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Testimonials
Thoughts from Students and Colleagues
"Ms. Katz is extremely well-versed and knowledgeable in the wide variety of vocal genres that are part of our Festival. During a performance, she was concentrated and focused; it was obvious that she was really listening. Then, in a kind and forthright manner, she was able to “nail” any difficulties of a singer or group of singers, and offer solutions. When necessary, Fabiana was able to vocally demonstrate her suggestions for improvement. Although she did not mince words, her diplomatic and honest approach was encouraging and helpful to further developing vocal performance. When she addressed the performer(s) and audience, Ms. Katz demonstrated effective communication skills, “building bridges” to relevant understanding. Fabiana was not afraid to address sensitive issues, such as the appropriateness of a piece to the age of a singer. In this matter she spoke kindly and carefully, in a general way, to voice teachers, and to parents of students. I believe in this case, the point was well taken. As president of the Festival, I found great pleasure in working with Ms. Katz. Her highly professional and capable approach, combined with a willing and cheerful spirit, made her time with us a memorable experience." Lois K Coop, Lakes District Festival Association, Burns Lake, BC.
"What a lovely performance last night. Your direction was - well, just so good. Totally in control - no superfluous movements - concise - connected, and absolutely professional. Well done indeed. Stan Shear, Cantor, Beth Israel Synagogue
"You are my great vocal teacher. You can see my great improvement under your teaching. Breathing, tone quality, volume, diction, function of the tongue, varied repertoire ... you teach everything I want to learn, allowing me to record each lesson." Angie Lau
"Fabiana Katz teaches, mentors, and instills a naturalistic approach to singing. Using the innate knowledge we have already acquired through living, Fabiana connects these already learned 'tools' to singing in the most natural way. My students 'click' with this approach! Using metaphors and engaging language, Fabiana conveys meaningful ideas to unlock singers to experience resonant singing in ways that feel right and sound right to the singer. These ideas have been boiled down from constant refining in her teaching."
Jim Sparks, Choral Music Educator, Langley Fina Arts School
"Fabiana has impressed me as a teacher ever since I started my voice lessons in 2015. Her broad knowledge of vocal technique has helped me to grow as a singer and has built my confidence. Her way of explaining vocal concepts makes it easy for me to grasp them and make them my own. She has a buoyant personality which always makes for a pleasant learning experience. Her respectful and supportive approach to teaching and competence in her craft have made it easy for me to recommend Fabiana to others as a teacher. I have experienced Fabiana both as a voice teacher and a choral conductor and have always come away inspired." Silva Plut
"Fabiana is a fun loving, gregarious and compelling woman with a truck-load of talent. Her beauty is much more than skin deep. Her enthusiasm for singing is infectious. She is comfortable singing in any genre from folk song to opera. We’ve been friends since she adjudicated one of my high school choirs in 1996. Fabiana knows how to take singers from wherever they are to the next level of vocal artistry. More than just a teacher, she is one who continually demonstrates her ideals well and she sings among the finest groups in the city. We sang together in the Vancouver Chamber Choir for six years and I employ her each year to make professional/studio quality recordings for my website. Fabiana is fabulous in my books!" Dr. Larry Nickel - composer, publisher, singer, conductor
"I started singing lessons with Fabiana Katz a few years ago, in my late 50's, with much trepidation [...] I wasn't prepared for how much fun it would be...Fabiana is a very encouraging, kind and patient teacher who has a seemingly endless array of interesting vocal exercises at her fingertips and clearly a great deal of experience in bringing students along. To my amazement, I quickly fell in love with the Bel Canto repertoire, something that I had never encountered before and something that Fabiana was able to make very accessible. It is a testament to Fabiana's talent as a coach that I have been able to sing some of the repertoire with a degree of proficiency. The lessons are a wonderful experience, where, with Fabiana's coaching, I have been able to expand the range of my singing and overcome so many difficulties [...] Fabiana has opened a new world of music to me in just a couple of years, an experience that is great new adventure for me." Kim Sutherland
"I love going to my lessons with Fabi because I know whatever problems I’m having she will find a way to help me improve. She’ll just keep trying different techniques till we’re successful. I would recommend her to anyone because it doesn’t matter what problem surfaces, she has the knowledge and ability to analyze, explain and help me correct it." Heather Gale
"...Despite this [cough], the rehearsals for Dixit Dominus and Kantate #198 are going really well – ie, I am still able to pop out high notes and make a pretty good go at the coloratura sections, and am never hoarse or sore after rehearsal. Thinking always of what you taught me during rehearsal is, I am sure, saving my voice. Many thanks for your wisdom and sage advice. You really are a marvellous teacher." Anne Bonnycastle, Choral Music Educator, Crofton House School, West Point Grey Academy
"Fabiana is gifted and sensitive teacher whose direction and genuine encouragement offered me the opportunity to enjoy and explore my passion for singing." Deborah T.
