Singer, musician, educator
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Welcome to the home page of Laura Bernay, a versatile performer with talents as a singer, flautist and pianist. She has had an extremely varied career spanning many facets of the entertainment industry. Laura grew up in the U.S.A. on the east coast in a musical family and learned to sing just about every style of music she heard from jazz, country, folk, blues to classical, cabaret and music theatre. She is an accomplished flautist and studied classical flute as well as voice at the prestigious Victorian College of the Arts where she graduated in Melbourne. She also plays piano.
Laura is known for her sensational “cross-over” styles of singing. The flexibility and beautiful vocal quality she possesses are testimonies to her many years of performing in so many different styles.
“Jazz standards , French chansons and the occasional perfectly judged blues or country number made for a very satisfying, often moving evening with Laura Bernay and her quartet. Totally at home on the stage, Laura’s beautiful voice, easy manner, and formidable musicianship held the packed house rapt. Glorious jazz musicians provided the perfect backbone for this very classy entertainment!”
Stuart Maunder-General former Director New Zealand Opera; AM, Theatre Director; current Artistic Director South Australian Opera Company
In addition to performing Laura has a passion for teaching singing. She has been lecturer in voice for 12 years for WAAPA (WA Academy of Performing Arts) teaching classical and music theatre vocal styles. She runs a very successful private teaching studio with junior singers as well with ages from 8-17. She also teaches online. (Singing Lessons). Laura is a registered member of ANATS (Australian National Association of Teachers of Singing) which means she has tertiary qualifications to teach singing and music. To be a member of ANATS one has to apply with proof of these qualifications and experience as a teacher and performer. As an added string to her bow Laura’s other passion is languages, particularly French and Spanish. This enriches her teaching of interesting repertoire particularly in classical voice where knowledge of Italian, German and French is expected. Laura is pursuing a degree at UWA majoring in French and Spanish and has been a fluent speaker of French for many years.
**COVID
I am fully vaccinated (triple). I do not accept students who are not fully-vaccinated unless for extraordianry reasons. Please discuss with me when you make a time for a consult.
In Studio Lessons COVID Safety
Physical distancing is kept in my studio because there is room and all the necessary precautions like sanitising upon entering the studio are in place. There is an air purifier. PLEASE DO NOT come to a lesson if you have any symptoms at all. If your lesson has been paid for and you are not too sick then an online lesson will be offered and you will stay home.
Online Lessons available. Please contact me via the Contact Page.
More Improvement Than Ever
"I moved to Perth from Hobart in 2020 to study the Diploma of Musical Theatre at WAAPA. Shortly after the move, I began the task of looking for a singing teacher to help further my training. When I contacted Laura I was instantly blown away by her professionalism, high standards, and warmth.Over my twelve months with Laura, I have come to see her as not only a strong technician but as somebody who I can trust and will always have my back. Laura’s knowledge spans a wide range of musical genres, languages, and vocal styles and techniques. I believe her utilisation of many techniques to achieve the best outcomes for her students is a unique and effective teaching quality. With Laura by my side, my vocals and acting through song have improved the most in twelve months than they ever have. I believe this was because I was always pushed out of my comfort zone and carefully guided to discover new ways to use my voice.
A goal we set together at the beginning of the year was for me to gain admission into a musical theatre bachelor program for 2022. This drove many of our lessons and ...
Twice in a Lifetime Opportunity
"I first met Laura just after I’d left high school when I studied a Certificate II in musical theatre at WAAPA, the kindness, professionalism, and assistance she gave me in developing my skills and abilities during the course was amazing. I then worked in the hospitality industry and had a break from my vocal training for several years. Over the past year (2021) I had the time and ability to devote myself fully to studying again. Thanks to Laura’s help and support I have been able to learn a broad range of classical repertoire this year; from Italian and Spanish to French and German. This culminated in successfully applying and enrolling in a Bachelor of Music at UWA starting 2022. Laura is a genuine, caring, and supportive teacher with a good sense of humour, whose patience and compassion with me has made my time spent with her unforgettable. Wherever I go or whatever I do within the music industry, it’s nice to know that I was lucky enough to get a "Twice in a lifetime" opportunity."
Glen Bain
Certificate II in Musical Theatre (2013)
Bachelor Of Music UWA (2022-2024)
Discovering New Territories in My Voice
Before studying with Laura I had been singing since an early age. I was originally trained in Classical Voice and soon realised that I had a love for Musical Theatre. I knew this was the direction I wanted to go. I needed a Musical Theatre voice specialist and someone with a wide background of knowledge and experience in different styles. I found Laura. The work we have done together has resulted in significant development of my voice and me as a performer. We have worked on so many different things, but more importantly, getting me out of my comfort zone. Laura allowed me to discover so many new territories and areas within my voice that I had not previously drawn on.Laura and I connected right away and her belief, care, and professionalism have been continuous. I have just completed year 12 and my end goal was always to be accepted into WAAPA. Through 2020 & 2021 with Laura’s teaching we have been working towards my audition for various universities. I am so excited to have successfully auditioned and been offered a place in the Bachelor of Arts (Musical Theatre) at WAAPA for 2022. I am so thankful that I had ...
Giving Me the Confidence to Tackle Challenging Pieces
I began training with Laura when I moved to Perth to study a Diploma of Music Theatre at WAAPA at the beginning of 2019. Throughout the year Laura gave me confidence to tackle genuinely challenging songs and to explore my voice's range and capability. Laura nurtured and pushed me into achieving things I didn't know were possible. I considered I was an alto before I started training with Laura-but oh how wrong I was. I was amazed to see how much I could improve in just one year. Laura's training was undoubtedly integral into my successful music theatre Bachelor auditions. I was accepted in both courses at the VCA and also WAAPA. I have chosen to go to WAAPA again next year. Thank you so much Laura, for being a teacher and a friend.Maddy Betts
2019 Diploma of Music Theatre Graduate WAAPA
Bachelor of Music Theatre 2020-22 WAAPA
Dreams Really Do Come True
I started studying with Laura at the age of 15, I was so eager and ready to learn and grow.She took me in and refined and strengthened my voice, she showed me new areas of my voice I was never comfortable to sing in and she allowed me to discover the vast capabilities of the voice! Not only that, but Laura became a friend to me, her compassion and love for her students truly comes through in her teaching, I was so thankful to have her year after year, and to be able to stretch myself to new levels, knowing that I was in a safe and fun environment.
Throughout year 12 in 2017 we prepared for my first WAAPA audition, her vast knowledge allowed us to prepare with great strength, and at the end of that year I successfully auditioned and was accepted into the fantastic New Diploma of Musical Theatre course!
Throughout 2018 Laura and I worked together for my most successful year yet. I auditioned again at the end of the year for the Bachelor of Music Theatre course. To my great joy I was accepted!!! Laura and I talked that evening with such ...