Paul Chernysh

I joined Joe’s studio in the summer going into my eighth grade year with the problem many other boys my age were having: the changing male voice. Within a month, I felt such a transformation in the way I sang and how I thought about my voice. Ever since that moment, I knew that Joe was the real deal. I am so proud to say that Joe has been my one and only voice teacher for the last 5 years. He truly knows how to teach singing from every aspect; anatomically, technically, dramatically, you name it. He is a natural born teacher and an amazing technician in the studio. Joe can also teach all four voice types, having success in both classical and musical theatre with males and females. Being a tenor is a long process to success and there is a lot that can go wrong with a young tenor if they are placed in the hands of the wrong teacher. Joe has given me singing technique that I know will keep me singing for a long time and has navigated the tenor voice in a way that has made me enjoy the process, become more patient with myself, and still motivating me to strive for my very best as a student. Joe has also taught me so much about the anatomy of the voice. Something that I was really happy with during my college audition process was the talks I would have with voice professors in our trial lessons. In every single trial lesson, the teacher praised me on my knowledge of the voice. All I could think in those moments was how lucky I was to have Joe as a teacher and how prepared he made me to become a conservatory student and later on in my artistic journey, a true professional.

I’ve yet to meet another teacher who connects with their students on the same level that Joe does. He is a constant supporter of all of his students, bringing his studio to each others shows, often giving car rides to groups of kids. I can say with the utmost pride that he has never missed one of my recitals or performances in the five years that I have been his student. While Joe can be your biggest motivator and be hard on you, he is also your #1 fan. The unwavering support and sense of community that he has built through Santaniello Vocal Studios have inspired me to become a better leader and an inspiration to the younger generations of the singing community. He is incredibly personable and makes it a goal to create a connection with his students and give them a safe environment to sing and be themselves. It’s okay to make a mistake in Joe’s studio, because how are you supposed to learn? I would recommend Joe heavily to anyone and while it makes me so sad to be in my final month of studying with him, I know I’ll be back for many lessons and holiday studio classes!