Judy Blazer is the daughter of singers Walter Blazer (a vocal pedagogue as well as her voice teacher at the Manhattan School of Music) and Maria Vernole, a renowned concert artist and teacher in Italy and the US.
Following in her parents' artistic and educational footsteps, Judy has been on the voice faculty of New York University and continues to teach master classes in colleges and conservatories throughout the United States and in major cities around the world. In 2004 she co-founded the Artist's Crossing theater company and school, serving as the Artistic Director and instructor. Having celebrated the company's tenth anniversary in 2014, Judy directed Halcyon Days, and evening of music by Steve Marzullo, at the New York Symphony Space Thalia Theater.
Judy has given voice and acting master classes at Yale University, the Cincinnati Conservatory of Music, Wright State University, Penn State University, the University of California at Davis, the University of New Hampshire, Jacksonville University, Auburn University, and Notre Dame de Namur University. In 2008 she was master teacher at the NATS Convention in Florida (National Association of Teachers of Singing), and in 2012 she was a guest instructor at the Kentucky Governors School for the Arts.
In Moscow, Judy taught at both the GITIS Academy of Theater Arts and the Gnessin State Musical College; in Buenos Aires she was a guest teacher for the 2010 "Broadway Act and Art" workshop, and in Tbilisi (Republic of Georgia) she led a special workshop through the American Embassy called "Kids' Broadway" at the legendary Rustaveli Theater.
Following in her parents' artistic and educational footsteps, Judy has been on the voice faculty of New York University and continues to teach master classes in colleges and conservatories throughout the United States and in major cities around the world. In 2004 she co-founded the Artist's Crossing theater company and school, serving as the Artistic Director and instructor. Having celebrated the company's tenth anniversary in 2014, Judy directed Halcyon Days, and evening of music by Steve Marzullo, at the New York Symphony Space Thalia Theater.
Judy has given voice and acting master classes at Yale University, the Cincinnati Conservatory of Music, Wright State University, Penn State University, the University of California at Davis, the University of New Hampshire, Jacksonville University, Auburn University, and Notre Dame de Namur University. In 2008 she was master teacher at the NATS Convention in Florida (National Association of Teachers of Singing), and in 2012 she was a guest instructor at the Kentucky Governors School for the Arts.
In Moscow, Judy taught at both the GITIS Academy of Theater Arts and the Gnessin State Musical College; in Buenos Aires she was a guest teacher for the 2010 "Broadway Act and Art" workshop, and in Tbilisi (Republic of Georgia) she led a special workshop through the American Embassy called "Kids' Broadway" at the legendary Rustaveli Theater.
In addition to her guest teaching and her performing career, Judy maintains her own private studio, both physically and via Skype, teaching a range of theatrical and vocal skills. She regularly prepares young performers for Broadway and regional theater auditions as well as entrance auditions for colleges, conservatories, and performing arts high schools. Most recently, she adjudicated and coached semi-finalists for the 2017 and 2019 Lotte Lenya Competition held by the Kurt Weill Foundation for Music.
In 2007, the New York Times sent its "vocally challenged" reporter, Harry Hurt III, to study at Judy's studio - read his appreciative account here.
What does Judy teach?
Depending on the individual student's need in each session, whether it is for a specific audition, role, performance or vocal issue, the Judy Blazer Studio offers:
Vocal lessons
- Exploring aspects of various vocal techniques, exercises, and warm ups, ranging from a more classical approach to pop, to rock, to crossing over between these styles in a healthful way. We also work to correct pitch and registration problems.
- For women, we focus on "belting" (chest voice) versus falsetto (head voice) and the option to choose these various registrations according to the material and characters being played.
- Oftentimes for non-singers, actors, and particularly dancers, this vocal work delves into breathing, physical stance, understanding laryngal positioning and the working apparatus in and around the mouth, jaw, and neck.
Vocal Interpretation
- Working on musical elements of a piece, text, diction, characterization, sometimes even movement in communicating the total performance.
- This is for auditions as well as concert and cabaret performances or recitals.
Audition preparation
- Finding the right material for you - a cross range of 16-32 bar cuts of songs, as well as entire selections that best display your vocal range of abilities as well as character types.
- Developing each song in your "book" so that it can best represent you in your audition for a specific show or character, altering the material to suit the part or theater you are auditioning for.
- This is geared to all ages and levels, union and non-union affiliations. We help to prepare you for high school arts programs as well as college entrance auditions, Broadway, off-Broadway and touring companies of shows, and regional and semi-professional theaters.
Acting and character study for musical theater
- Coachings are often spent working on sides (scenes) for auditions, either without the song or leading into a song to connect the dialogue and song seamlessly.
Studying a particular role
- Working specifically on one role, either in preparation for a performance or run of a show, or simply to have in one's repertoire. These sessions can be the most fun because we have the opportunity to work on a through-line, both vocal and theatrical.
- In all aspects we explore the entire range of the character's technical and inner mechanisms from a practical as well as emotional standpoint.
Assessments and consultations
- A simple look at where you are and how it aligns with your personal goals and how you are being received professionally. We don't always see ourselves or even understand what we need to develop or work on; the aim, then, is to guide people in the right direction so they can move forward as artists and, if need be, learn how to present themselves with more clarity to casting agents and talent agencies, ultimately increasing employment possibilities.
- Frequently, personal dilemas are consulted upon, as well as the proper focus of study, how to handle specific problems in the workplace, revisiting ways of working daily, keeping healthy, and staying professionally and emotionally strong despite the huge demands of our profession.
Languages and dialects
- Often an accent from a specific region of the USA or Europe is called for in an audition or for an entire show. Bilingual in Italian and English and having sung roles in other languages, Judy coaches a variety of dialects and regional accents from the USA, the U.K., Ireland, and the Continent.
All ages and levels are welcome.