Cathy Riso has been a professional vocalist, actress, public speaker, motivator,
teacher, and student for most of her life. She lives with her husband and 3 children in
Santa Clarita, California. Her post-graduate studies include Special Education,
Communications Disorders, and Language Development. Cathy has studied voice
with internationally-renowned teachers, acted and learned from some of the world's
greatest thespians, and played piano since age 6. The combination of her experience
and education work together to create a climate of musical and performance
education that brings out the strengths of each student while encouraging them to
grow in areas that will make them strong performers but also more positive, self-
assured individuals.
Her musical background ranges from classical, operatic music to country and
western, pop-rock and even metal “screaming”, and pretty much everything in
between. Acting classes draw from both "Method" and more naturalistic techniques
and approaches to the craft. Lessons are made up of a combination of exercises
(whether to build hand strength and articulation or breathing and vocal agility),
audition and performance strategies, and constructive “hints” that lead to a more
confident, controlled execution of musical skills or exercises and preparation to
develop all the intricate facets of character in a given role. Cathy’s approach is
professional, practical, but also personal. Each student is regarded as a precious
entity whose gifts and talents are incorporated to build to a greater, more balanced,
more self-reliant "painter" with the traits of a true artist. Please check out my blog at
http://cathyriso.blogspot.com/ I never treat any two students the same way. Each
one is a custom adventure that allows the student to learn and move toward their
personal goals, and at the same time, allows me to monitor their work while guiding,
shaping, and directing their progress.
