We’re absolutely ecstatic to be welcoming a new vocal instructor to Villa Musica! Give a warm, virtual round of applause to Patrick McLaughlin and learn all about him and his musical journey below.
Growing up, his music tastes varied, leaping from a myriad of different styles and genres. Sinatra? Check! Sara Bareilles? Oh, you know it! Mozart? Absolutely! The listening habit list goes on with further favorites including Broadway singers Cheyenne Jackson and Sutton Foster, Romantic/Classical composer Franz Schubert, opera vocalist Natalie Dessay, Classical/contemporary pop artist Rufus Wainwright, and even the experimental icon Philip Glass. Heading into high school, Patrick solidified his passion for music through various classes and extracurricular activities. His involvement in choir, marching band, and theatre productions significantly helped shape his career path. Most importantly, his connection and encouragement with the school’s band director inspired him to stay dedicated and pursue the art of teaching music.
With his goals now mapped out, Patrick set off to study at actually three different universities. He achieved a BA in Music from Penn State University, an MAT in Music Education from Montclair State University, and is currently working towards an MM in vocal performance at San Diego State University. While at these colleges, he also performed in a multitude of opera productions and recitals. In New York City, Patrick notably performed as the role of Ben in Menotti’s The Telephone twice, with one performance taking place outside on a busy Manhattan street. As a professional performer, he also spent most of his time on the road, showing his talents with regional theatre companies all over the country, in two national tours, and as a singer/dancer on a cruise ship.
As for his teaching experience, Patrick has been actively instructing private voice students since graduating from Penn State in 2006. He also spent four years as a public school choir director in New Jersey, paving the way for plenty of experience music directing and choreographing musicals. His teaching methods focus on developing a solid, healthy vocal technique that can be applied to various genres of music and encouraging all students to work towards proficiency in not just singing, but also reading and understanding written music. However, his drive and favorite aspect of being a music instructor is helping students to create characters and tell stories through song. Patrick states, “Ever since my time as his student, I have always wanted to help others succeed. Although I love making music and creating art, I have a passion for helping others find their full potential as artists as well. As a new student of mine, the first thing I will do is get to know you, learn what your goals are, and we will go from there. There is no one size fits all approach to teaching voice. I will meet you where you are and guide you while you grow as a singer, musician, and artist.”
And last but not least, there’s more than meets the eye. While Patrick’s main passion belongs to music and theatre, shown by his opera and theatre production attendance record, he also is a certified and active yoga instructor. In his down time away from diverse music listening, Patrick is practicing and teaching vinyasa and restorative yoga or embarking on adventures with his Boston Terrier, Peggy. Be sure to welcome Patrick to our community and if interested, sign up for future private lessons with him by clicking here.