Why I Coach Singers, and My Bel Canto Mission

Thirty years ago, I made a decision that changed my life forever. I walked away from my 9-to-5 as an Economics MBA student, leaving behind a stable but uninspired path. The spark? Watching the movie Amadeus and hearing the Queen of the Night’s aria for the first time. That moment lit a fire in me. I knew I had to follow my dream of becoming a singer, no matter how impossible it seemed.

That dream took me to Verona, Italy, where I trained with the legendary Aida Meneghelli, who had the same teacher as Maria Callas: Elvira de Hidalgo. Aida drilled one message into me over and over:
"Bel Canto is almost extinct. Our technique is nearly gone. You must have students one day to do your part to keep it alive."

For five years, I trained six days a week under her watchful eye—the same rigorous training that shaped the greatest singers of all time. I was the only one she trained this way, and it was both a privilege and a responsibility. Today, I carry that responsibility as my mission: to preserve and pass on this legendary technique.

A Lesson in Discipline

Aida was very old-school. She believed in discipline above all else. I had chronic neck issues and headaches from a previous accident that caused whiplash, and sometimes I felt too unwell to sing. But Aida didn’t want to hear it.

If I called her and said I wasn’t well enough to come to my lesson, her response was always the same:
"OK, I see you in an hour. You still have to sing."

If I tried to object, she would cut me off:
"Do you have a sore throat? If not, you are singing. The audience is going to pay a lot of money to hear you perform, and they won’t care how bad you feel. They care about you singing. So unless your throat is sick, you are singing."

Looking back, I am so glad she was like that. She taught me how to sing well no matter how I felt personally. I got used to pushing through discomfort and trusting my technique to carry me. It was a lesson that stuck with me and one I now pass on to my own students.

Just two days ago, I had a similar experience with one of my students, Swedish soprano Ella. She had suffered a migraine attack earlier in the day but still decided to attend her lesson. She started off singing terribly—her voice reflected how she felt physically.

But by the end of the lesson, things had completely turned around. With the right technique tweaks, she ended up singing beautifully. I showed her how to anticipate and address the problems her physical condition created, so she could sing well despite them. Her comment said it all:
"Wow, this really is where the technique kicks in and saves the day. It’s all about technique, isn’t it?"

Ella came into the lesson looking exhausted and defeated, but by the time we said goodbye on Skype, she had a huge smile on her face. That transformation—from struggle to joy—is exactly why I do this work.

My Reasons for Coaching Singers

I coach singers for three deeply personal reasons:

1. A Duty to History
Bel Canto is more than a vocal technique; it’s a living legacy. The proper training of singers has all but disappeared in the modern world. I am acutely aware that the knowledge passed to me is a direct link to the golden era of opera. If I do not teach it, this art could vanish forever.

Every lesson I give feels like adding a thread to the tapestry of history, ensuring that Bel Canto survives for future generations.

2. Fighting the Damage of Modern Vocal Training
I cannot count the number of singers who have come to me, defeated and broken by years of poor training. These singers, full of potential, were told things that have nothing to do with healthy, great singing. Most of them hadn’t even been taught the basics, like correct breathing, which is the foundation of everything.

Their stories are heartbreaking: self-doubt, a loss of joy in singing, and a belief that their struggles were their fault. But it’s not their fault. It’s the fault of the abysmal training they received.

With me, everything changes. I teach them what they should have learned from the start. Watching them transform, rediscover their confidence, and sing with freedom is one of the most rewarding experiences of my life.

3. Sharing the Joy of True Vocal Mastery
I will never forget the milestones in my own journey: the first time I sang high notes with total control, the first aria I mastered, the moment I understood how to place my voice. Every breakthrough left me high on life.

Decades later, I can still sing my arias effortlessly. I have never experienced voice problems—a stark contrast to the 70% of singers who do. This is the gift I want to give to others: the joy and freedom that come from true mastery of their instrument.

My Purpose

Bel Canto gave me more than a voice—it gave me a purpose. It taught me discipline, confidence, and the joy of perfecting an art that has shaped the greatest singers in history.

I coach because I know what it’s like to feel that joy, and I want others to experience it too. I coach because I know what this technique can do—not just for a voice, but for a person’s confidence and self-belief. And I coach because it is my duty to keep this priceless legacy alive.

If you’ve ever doubted your voice or your abilities, let me tell you this: It’s not you. It’s the training—or lack of it. With the right guidance, you can achieve more than you ever thought possible. You can sing with confidence, freedom, and joy, knowing that your voice will never fail you.

This is why I coach singers. This is why I’m here.

With 3 of my students, after a concert: Ukranian Soprano Anna Slizinova, who recently headlined a major festival in front of 120,000 people, and my two oldest kids Berit, known internationally as "The Commander In Chief,"  with press all over the world, and William, who is still in training.