Testimonials
Julia Udine
I have been a student of Melissa’s for 20 years. Every career achievement thus far, I owe to my training with Melissa. Melissa has given me the tools, support, and confidence I need to succeed. She has a thorough understanding of the anatomy and function of the voice and she is proficient at communicating how to overcome any vocal setback or challenge that comes my way. She provides me with the correct exercises and vocal routines specific to my voice, that will set me up for success in whatever material it is I have to sing. She has given me tools that service the show I do every night and I feel ready to sing it under every circumstance. She gives me a better understanding of my voice in every lesson. Through every crisis, she has been at my side no matter where she was, and she is one of the most important members of my support team. Melissa is my first phone call when learning new material for an audition or show, because she knows exactly how to approach the material. Not only is Melissa a vocal wizard, but her ability to dissect music and lyrics, and tell a story through singing, goes unmatched, and she has made me a better story teller as well. She focuses on unlocking the text and coming up with phrasing that makes sense for the story, which only serves the voice more. She has helped me sing music I never thought I’d be able to sing, with ease and confidence. In the 20 years I have known her, I can attest that Melissa provides this level of care and attentiveness to all of her students. I'm playing a very physically and vocally demanding role and she demonstrates her investment in me daily, as a person, and for my career years from now. Without her guidance, I would not be where I am today.
Tyler Cesario
I started studying with Melissa the summer after my sophomore year of High School, coming by way of my choral director and the Tonya Dorsey Scholarship for private instruction in music. I didn’t know it, but studying at MDVS would’ve been one of the best decisions of my music career. During highschool, I proceeded to make All South Jersey Choir four times, All State Choir three times, All eastern Choir twice and Nationals once.
Melissa is also the one who prepared me for college auditions in music. Whether she was bribing me with biscotti, or lecturing me on the importance of the breath, she continually pushed me to be the best vocalist I could be. Under her, I went on to win the All South Jersey Founder's Scholarship, the Garden State Chorale Scholarship, and a substantial financial award to go to Westminster Choir College for Music Education in Voice.
After five years of teaching music in public school, I am currently attending the Boston Conservatory of Berklee School of Music for a Graduate Degree in Vocal Pedagogy with almost a full ride, because she is the one who inspired me to be a private voice instructor. My late Westminster Voice professor and operatic tenor Charles Walker once said to me my Junior year of undergrad, “you came to Westminster already knowing how to sing.” Melissa taught me how to sing. No matter what style you want to perform, Melissa will make sure you have a rock solid foundation. She is the best.
Aliya Bowles
Melissa has taught me so much more than I expected when I started voice lessons. I learned how to find my voice, how to love my voice and how to be a confident singer and performer. I have learned such a tremendous amount from her and still do even after all the years she has been teaching me. I consider her my mentor and I know the strength and range my voice has is a product of her wonderful teaching. I am extremely grateful for her and her vocal studio.
Drew Russell DuBoff
Without a doubt, investing in vocal training from Melissa is the primary reason why I started booking paid musical theatre roles. As a legit bass-baritone, I was eager to make myself more marketable from a vocal perspective. In under a year, she has helped me expand my upper range comfortably from E4 to F#4 in both legit and pop/rock styles. I’m auditioning with music I never thought I could sing before. Melissa isn’t afraid to address issues when there’s room for improvement and her commitment to her students inside and outside the lesson is commendable. I can’t wait to see how my voice grows over the next year.
Alicia Cosenza
Melissa Daniels McCann is a phenomenal private vocal instructor! I have trained with Melissa since I was 12 years old, and I am still training with her today, 8 years later. There is a reason I am the artist that I am today, and that reason is Melissa! Her training is unmatched by anyone I know in the area, and the progress that I make while training under her is immeasurable! Melissa is extremely knowledgeable on the anatomy and function of the voice; and in turn, she is able to clearly communicate with her students how to properly, and in a healthy manner, take the next steps in achieving their vocal goals. I am forever grateful to call Melissa not only a mentor, but a friend, and I owe all of my success to the training and support she has provided me over all these years!