Celebrating your achievements is an important part of your development as a singer and performer. That’s why I recommend that studio singers reflect on their year, on the wins, the goals reached, and the ‘lightbulb’ learning moments, for incentive to continue improving.

For the studio, 2025 was a year of tangible results for singers, collaborative creativity and new opportunities to learn more. At our Hurlstone Park and CBD studios, I worked with 35 new and returning singers, from choir singers and soloists, to gigging singers, and those preparing for music theatre auditions and recitals.

Here’s our reflection on 2025 in the studio.

More singers at our annual concert

Our annual concert attracted more participants than in 2024, a testament to more singers finding the courage to leave their comfort zone, with support from fellow singers, and our work together.

Group singing workshops are proving popular

Belinda, Anne, Tina, and Celeste during our French Workshop

As our studio singers are discovering, group workshops are a highly creative, collaborative way to improve singing and performance skills.

May’s French songs workshop explored French language cabaret, music theatre and classical pieces. Fluent French speaker, Celeste, helped fellow singers Belinda, Tina and Anne in interpreting their chosen songs.

November’s ‘Storytelling through song’ workshop, led by studio singer and actor, Gina, put participants through their paces, learning characterisation and acting to bring a song’s story to life. Singer, Nick reflected: “Kathleen and I worked hard on allowing the technical side of my singing (breathing, articulation, etc) to become embedded so I can shift my focus to other performance areas, such as engaging with the audience as my character. It’s a balance I have struggled with and it has been gratifying to find opportunities to see my growth in this area throughout 2025, such as during the ‘Storytelling Through Song’ workshop.”

We’ve had requests for more workshops in 2026 – so, stay tuned! If there’s a singing focus you’d like in a workshop, let us know.

Three students brave solo recitals

Anne’s solo recital at St Stephen’s Church in Sydney’s CBD focused on French repertoire

Alison and James at Recital 2025

There’s nothing quite like a solo performance to challenge you, and this year, three studio singers did just that.

Young studio singer, Isabella Chen, sang ‘Myself’ by Australian composer Chloé Charody, at her high school’s recital. Joanna performed a solo recital of Edward Elgar’s ‘Sea Pictures’ song cycle at the Sydney Amateur Women’s Sailing Club in Mosman.

Anne’s solo recital at St Stephen’s Church in Sydney’s CBD focussed on French repertoire. In preparation, we worked on her register shifts, as she recalls: “My head-to-chest voice register change often feels sudden and unstable. Kathleen suggested a different approach: singing three tones at a time, moving down the octave (like D–C–B, then C–B–A). So, I tried it with a soft head voice, using ‘ooh’ and ‘eeh’ vowels to keep things light, and it worked! With focused belly support, and slight muscle set-up, the tone blended well, it stayed connected and smooth, and I didn’t have to overthink it.”

Learning even more to share with you

Each year, I attend a range of webinars and conferences to update my own knowledge. In August, I visited the International Congress of Voice Teachers in Toronto, Canada, where a highlight was a presentation on adapting Acceptance and Commitment Therapy for performance anxiety. Through London’s Voice Study Centre online courses, I learned from renowned voice teacher, Angelika Nair, on the tongue and its movements, and a discussion on motor learning by Australian speech pathologist, Cate Madill.

I’m always sharing insights and tips here in monthly blog posts, as well as on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and Soundcloud.

Singer Celeste sums up what other studio singers have experienced this year:

“I feel I’ve finally begun to discover my true voice, especially in head register, even though I’m still working toward a more resonant, bell‑like sound. The real challenge is letting go of overthinking technique, and allowing new habits to settle in. I’m learning to give myself credit for the progress I’ve made while staying mindful of where I can continue to grow. Thank you, Kathleen, for helping me uncover so much this year – I’m eager to carry that momentum into our work ahead.”

Thank you to all our singers. I applaud your courage and your commitment to your craft. And thank you, as always, to the studio collaborators: accompanist Alison Cameron, our concert sound recordists, photographer, and others who help us help you. I look forward to working with you in 2026!

Over to you: What blog topics would you like to see covered here? Submit your suggestions here.

Is singing on your 2026 wish list? Take the first step to making your dream a reality, book an introductory singing lesson with Kathleen Connell. Or to find out more, call 0402 409 106.