train with vocal literature suited to each individual; to cater my teaching approach to each student’s personality and need, with an appropriate balance of vocal science (left-brain) and applicable creativity (right-brain); and to create a collegial, enjoyable, and safe environment for musical learning and vocal exploration.