About Celia

Welcome to the website for LaDolceDiva Voice Studio. My name is Celia Castro. I am a classically trained soprano and a voice teacher with 20+ years teaching singers and speakers from at all levels in all styles from pop to opera.

Working with voices is a labor of love for me. I am tireless in my pursuit of YOUR excellence. In my studio, we will work to find what resonates with YOU, what gives YOU the best results. Over the years I have amassed a wide repertoire of teaching modalities and an expansive catalogue of exercises. Exercises that work everything from the physical, to the mechanical, to the mental and even the spiritual aspects of voice work. The singing voice is multi-faceted and therefore, it is my experience that a flexible and multi-layered approach is the best way to help a singer become the whole, balanced singer they wish to be.

I particular love working with older singers and singers who have gotten lost along the way. Because I have been there. In college, I had a teacher who deemed me a “difficult voice.” For a long time, I received lots of confusing advice, suffered vocal frustration, and for years my voice would not coordinate. But I have been a lifelong seeker of vocal knowledge and have studied formerly as well as under the guidance of master teachers. One thing I learned is that there are no “difficult voices,” only people with too little patience or not enough of healthy vocal information to help guide those voices back to their most aligned states. I work hard to be the person who gives you the space you need to work your way from struggle to reclaimed ease. It is the most important work I do.

Educational Journey

My formal musical and vocal training started at the HS of Music and Art, then Mannes College of Music. I then received a private study grant which allowed me to study in Italy with Rita Patane. Also with the late Shirlee Emmons, Bill Riley, Randolph Michelson (a bel canto scholar and collaborator of Joan Sutherland’s), Neal Goren and David Jones. I would say that the bulk of my early development happened during this time. My recent mentors are Dr. Bradley Williard, who is a somatic breath coach extraordinaire, and also I have been working with Susan Eichhorn Young, who has introduced me to deeper and richer exercises for use with a wide range of singers. I consider myself a lifelong student of voice. I keep adding to my library of knowledge and pay it forward through my beautifully talented studio.

My formal training continued when I completed my undergrad at Rutgers where I graduated Magna Cum Laude with a degree in Music and Psychology. Then in 2022 I received a Masters in Music and Music Education at Teachers College Columbia University, where I researched in-depth, vocal alignment and various ways to work out tongue tension.

The Main Takeaway

My teaching is fluid, flexible, and highly customized for each person. I truly understand that no two voices will learn concepts in the same way. I have a deep well to draw from in my teaching and I consider each singer as a work of art in formation. I take that very seriously.

But also… it’s not all that serious! Music needs to be fun. We dance around, we swing arms, we connect to music and spirit. It’s all a part of the beautiful noise we make!! The number one thing I tell my singers is that no matter how focused they are on technical building, they should always take time to sing for the sheer pleasure of it. Always… Sing for joy!”