VAA Testimonials
"I have never participated in such a positive, helpful program where the teachers were simultaneously treated with the highest reverence and so excited to get to know us personally. At the summation of the program, we had personal meetings with the entire faculty who gave us advice on moving forward with applying to college or graduate school, handling auditions, and general life. With no eye on the clock, Deborah Lifton, Dan Gurvich, Dr. Charis Dimaras, and Ryan McConnell gave me more clarity about how to move forward with my career, education, and future than I have ever had...Being chosen to participate in this program was one of my greatest blessings and it is the absolute least I can do to recommend this program to any serious performer"
-- Jamila Drecker-Waxman, CAA Alum
"In just ten days, working with the CAA staff and the number of various guest coaches, directors, and voice teachers, I was able to make my music come alive in a way that I had always wanted but had not been able to achieve before"
-- Christopher Garrepy, CAA Alum
"Debbie Lifton and Dan Gurvich have brought together a number of professional musicians and actors who are very active in music theatre and/or opera, and are also the types of personalities that work extremely well with the younger aspiring artists of tomorrow. Our daughter received excellent vocal training, both in terms of technique and interpretation; she had several amazing master classes; she experienced intensive acting and movement coachings; and she even had a one on one session with a current Broadway composer. She left CAA with a plethora of ideas and techniques that will continue to further her musicianship and understanding of artistry"
-- Dr. Matthew Hill, Professor of Music, Goshen College
"I have wanted to go to Ithaca College from the time I was thirteen years old. The audition meant everything to me, and Deborah Lifton helped make me the best that I could be. I am proud to say that with her help I was accepted to Ithaca College for Vocal Music Education and I hope to attend this fall"
-- Kristen Petrucci, student of CAA Founder Deborah Lifton
"Deborah Lifton prepared my daughter for her audition and gave her the confidence she needed. Kristen couldn’t have done it without her help. I am so grateful for everything [Deborah] has done and would highly recommend her to anyone that is auditioning for music school"
-- Maryann Petrucci, mother of CAA student Kristen Petrucci
“The CAA master class...made me feel much more confident for my college auditions. Since I was exposed to a similar environment with teachers who actually audition students, I feel more ready to meet and visit colleges and their professors"
-- Shelly, CAA High School Master Class Participant
"Very positive environment. Not sure how it all happened, but there was little to no sense of competition amongst the singers, which is absolutely incredible"
-- CAA Summer Institute Participant
"I really like that it was in a separated space, where we all were concentrated in music. We were a small group so the staff got to know us much more [and] I love the fact that we had a good mix of musical theatre and classical. Also we had so many opportunities to perform and meet so many teachers"
-- Nicole Rivera-Díaz, CAA Participant