"Fabiana is a gifted singer, choir director and accomplished musician. All that pales, however, compared to her teaching skills. I have had quite a few music teachers along the years, and all I can say is she is the real deal!" Mauro Zlotnik
"Voice lessons with Fabi are terrific. She has encouraged me to think about the basics of singing, such as breathing, resonance, and staying loose. I find my hour with her just flies by and I am always sad that my time is up. My voice, my range and my confidence have all improved. Fabi is encouraging, uses lots of examples to help me understand what she is teaching and continually repeats those techniques where I am slowly developing. I even look forward to the warm up exercises. I know that I still have lots to learn and I look forward to exploring the world of song with her for a long time." Lea Starr, Associate University Librarian, UBC
"Fabiana is an immensely gifted teacher, and generous with her gifts. Her teaching has been the single most wonderful experience of my past four years... She can surely never have had a more hopeless case on her hands. She provided assurance. Step by step she provided strategies and techniques for breathing, for voice production, for voice control. Constantly she pushed me, and equally constantly she assured me that it was coming. And, of course, I could hear that it was." Susanna Egan, Retired Professor of English, UBC
"Many things combine to make her unique. Her academic achievements in conducting, her singing skills, her facility with languages, her competency at the keyboard, her rhythmic sense from her Latin American heritage and her extensive theoretical background all go to make her an unequalled musician." Craig Tomkins, Voice Instructor, Capilano University
"Fabiana is very much more than a voice teacher because, in fact, she begins and ends with the making of music. Fabiana has given me music and is making it mine." Susanna Egan
"Fabi has been a wonderful role model for many of our singers, fostering good vocal development and encouraging fine music-making. With the small children’s choir she has worked a range of music varying from the baroque to contemporary; she has focused on their vocal training and given them good practical skills as well as theoretical knowledge." Brigid Coult, BC Choral Federation
"You have been really instrumental in accelerating Afton's learning curve. This was by far the most helpful adjudication process we have been through to date, and we have been involved with this for a few years now. I appreciated the intuitive approach, with attention to energy and total body awareness. You just made absolute sense to me in so many ways." Kelly W.
"Fabiana always pushed us towards a higher level of musical awareness, understanding, and competence. Whenever [we] did not attain her expectations for musical expression, Fabiana was able to correct and teach us in a warm and respectful manner so that we had the confidence to take risks and could learn from our mistakes. She was able to build an excellent rapport with each member and assist all of us to improve and grow in our ability to play and perform as a unified choir." Isabel Wood
Fabiana has a great talent for relating to my individual needs and growth as a singer by zeroing in on specific behaviours that block the production of good support and tonal quality. I would recommend her without reservation." Brian M.
"The greatest privilege was having had the opportunity to share her love of music. Fabiana has a particularly effervescent personality and her love of music is contagious." Isabel Wood
"Fabiana's personal traits are the highest, and she adds to this a positivity of attitude and energy that are truly unique." Philip Cable
"I did it. I did it. I really actually did it… and we were singing it together, and then there was this hilarious round of applause… and then they all did it. And we had this great big noise happening in the room and it was actually hilarious and we had a very, very good time with the song. But I did it. I actually did it. I was very, very happy with how it went. Thank you for the help. Oh my… I’m so excited. Thank you for my music." Susanna Egan
"What a lovely performance last night. Your direction was - well, just so good. Totally in control - no superfluous movements - concise - connected, and absolutely professional. Well done indeed. Stan Shear, Cantor, Beth Israel Synagogue
"You are my great vocal teacher. You can see my great improvement under your teaching. Breathing, tone quality, volume, diction, function of the tongue, varied repertoire ... you teach everything I want to learn, allowing me to record each lesson." Angie Lau
"Fabiana Katz teaches, mentors, and instills a naturalistic approach to singing. Using the innate knowledge we have already acquired through living, Fabiana connects these already learned 'tools' to singing in the most natural way. My students 'click' with this approach! Using metaphors and engaging language, Fabiana conveys meaningful ideas to unlock singers to experience resonant singing in ways that feel right and sound right to the singer. These ideas have been boiled down from constant refining in her teaching."
