VOCAL ARTS
where you can shine like stars
Sydney Vocal Arts is a high-calibre teaching centre offering adults and children private tuition for voice, piano and guitar; classes for children in musical theatre and drama; choirs for all ages; holiday programs, and private preparation for auditions, exams and performances.
The history of Sydney Vocal Arts Centre dates back to the late 1990’s when it started. After establishing itself in Manly for 3 years it was taken over by Margi Coen, one of Sydney’s most sought after singing teachers and the recipient of Manly Council’s ‘Best Community Event of the Year ’ Australia Day Award for her 2008 production of ‘The Sound of Music’ (which she produced and musically directed). Many of Margi’s private students have experienced phenomenal success in professional musicals, operas and television programs such as Australia’s Got Talent, X-Factor, The Voice and The Voice Kids. She has now moved to Queensland and the new director (2022) is Sam (Samantha) Shaw.
Sam trained at the Arts Educational in London and has a long, successful and diverse career history in performing in London’s West End and as a top session vocalist. She moved to Australia in 2008 and joined Vocal Arts as a singing teacher in 2013 and has loved being a member of the team under the direction of Margi Coen. Her passion is to pass on her incredible experience as a singer/actor/dancer to next generations and create an environment at Vocal Arts, as the current director, where students can grow their talents and truly express themselves. She believes in teaching from a holistic (whole body) perspective and loves to see the excitement and joy in her students that comes from their commitment to practicing and ultimately their performance!
Sam has taught many choirs, from children’s school choirs and teenage choirs to adult choirs and has been singing coach to primary school’s productions including Aladdin Jnr and Mulan Jnr.
Sam has always loved being part of a team and is so excited to be heading up this year’s teaching staff amongst whom are some of the very best teachers in NSW with a ton of industry experience behind them, ready and waiting to guide and encourage their students.
At SVA we are so proud of our students who have appeared in professional musicals, operas, TV shows and community musicals and concerts all over Sydney.
Some of our Star Alumni include Jack Vidgen, The Collective, Tom Jordan & Mitchell Thompson, Natalie Theodore, Julia Manias, Ella Freestone and Callan McAuliffe.
SVA STAR ALUMNI
- Jack Vidgen winner of Australia’s Got Talent 2011
- Will Singe and Trent Bell from the hit boy band ‘The Collective’ 3rd place ‘X-Factor’ 2012 signed to SONY
- Natalie Theodore & Julia Manias – semi-finalists ‘Australia’s Got Talent’ 2013
- Mitchell Thompson ‘The Voice’ and ‘X-Factor’
- Callan McCauliffe ‘The Great Gatsby’, ‘Cloud Street’
- Ella Freestone signed to Universal Music
- Tom Jordan award-winning singer/songwriter
- Harmony Lovegrove Semi-finalist Young Talent Time (talent section), The Voice Kids – Team Delta Final 5, The Schools Spectacular, winner of ‘Entertainer of the Year’ Australian Event Awards 2012
- Callum Rogers ‘Matilda the Musical’, Faust (Opera Australia)
- Natalie Theodore ‘Cat on a Hot Tin Roof’ (Belvoir St Theatre), Turandot (Opera Australia), The Sound of Music
- Julia Manias ‘The King and I’
- Isabel Young ‘The Sound of Music’
- Olivia Swinton Les Miserables, and Universal Studios, Tokyo
- Adrian Escudero-Genc La Boheme (Opera Australia)
- Jenna Keenan Grey Gardens, The Seymour Centre
- Paolo Lieghio The Music of Danny Elfman &Tim Burton with the Sydney Symphony Orchestra, The Magic Flute (Opera Australia)
- Oscar Rayel Don Giovanni (Opera Australia)
- Levi Mackee The Sound of Music
- Jasmine Younger Mary Poppins
- Kristin Henry Chitty Chitty Bang Bang
- Isabella Harvey La Boheme & Die Tot Stadt (Opera Australia)
- Jack Tier – The Lion King
OUTSTANDING RESULTS
SVA students are regularly performing in community musicals and concerts all over Sydney. All SVA tutors have fantastic track records with their students consistently achieving high places in AMEB examinations, HSC music and vocal, speech and drama Eisteddfods.
COMMUNITY SUPPORTER
SVA has established a strong professional association with Manly and Waringah Councils. For 10 years Margi has provided soloists, choirs and ensembles from her stable of students, to entertain at Council events such as Anzac Day, Citizenship Ceremonies, Jazz Festivals and the hugely popular Carols By Candlelight event.
Margi produced and musically directed local productions of ‘The Sound of Music‘ (for which she won ‘Best Community Event of the Year’ in 2008) and “Grease on the Beach”, staring Hi-Five alumni Charli Delaney and Nathan Foley and local politicians the Premier of NSW Mike Baird and former speaker Bronwyn Bishop.
Our Community Partners
