About

Hello! My name is Lindsay Feldmeth Westra. I sing opera, and I’m also a mom.

As an opera singer, I have had the great privilege of singing and teaching all over the world. I used to write a blog called the Globetrotting Soprano. Since I had a baby, I’ve not been doing so much globetrotting anymore.

Life as a mom is so much fun that I’ve decided to spend more time at home in Artesia, CA. And I’m excited to build up my studio right here!  I have always taught voice lessons for teenagers and adults, but now I’m branching out and teaching music for TODDLERS!

I am a certified and licensed Musikgarten teacher. Music and movement can have a dramatic effect on babies, toddlers, and older children as well. Some studies indicate that early music instruction positively impacts language and literacy development; others point to improved pattern recognition skills which are the basis for mathematical learning; still others reveal the social and emotional benefits of being involved in music.

Personally, I think that it is a great *privilege* to teach these little musicians, and help them explore a world of creativity!

Would you and your child like to join my Musikgarten?

We have classes on Saturdays at my home in Artesia, CA for toddlers and their parents!

Or would you like to join the Voice Gym, and take your singing to the next level?

My goal is to help you sing great music effortlessly by teaching you the correct and most natural way to manage your breathing, support, posture, phonation, and projection. This will allow you to free up the individual timbre of your voice and tackle repertoire that you have never been able to sing before.

Classical vocal technique is useful for singers of all genres. No matter what you want to sing, the “best vocal technique” is always the healthiest and most efficient way to produce sound!

If you are new to singing, I can help you build a solid foundation of vocal technique. If you are already an experienced singer, I can help you trouble-shoot problems and hone your skills.

I have great respect for all voices and for all singers, and this gym is a supportive environment for everyone.

My own vocal journey has been somewhat unusual. Having grown up in Los Angeles, I decided to move Austria when I was 20 so that I could study opera with Horiana Branisteanu at the Mozarteum University in Salzburg. I first trained as a coloratura soprano, making my debut as the Queen of the Night in The Magic Flute in the Karl-Böhm-Saal of the Salzburger Festspielhaus at the age of 23. After earning my master’s degree in opera at the Mozarteum, I won a scholarship to study with Mirella Freni at CUBEC in Italy. But while I was there, my voice doubled in size and I needed to re-calibrate it with an expert technician. So after receiving my artist diploma in Italy, I headed to New York to study dramatic repertoire with Ruth Falcon in New York City.  At the same time, I got to work with other legendary musicians like Montserrat Caballé, Jeannine Altmeyer, Sergio Bertocchi, Hartmut Höll, Mitsuko Shirai, Armen Guzelimian and Dame Elisabeth Schwarzkopf in masterclasses.

My teaching style is a combination of what I learned from these great artists, and my own experiences on stage. By studying music in different languages and cultures, I developed a global perspective that has made me a stronger musician and a better teacher. When I finally returned home to Los Angeles, I had spent a decade traveling the world and learning that wonderfully elusive thing: how to sing! 

I’ve had the chance to sing operas and concerts in over a dozen different countries.  (You can listen to my music here: my recordings )  And I have organized two international opera festivals, the No 1 Ladies Opera Festival in Botswana and the Kathmandu Music for Peace Festival in Nepal.  Right now, I’m singing locally with San Pedro Opera and doing my globetrotting online!

So wherever you are in the world, I hope you’ll join me at the Voice Gym!