Jim Sparks, Choral Music Educator, Langley Fina Arts School
"Fabiana has impressed me as a teacher ever since I started my voice lessons in 2015. Her broad knowledge of vocal technique has helped me to grow as a singer and has built my confidence. Her way of explaining vocal concepts makes it easy for me to grasp them and make them my own. She has a buoyant personality which always makes for a pleasant learning experience. Her respectful and supportive approach to teaching and competence in her craft have made it easy for me to recommend Fabiana to others as a teacher. I have experienced Fabiana both as a voice teacher and a choral conductor and have always come away inspired." Silva Plut
"Fabiana is a fun loving, gregarious and compelling woman with a truck-load of talent. Her beauty is much more than skin deep. Her enthusiasm for singing is infectious. She is comfortable singing in any genre from folk song to opera. We’ve been friends since she adjudicated one of my high school choirs in 1996. Fabiana knows how to take singers from wherever they are to the next level of vocal artistry. More than just a teacher, she is one who continually demonstrates her ideals well and she sings among the finest groups in the city. We sang together in the Vancouver Chamber Choir for six years and I employ her each year to make professional/studio quality recordings for my website. Fabiana is fabulous in my books!" Dr. Larry Nickel - composer, publisher, singer, conductor
"I started singing lessons with Fabiana Katz a few years ago, in my late 50's, with much trepidation [...] I wasn't prepared for how much fun it would be...Fabiana is a very encouraging, kind and patient teacher who has a seemingly endless array of interesting vocal exercises at her fingertips and clearly a great deal of experience in bringing students along. To my amazement, I quickly fell in love with the Bel Canto repertoire, something that I had never encountered before and something that Fabiana was able to make very accessible. It is a testament to Fabiana's talent as a coach that I have been able to sing some of the repertoire with a degree of proficiency. The lessons are a wonderful experience, where, with Fabiana's coaching, I have been able to expand the range of my singing and overcome so many difficulties [...] Fabiana has opened a new world of music to me in just a couple of years, an experience that is great new adventure for me." Kim Sutherland
"I love going to my lessons with Fabi because I know whatever problems I’m having she will find a way to help me improve. She’ll just keep trying different techniques till we’re successful. I would recommend her to anyone because it doesn’t matter what problem surfaces, she has the knowledge and ability to analyze, explain and help me correct it." Heather Gale
"...Despite this [cough], the rehearsals for Dixit Dominus and Kantate #198 are going really well – ie, I am still able to pop out high notes and make a pretty good go at the coloratura sections, and am never hoarse or sore after rehearsal. Thinking always of what you taught me during rehearsal is, I am sure, saving my voice. Many thanks for your wisdom and sage advice. You really are a marvellous teacher." Anne Bonnycastle, Choral Music Educator, Crofton House School, West Point Grey Academy
"Fabiana is gifted and sensitive teacher whose direction and genuine encouragement offered me the opportunity to enjoy and explore my passion for singing." Deborah T.
"Fabiana is a gifted singer, choir director and accomplished musician. All that pales, however, compared to her teaching skills. I have had quite a few music teachers along the years, and all I can say is she is the real deal!" Mauro Zlotnik
"Voice lessons with Fabi are terrific. She has encouraged me to think about the basics of singing, such as breathing, resonance, and staying loose. I find my hour with her just flies by and I am always sad that my time is up. My voice, my range and my confidence have all improved. Fabi is encouraging, uses lots of examples to help me understand what she is teaching and continually repeats those techniques where I am slowly developing. I even look forward to the warm up exercises. I know that I still have lots to learn and I look forward to exploring the world of song with her for a long time." Lea Starr, Associate University Librarian, UBC
"Fabiana is an immensely gifted teacher, and generous with her gifts. Her teaching has been the single most wonderful experience of my past four years... She can surely never have had a more hopeless case on her hands. She provided assurance. Step by step she provided strategies and techniques for breathing, for voice production, for voice control. Constantly she pushed me, and equally constantly she assured me that it was coming. And, of course, I could hear that it was." Susanna Egan, Retired Professor of English, UBC
"Many things combine to make her unique. Her academic achievements in conducting, her singing skills, her facility with languages, her competency at the keyboard, her rhythmic sense from her Latin American heritage and her extensive theoretical background all go to make her an unequalled musician." Craig Tomkins, Voice Instructor, Capilano University
"Fabiana is very much more than a voice teacher because, in fact, she begins and ends with the making of music. Fabiana has given me music and is making it mine." Susanna Egan
"Fabi has been a wonderful role model for many of our singers, fostering good vocal development and encouraging fine music-making. With the small children’s choir she has worked a range of music varying from the baroque to contemporary; she has focused on their vocal training and given them good practical skills as well as theoretical knowledge." Brigid Coult, BC Choral Federation
"You have been really instrumental in accelerating Afton's learning curve. This was by far the most helpful adjudication process we have been through to date, and we have been involved with this for a few years now. I appreciated the intuitive approach, with attention to energy and total body awareness. You just made absolute sense to me in so many ways." Kelly W.
"Fabiana always pushed us towards a higher level of musical awareness, understanding, and competence. Whenever [we] did not attain her expectations for musical expression, Fabiana was able to correct and teach us in a warm and respectful manner so that we had the confidence to take risks and could learn from our mistakes. She was able to build an excellent rapport with each member and assist all of us to improve and grow in our ability to play and perform as a unified choir." Isabel Wood
Fabiana has a great talent for relating to my individual needs and growth as a singer by zeroing in on specific behaviours that block the production of good support and tonal quality. I would recommend her without reservation." Brian M.
"The greatest privilege was having had the opportunity to share her love of music. Fabiana has a particularly effervescent personality and her love of music is contagious." Isabel Wood
"Fabiana's personal traits are the highest, and she adds to this a positivity of attitude and energy that are truly unique." Philip Cable
"I did it. I did it. I really actually did it… and we were singing it together, and then there was this hilarious round of applause… and then they all did it. And we had this great big noise happening in the room and it was actually hilarious and we had a very, very good time with the song. But I did it. I actually did it. I was very, very happy with how it went. Thank you for the help. Oh my… I’m so excited. Thank you for my music." Susanna Egan
