SVS Pelham Faculty

Valeria Girardi Kostner- Voice Teacher

Soprano Valeria Girardi Kostner hails from New Rochelle, N.Y. She began her vocal training at age 15 and quickly began winning competitions only a few years later, including the MacAllister Foundation Awards, Queen’s Opera Competition, Young Patronesses of Opera/Florida Grand Competition. She earned a BA in Theater at Iona University, and went on to become the first-place national winner of the Bel Canto Opera Seminar where she received a full scholarship to study at Northwestern University under the guidance of Georgio Tozzi and Martina Arroyo. During her time there she was invited to study with Mignon Dunn in NYC, and later her longtime teacher, Armen Boyajian. Under their tutelage she acquired a solid technique and learned the fine art of singing. This is exactly what she wants to pass on to her students: guidance on developing a healthy technique which will allow them to achieve a free sound in whatever style they choose.

Highlights of her career have included numerous appearances with New York Grand Opera as a mezzo-soprano. She made her Carnegie Hall debut singing the role of Amneris in the triumphal scene of AIDA and returned to sing Zuma in Verdi’s rarely performed opera ALZIRA. Other roles with the company have included Preziosilla in LA FORZA DEL DESTINO, Maddalena in RIGOLETTO, Meg Page in FALSTAFF, Emilia in OTELLO, and Flora in LA TRAVIATA. Described for her portrayal as “an operatic force to reckon with,’ Ms. Girardi sang the complete role of Amneris in AIDA at Central Park under the baton of maestro Vincent La Selva, and was represented in Opera News magazine as a featured artist with the company.

Mrs.Girardi Kostner has performed in both opera and oratorios throughout the US. Other works have included Mrs. Ott in SUSANNAH, Prince Orlofsky in DIE FLEDERMAUS, Mother Marie in DIALOGUES OF THE CARMELITES, Verdi’s Requiem and Bach’s St. Mathew Passion. After her above triumphs as a mezzo-soprano she changed fach in recent years to become a soprano. She made her company debut as a soprano with New Jersey State Opera singing excerpts of IL TROVATORE, LA TRAVIATA, DON GIOVANNI, TURANDOT, AND ADRIANA LECOUVREUR.

She has been a leave replacement music teacher in the New Rochelle public school system and has prepared students grades 1 thru 5 for their winter concert, taught in neighborhood music schools ages four years to adults at the professional level, and maintains a private studio. She is interested in students who are driven to study and practice, and aims to bring out the best potential in each individual.

Dylan Cao- Voice Teacher

Dylan is an operatic countertenor by day and a tenor belter by night, performing throughout New York City and New England. He holds a Bachelor of Music in Musical Theatre from the University of Southern Maine and currently serves as a staff singer at North Church in Portsmouth, New Hampshire.

Most recently, Dylan produced and performed in Snow Angel Cabaret: A Night of Reneé Rapp Music at The Green Room 42 in New York City. He will also appear as the alto soloist in Handel’s Messiah at the Cathedral of the Incarnation on Long Island. His regional theatre credits include productions at Ogunquit Playhouse and Maine State Music Theatre.

Dylan is currently offering virtual voice lessons through Santaniello Vocal Studios as he prepares to pursue his master’s degree in Classical Voice.