Welcome to our new website!

Our business has evolved a great deal over these last few short years, and so, after much thought and consideration, we decided that it was time to evolve our name and our brand, too. Thus, we’ve launched this new website and updated our marketing materials to reflect our new name and image: OpenVoice Studios. We are very excited for this change and are looking forward to celebrating this new step along our journey with all of you!

Former Sam Whitehouse Music Student, Chelsea Cavanaugh, will share her musical talents with the city of Nashville during the week of the Country Music Awards!  GO CHELSEA!

Check her out at www.chelseacavanaugh.com

Check out San Francisco by clicking here.

Check out Saratoga Springs by clicking here.

Former Sam Whitehouse Music student, Talia Denis, recently released her second video, for her song “Look Who’s Missing You Now”.  Check it out!

Please join us in welcoming our new teacher, Kristen!

Kristen has been performing publicly since she was a child and has studied voice privately for nearly 20 years. She received her bachelor’s degree in music with a concentration in voice at The University of Richmond in Virginia where she both directed and performed in the elite women’s a cappella group, The Sirens. Prior to moving to New York, Kristen worked for the Chicago Symphony Orchestra and had her own small voice studio.  In addition to her classical and musical theater experience, Kristen also celebrates a variety of contemporary vocal projects as well.  She has been a guest performer with the Chicago based band, Dr. Bombay, as well as a guest soloist with Ithaca-based band “When Dean Doves Cry”.  Kristen has performed at such revered venues as the House of Blues in Chicago and Walt Disney World. 

When Kristen isn’t teaching and performing, she can be found joyfully passing her time with her husband and two young children.

Kristen’s influence include Ella Fitzgerald, Joni Mitchel, Shawn Colvin, Prince, Tuck and Patti, Fiona Apple, Diana Krall among others. 

We’re very excited to announce that our San Francisco studio is up and running!

Located in the Mission District, just a half block from Bart, the studio boasts an office and a teaching room. We sublet the two rooms in a flat shared by other artists and arts including:

• Photography
• Vintage clothing
• Fashion
• Make-up
• Film and video
• Jewelry
• Screen printing

Keep your eyes peeled for our Open Studio Warming Party!

“Open Your Mouth and Send More Air”, written by my wonderful husband Greg and my dear friend Jim Mastrianni, with help from Rosie Spring.  Performed by Sam Whitehouse Music singers past and present at our April 2011 Local Emerging Singer Showcase at Caffe Lena, Saratoga Springs, NY.

Though new adventures awaited in San Francisco, I felt very sad about leaving Saratoga Springs.  This was a beautiful sendoff.

Thanks to everyone who participated: Greg Gibson, Jim Mastrianni, Rosie Spring, Chris Harland, Pat Lynskey, Lynn Bradley, Dana Farrell, Olivia Dolan, Isabella Taylor, Anthony Redcross, Twyla Nastasia, Bret Scott, Brant Bottum, Laurie Zack, Rachel Saulsbery, Julian Jastrzab and Alice Hausmann.  Thanks also to our teachers Sandra Hewson, Zac Rossi and Diana Domingo.

We are proud to announce the addition of a new teacher to our wonderful staff!

Diana Domingo began belting out tunes at the age of five, singing along to her favorite musicals and the recordings of Fats Domino, Billy Holiday and Gladys Knight. While in Los Angeles, she studied with various musical talents, including Grammy-award winning vocalist Darlene Koldenhoven, Annette Warren and Bob Remstein. She also performed with the Golden Bridge Choir, a group built on the ancient tradition of community building through the exploration of rhythms, harmonies, chants and songs from around the world, under the direction of Maggie Wheeler and Emile Hassan Dyer. Upon arriving in New York, she was immediately drawn to the musical team and offerings of Sam Whitehouse Music and the ‘Demystifying the Art of Songwriting’ Workshops with Nancy Walker, Michael Jerling and Bob Warren. While studying under the amazing musical prowess of guitarist and songwriter Don Warren, she began writing her own music and is currently working on a compilation to be released at the beginning of 2012.  Diana believes that “there has to come a point in our lives when we realize it would be worse not to get up and sing than to risk looking bad.  People connect with people who take risks.  If you want to sing, sing!”

Her musical influences include Nina Simone, Shirley Manson, Alicia Keys, Adele, Madeleine Peyroux, Sara Bareilles, October Project, Tool, Soundgarden, Leonard Cohen, Kings of Leon, Cee Lo Green, Linkin Park, Jay-Z, Christina Aguilera, Flaming Lips, M&M, Massive Attack, Florence and the Machine, TV on the Radio, Beyoncé, and more.

Wow! What an adventure this past year has been – unpredictable and wonderful, with many things to be thankful for.

In March, Sam Whitehouse Music opened the doors to its new studio in Saratoga Springs with a lovely studio warming party that brought by many local musicians and friends with warm wishes.

In May and September we ran our first two highly successful group performance classes taught by the amazingly talented Rosie Spring and helped by the kindness of Jitters Cafe and our special musical guests.

In October we hired our first employee, Brett Groff, and had our first ever student showcase at the inimitable Caffe Lena.

In November and December we upgraded our piano and PA system, and expanded the teaching schedule.

Throughout the past year it has been an honor and a delight to watch each student as they progress toward their goals. It’s been bittersweet to watch some move on with their newfound confidence and skill. And it has been flattering to be chosen to participate along each one’s musical path.

Personally, I’ve had the pleasure of playing live with Jeff Brisbin, recording with Jim Mastrianni, and learning from Jeanine Ouderkirk, as well as working closely with Eric Hauenstein on an acoustic set that we’ve taken around locally.

Thanks to everyone who has made this past year so great. I look forward to seeing you all in 2010…it promises to be full of surprises.

Love,
Sam