Students will learn:

-Effective warmups to prepare the voice for vocalizing.
-To develop pitch and note recognition
-Proper posture and breathing techniques
-The difference between head, chest, and mixed voice
-Applying all of these techniques to sing favorite music of various styles

Carlehr Swanson (vocalist, pianist, speaker) is a 2nd year Ph.D. student in Music at the University of Virginia. She is a graduate of George Mason University and the Frost School of Music at the University of Miami with degrees in Jazz Vocal Performance. Before college, Carlehr accompanied and directed multiple church choirs. She credits this experience as significantly influencing her musicality. Upon entering college, she realized the absence of gospel music in higher education. Consequently, she co-founded and directed the Frost Gospel Ensemble. Giving back to her community and connecting with others has been an important theme in Carlehr's life, as she brings people together to serve the greater good. She is the founder and director of the organization "Music is Unity," where she takes music performances to people who may not experience them otherwise. Throughout this year, she has planned and performed more than a dozen virtual events for the community. In 2017 and 2022, Carlehr was 3rd Runner-Up (2017, 2022) in the Miss Virginia Organization and was named the People's Choice (2017). She continues sharing her social impact initiative, "Music is Unity.” Carlehr's career highlights include performances with Shelia Jordan, The Manhattan Transfer, and The New York Voices. Carlehr's greatest dream is to leave every place better than she found it.